Turkish army enters Northern Iraq

[sabra]

Source: Azeri-Press Agency

The Turkish army units have entered the Nothern Iraq, planning a large-scale operation against PKK gorillas, an Iraqi internet website related to head of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani reported Thursday.

The website reads that the army with large forces occupied Haftanin, Sineht and Pirbila settlements in Northern Iraq, and deployed heavy armored vehicles and commandos.

Turkish Air Forces’ base in Diyarbakir made intelligence flights over the bordering territories of Iraq. Turkish Army Staff made no comment while it is reported that security zone has been created to prevent PKK terrorist gang from leaking to the territory of Turkey. The number of military forces and equipment has been reinforced in the mountainous territory near the border.
According to the intelligence, there are more than 3,500 PKK terrorists in the Northern Iraq.

Read more: http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=23214

[Bob3]

1. ah yes things are going so well

still this adds another level of potential chaos to the whole mess yes?

[LynnTheDem]

2. This is not good news.

To all who have lost loved ones and will lose loved ones due to the illegal war of aggression George W. bUsh is waging against the people of Iraq, remember to send your "debt of gratitude" to George W. bUsh.

[Divernan]

4. It is indeed horrible news - wait until a US unit mistakenly fires on Turkish soldiers

or vice versa. Now there are TWO frigging wars going on within Iraq.

[aquart]

10. Wait till the US starts covering up Turkish atrocities against the Kurds.

That's going to be so much fun, too.

[saigon68]

16. Really?

Maybe we can teach them to Water-Board

[rockymountaindem]

3. Oh great....

Let's hope this is an isolated incident and not the beginning of a huge throwdown. Sadly, now our Turkish allies are engaging our Kurdish friends and the PKK which was featured so glowingly on 60 Minutes the other week.

I wonder if Condi thinks nobody could have predicted the Turks would hate the Kurds?

[RaleighNCDUer]

11. My thought exactly --

the Kurds are the only friends we have left there, and they nave been practicing guerilla war against Iraq, Iran, and Turkey for generations. Now the Turks, our NATO allies, are moving against the Iraqi Kurds and if we don't act against Turkey the Kurds will see that as support for Turkey and add us to their list of enemies. But what can we do against Turkey? Diplomatic pressure? We bear down too strong and they'll close off the use of Incirlik and their other bases, as they did just before the war. We have no leverage.

[robinlynne]

17. Turkey wouldn't do this without a blessing from the US.

[bahrbearian]

21. A new Coalition Partner.

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. So we WANT the Kurds to turn against us?

You may be right, but I don't get the logic behind it.

But then, I don't get the logic behind most of what this administration does.

[robinlynne]

24. I just saw a show this weekend on 60 minutes or some MSM show, showing the

peacefulness in the north. no war. no fighting. no bombs. and 405 of Iraq's oil. (in the north, kurdish territory.) everyone leading normal lives as if it were another country.

[Amonester]

30. With all the bribes they paid to the neocon$ (re: Sibel Edmonds)...

(well, if it's true and I have no doubt that it is...), the Turks probably don't need to call them to ask for any permission to do what they want.

Besides, where is the UN on this?

Is there any UNO out there these "post-criminal-bolton" days?

(Just asking myself.)

[donkeyotay]

35. Yes, I was thinking of lukery's posts on Sibel Edmonds

Seems that a General Ralston was mentioned recently - something about lobbying to counter the PKK? Honestly, I can't keep up, but Edmonds has spoken out a lot about Turkey and how it relates to our current government.

[coalition_unwilling]

31. I suggest everyone read Barbara Tuchman's "The Guns of August"

This could easily become a reginal proxy war, if it is not one already.

[maddezmom]

5. not good at all

:scared:

[Captain Hilts]

14. This is a Bad Thing. nt

[Botany]

6. One more gift from bush's unneeded war

Turks fighting Kurds ..... "No one could have imagined."

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

7. Gorillas?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla_Grodd

(To his credit, I'd be pissed too if I had no genitals)

[maxsolomon]

8. an action not taken without US permission

Kurdistan looks more likely every day.

[roamer65]

9. Here we go folks...

This is about to get a LOT more interesting. Turkey isn't going to stop until they reach Kirkuk.

[asjr]

12. Since BushCo took office there has been

Open Season on war. Everyone is getting in on the act. We have created chaos where chaos had been suppressed.

[Babel_17]

13. Hmm, can the US compel them to leave or ....

do US commanders now have to worry about Kurdish forces that are supporting operations in central Iraq deciding to go home?

[soothsayer]

15. aren't the kurds the one people who didn't really get bombed?

I think they still have electricity and all that stuff. But wait until the turks get ahold of them! woof

[smoogatz]

18. I'll wait to express an opinion on this alleged development

until I hear it from a source I've actually heard of. The Azeri Press Agency? What the hell is that?

[pampango]

28. A wise idea. I haven't been able to find confirmation of this

anywhere.

Turkey's intransigence on the idea of an independent Kurdistan is certainly an important concern of the Kurdish people in Iraq, but I have not heard that Turkey does not accept the current Kurdish entity as a part of Iraq. If I were in Turkey's position, I am not sure that I would prefer that the border area in Iraq be dominated by Shiites or Sunnis with their ongoing civil war rather than the Kurds who are enjoying a decent level of peace and prosperity.

[sabra]

29. makes sense... expect to see something in the MSM about this in maybe 10 days

related report:

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=105912

Turkey readying for spring offensive against PKK

The leaves of military personnel have been canceled and additional forces have been deployed to the border with Iraq as the military apparently prepares for an operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The measures come amid frustration with US inactivity against the PKK and the expected infiltration of PKK militants from their mountain bases in northern Iraq with the arrival of spring.

The military put all troops on alert at the Iraqi border after receiving intelligence reports that the PKK would carry out attacks as the snow melts in mountain passes, thus easing passage from Iraq to Turkey.

On March 10 Land Forces Commander Gen. İlker Başbuğ visited Diyarbakır in southeastern Anatolia and said that he went to the area to evaluate the current state of affairs with respect to internal security operations under way in the region as well as developments that were likely to arise in spring and summer. He added that they would also make an assessment as to what measures could be taken in the face of emerging conditions.

[smoogatz]

32. Holy crap!!1111! The Daily Zaman confirms the Azeri News Agency report!!11!

It must be true!!

[sabra]

33. I am not saying it's true... sometimes you need to monitor the foreign media and wait for the MSM

to catch up...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today%27s_Zaman_%28newspaper%29

Today's Zaman (newspaper)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Today's Zaman Newspaper

The front page of first edition on January 16th
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Owner Feza Inc.
Editor Bülent Keneş
Founded 2007
Headquarters Fevzi Cakmak Mah. A. Taner Kislali Cad. No:6 34194 Bahcelievler, Istanbul,Turkey
Website: www.todayszaman.com

Today's Zaman is a major Turkish daily newspaper. It was founded in January 16th 2007 and was the third Turkish daily newspaper in English. It contains international, national, business and other news. It also has many regular columnists who cover current affairs, interviews and a culture section. It has over 40 writers and columnists. Also Today’s Zaman has established a partnership with the prestigious British daily The Times, which has a 300-year history.

While having taken over the role of the English-language edition of the Turkish daily newspaper Zaman, Today’s Zaman has its own, independent, editorial staff.

[smoogatz]

36. Right. Which is why I have AFP, the BBC and Asia Times right up there

in my bookmarks bar. But I think it's wise to be a bit skeptical when the only report anywhere in the global media comes from a Turkish paper founded two months ago, or the national press agency of Azerbaijan. No?

[sabra]

38. it makes sense to take eveything salted...

IMO, there's definitely something going on... I guess only time will tell what's the "real deal"

:hi:

[smoogatz]

39. You may very well be right.

And time will tell, yes.

Peace--

[sabra]

41. something is going on...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2777556

[pampango]

34. In the Today's Zaman article - no attack, just curb infiltration.

"The Office of the Chief of General Staff acknowledges extraordinary military activity in this region but adds that they are not evaluating a cross-border operation, a measure that is also opposed by the United States."

"The real reason for the deployment of Turkish troops to the border is, they say, to curb the infiltration of the PKK militants from northern Iraq to Turkey."

This article states that there has been no cross border operation, but a military buildup on the Turkish side of the border to prevent the infiltration of PKK arms and fighters into Turkey. This article contradicts the article in the OP.

[knitter4democracy]

19. Crap. We knew this was coming.

What's the next stage?

[Lasher]

20. Wow, this is incredibly bad but not unanticipated.

Stay the course - right onto a reef.

[Supersedeas]

23. Earth to Condi -- are you engaged?

[roamer65]

25. She's busy shoe shopping.

:eyes:

[saigon68]

37. She's Busy Smiling

[Babel_17]

26. I just found a weird coincidence

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/turkey_03-21-03.html

Check the date.

March 21, 2003, 9:28pm EST
TURKISH TROOPS ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ

The Turkish government on Friday deployed some 1,500 commando troops into the Kurdish-dominated enclave of northern Iraq despite opposition from the U.S. and local Kurdish officials.

[wordpix]

27. now the civil war in Iraq turns regional---where are the diplomats & peace makers?

Capitol Hill, wake up and get the dangerous morons out of office, NOW!

[semillama]

40. Hold your "EVERYBODY PANIC" mode

The only source for this is a website "related to head of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan" - possibly not the most objective source of news.

wait until it shows up on BBC.

[krispos42]

42. I'm sure DIVISIONS of Iraqi troops are repelling them at this instant

:sarcasm:

Well, since we broke Iraq, that means it's ours. And that includes defending it from foreign invasions. Which means we're going to have to fight the Turks.

A NATO nation. Like us.

So... how does work then? NATO operates on 'an attack on one is an attack on all' philosophy. So, who does the 'all' attack?

[jljamison]

43. gorillas in the mist

FYI...unless these troops are zoologists, its "guerillas"

[knight_of_the_star]

44. Oh shit

This is going to get ugly really fast.

[ohio2007]

45. Any other

Seems to me it would be all over the net.
Nothing on the Turkish press sites?

www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2007-03-22\kurd1.htm