Article

2007-03-23 Iraq

US 'struggles' to avert Turkish intervention in northern 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 Steve White 2007-03-23 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I have no sympathy for the Turks. Their record of Kurdish suppresion is abysmal, like sending people to jail for years for speaking Kurdish or singing songs in Kurdish.

Posted by phil_b 2007-03-23 00:25|| 2007-03-23 00:25|| Front Page Top

#2 After their backstab in 2003? Too bad.

Posted by JSU 2007-03-23 00:45|| 2007-03-23 00:45|| Front Page Top

#3 I dunno, I don't see how the Turks can just sit around and let the PKK use Iraq as a safe haven to launch attacks into their territory. I mean, it's not like they're Americans who let the Taliban rest and rearm in Pakistan.

Posted by gromky 2007-03-23 04:30|| 2007-03-23 04:30|| Front Page Top

#4 The problem here is the Turks think Kurds are stupid peasants, who would be living in mud huts if it weren't for the Turks bringing them civilization.

So a vibrant succesful Kurdistan is an affront to their perception of both the Kurds and themselves.

More dangerously, it may lead them into an ill-advised military adventure resulting in them getting their butts kicked. Iraqi Kurdistan aint exactly tank country, which would set off a conflagration in Turkish Kurdistan.

There is a lot still to be written in the story of Kurdish self-determination.

Posted by phil_b 2007-03-23 05:27|| 2007-03-23 05:27|| Front Page Top

#5 Abdullah Gul: "We will do what we have to do, we will do what is necessary. Nothing is ruled out," Mr Gul said. "I have said to the Americans many times: suppose there is a terrorist organisation in Mexico attacking America. What would you do?... We are hopeful. We have high expectations. But we cannot just wait forever."

welcome to the club Abdullah Gul, we already have terrorist Narco Trafficers on both sides of the borderws killing more Americans than PKK are killing Turks.

Posted by RD 2007-03-23 06:52|| 2007-03-23 06:52|| Front Page Top

#6 Lets hope that the Kurds won't get shafted again for the sake of (imaginary) Turkish alliance.

Posted by gromgoru 2007-03-23 08:58|| 2007-03-23 08:58|| Front Page Top

#7 Send Turkey this coded message:

..."Love your Turkey..STOP...Your democracy rocks..STOP...cross that line...we're going to f*** you up..STOP...Please Confirm..."STOP!!

Posted by smn 2007-03-23 09:11|| 2007-03-23 09:11|| Front Page Top

#8 Is that a real Turkey or a plastic Turkey?

Posted by Excalibur 2007-03-23 10:02|| 2007-03-23 10:02|| Front Page Top

#9 It uis a win-win for teh Isdalmist governement: if they succed in Kurdistan they will get prestige, if their military is crushed by the US it will no longer be in position to counter the islamization and arabization the government is trying to force on Turkey.

Posted by JFM">JFM 2007-03-23 10:25|| 2007-03-23 10:25|| Front Page Top

#10 I firmly believe that the Turks could not launch a major invasion into kurdistan without being smashed. Incursions by special forces are another story but that's a slap and not necessarily a war.

Posted by rjschwarz 2007-03-23 11:27|| 2007-03-23 11:27|| Front Page Top

#11 "We will do what we have to do, we will do what is necessary. Nothing is ruled out," Mr Gul said. "I have said to the Americans many times: suppose there is a terrorist organisation in Mexico attacking America. What would you do?... We are hopeful. We have high expectations. But we cannot just wait forever."

You'll wait or we'll nuke your stinkin asses off the face of the earth. Is that clear, Gulbert ?

Posted by wxjames 2007-03-23 15:17|| 2007-03-23 15:17|| Front Page Top

23:52 Captain America
23:33 Unique Battle
23:28 Old Patriot
23:25 Frank G
23:19 C-Low
23:16 Pappy
23:14 C-Low
23:11 Zenster
23:05 badanov
23:04 Zenster
22:59 phil_b
22:57 Frank G
22:51 Frank G
22:42 Pappy
22:36 Zenster
22:23 Scooter McGruder
22:17 Sneaze
22:02 Sneaze
22:01 Frank G
21:59 Sneaze
21:57 Sneaze
21:53 Chemist
21:51 Old Patriot
21:48 Asymmetrical T