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| Iraq |
| US and Turkey to hit PKK |
| 2003-10-03 |
| Turkey and the US have agreed on an action-plan to eradicate the Kurdish paramilitary group, the PKK. The group is thought to have around 5,000 members living in northern Iraq. Ever since the US occupied Iraq, Turkey has been pressing Washington to crack down on the group which both countries designate as terrorist. Details of the plan are not clear, but a US official said any military action would be carried out by US troops. This is going to be tricky, hope we coordinate with the friendly Kurdish forces. Any large scale Turkish military presence in northern Iraq would be opposed by the Kurdish groups which currently run the area. This agreement is important for Turkey, as it marks a new stage in its long battle with the PKK. It is also a sign of improving relations with the US. The agreement will almost certainly help the Turkish Government in its efforts to persuade parliament to send Turkish troops to help out the US-led coalition. The parliament will probably consider a request for around 10,000 troops later this month. Turkey and the PKK fought a bitter war for more than a decade. More than 30,000 people were killed, and over a million displaced from their homes - largely in the predominantly Kurdish southeastern part of the country. The PKK have long sought refuge from Turkish troops in the mountains of northern Iraq. Over to you, Murat. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 Murat, If the PKK type of militants are neutralized in Iraq and Turkey, what do you expect the result would be economically and polically, for are and for Khurds in particular? |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-3 11:07:30 PM |
| #2 If there WERE any delays in coming to this agreement (I don't see Turkey NOT talking about this earlier), then it was because we WERE talking with OUR Kurds. Shows that we're getting a clue about the culture, since we want to make sure that we reward the good Kurds and kill the bad Kurds, and don't want them adhering to some stupid motto like "The Kurds, right or wrong!", or "If he's a Kurd, then I support him, no matter what the idiot does." A bad attitude to take, no matter if its Kurds, Muslims, or Americans doing the talking. If you're good, we'll work with you. If you're bad, you're history. A good philosophy in principle, but I admit the US sometimes stinks on executing it. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-10-3 10:25:35 AM |
| #1 I think it is a good start, if the US expects cooperation of other nations to fight the Al Qaeda terrorists she cannot ignore the PKK terrorists. Utterances made by some such as the PKK didn't harm Americans so we should leave them is nonsense, because we can say the same Al Qaeda did not attack us either. If there is a serious war on terror, there should be no difference and all the terrorist have to be eradicated. |
| Posted by: Murat 2003-10-3 9:50:36 AM |