Article

2003-03-21 Iraq

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Kerry 2003-03-21 08:29 am|| || Front Page|| [11132 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Perhaps they think if they can keep US forces out of the north, they'll be able to control and/or exploit the Kurd situation.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-03-21 09:00:23|| 2003-03-21 09:00:23|| Front Page Top

#2 What's the problem plan B works fine anyway

Posted by Murat 2003-03-21 09:09:02|| 2003-03-21 09:09:02|| Front Page Top

#3 If Turkey decides to ignore the US and move troops into Northern Iraq it could get real ugly between the US and Turkey

Posted by AWW 2003-03-21 09:17:36|| 2003-03-21 09:17:36|| Front Page Top

#4 That whooshing sound is Turkey rocketing to the top of the list for EU admission.

Posted by matt 2003-03-21 09:37:41|| 2003-03-21 09:37:41|| Front Page Top

#5 < Murat >

The Imperialist Turkish swine do not care about the rights of the Iraqi people. They do not listen to their allies, they care only for their own interests! It's all about the OIL!

< / Murat >

It kind of sucks when principled objections are turned against oneself...

Murat, you have been denouncing US motives as imperialist and unilateral for a while now. I'll be interested to see if Turkish actions in the next few weeks will be equally denounced...

Posted by mjh 2003-03-21 09:53:24|| 2003-03-21 09:53:24|| Front Page Top

#6 (Continued from above)

Of course, it does remain to be seen if any messiness ensues. I, personally, hope the agreement between the Kurds and the Turks (which, I understand it, means that the Kurds won't get too wayward, and the Turks won't cross the border)...

Posted by mjh 2003-03-21 09:58:57|| 2003-03-21 09:58:57|| Front Page Top

#7 Murat: "What's the problem plan B works fine anyway"

Careful, Murat, that almost sounded like French. Can Turkey afford trashing both European and American alliances?

As for any excessive Turkish ambitions in northern Iraq, be advised that we have a long history of shooting looters.

Posted by Tom 2003-03-21 11:03:31|| 2003-03-21 11:03:31|| Front Page Top

#8 Two comments: (1) Turkey will never gain entrance into the EU if the Germans have any say in the matter. Germany is teeming with Turks as it is, and a lot more Turks (families, workers) would flood into Germany to join them if Turkey joined the EU and the border were somewhat nullified. The Germans are terrified of this and will do absolutely everything to keep Turkey out. Turkeys best bet was working with the US and they've botched that as well. (2) For long term stability in the region the US might want to bet on a democratic Kurdistan. If not, they will be fighting for a homeland by the end of the decade. The Kurds in Northern Iraq already have democracy. Turks had their chance, not its best for the US to go with right decision.

Posted by Yank 2003-03-21 11:44:28|| 2003-03-21 11:44:28|| Front Page Top

#9 Maybe the US should support a DEMOCRACY in Kurdistan (including the Kurds now under Trukish control). Not too much of a stretch, since the Kurds have developed a democracy in the northern no-fly zone of Iraq. Then Turkey wouldn't be the only deocracy in the Islamic world.

Posted by Anonymous 2003-03-22 00:51:05|| 2003-03-22 00:51:05|| Front Page Top

11:43 Osay
23:36 carol
12:48 Darla
19:56 Leanne
09:19 raptor
06:28 RW
03:31 Peter
00:56 Anonymous
00:51 Anonymous
23:58 mojo
23:36 Anonon
23:28 Anonon
23:14 Tex
23:07 Tex
23:06 Don
22:44 tu3031
22:31 tu3031
22:28 someone
22:24 tu3031
22:37 Fred
22:36 tu3031
22:17 tu3031
22:17 Anonymous
22:16 Anonymous