Article

2004-05-29 Europe

Kurdish separatists end ceasefire, warn foreigners to avoid Turkey

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Posted by Steve White 2004-05-29 1:01:12 PM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Turkey's PM, Erdogan, was an outspoken Islamist prior to assuming his current position effective March 14, 2003. I would not trust him as far as I could throw him.

The PKK have not fired a shot in 4 years. Then Bremer waded onto this copacetic situation in January, 2004 and declared the PKK a terrorist organization. Turkey is waving a carrot of providing the US a back door for troop rotation and withdrawal from Iraq, though Turkey was instrumental in sabotaging our initial plans for invading Iraq.

I hope President Bush does not pull out the rug from under the Kurds, who have been our stalwart allies as a result of Erdogan's arm twisting during the NATO conference scheduled for the end of June.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FA31Ak01.html
"US's Kurdish ban risks backfiring" 1/31/04
...The Kurds were an integral ally in the US-led invasion of Iraq, and not only came to the coalition's rescue in the north of Iraq, but also gave forces a transit way to Baghdad, something Turkey was not willing to do. No US or coalition forces have been killed in northern Kurdish-controlled areas of Iraq...During his meeting with Erdogan[in January], when concerns about Iraq were brought to the agenda, Bush reportedly confirmed that speculation about Iraq's territorial integrity will not be allowed. "We are aware of your [Turkey's] anxieties. You could be sure. I am an honest man; trust my word." In a joint press briefing held after the meetings, Bush acknowledged that Turkey is an important friend and ally of the US...

Posted by rex 2004-05-29 4:10:09 PM|| 2004-05-29 4:10:09 PM|| Front Page Top

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