Turkish Forces Are in Iraq: Turkish Spokesman

[sabra]

http://www.aina.org/news/20060504101743.htm

Turkish Forces Are in Iraq: Turkish Spokesman

ANKARA -- At a press conference held in Ankara at the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), a spokesman for the TSK called the military build-up along Turkey's southeastern borders with Iraq "aimed at bolstering inner-security."

There was also an announcement made regarding the presence of the Turkish military inside the borders of Iraq:

"There is no secret regarding the presence of the TSK in Northern Iraq. We are not considering ending our activity there for as long as the PKK is also present and active in that area." At the briefing, it was also clarified to press members present that the presence of the TSK in Northern Iraq should be in no way confused with "operational activities."

The PKK terrorist organisation has camps in Northern Iraq and the organization has been using Northern Iraq as a base to attack Turkish targets and other neigbouring countries. According to the Turkish official documents Barzani and Talabani Groups allow the PKK activities. Turkish experts say that as far as the local Kurdish forces or the Baghdad cannot secure the borders, Turkish forces will fulfill this duty. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sedat Laciner from USAK (ISRO) argues that "one of the main responsibles in the recent PKK attacks is the Northern Iraq Kurdish rule. They do allow the PKK activities. Many PKK militants are freely join the elections, they freelly make propaganda, and they even can use armes against the Turkish targets or Turkmens".

[Selatius]

1. What is the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter?

Those Kurds aren't bent on global domination or pan-Arabianism. They simply want a piece of land to call home. Is that asking too much?

[killerbush]

7. Nope, not too much to ask

[Tempest]

12. Are you willing to give up a piece of America for Latinos

If they ask for it?

[endarkenment]

13. Well perhaps.

Suppose the southwest were 90% latino and that there was a long history of brutal suppression of the latino population, and that this population had a long expressed consensus opinion that it would be better off as part of Mexico (and we will ignore the historical fact that we stole el norte from Mexico by force). Why would giving up this territory not be the right thing to do?

The brutal suppression of Kurdish national aspirations by Turkey Syria Iran and Iraq has been ignored by and/or tacitly supported by the US and other great powers for reasons of political expediency for decades. Our hypocrisy here, compared for example to our policy towards Israeli nationalist ambitions, is glaring.

[Tempest]

16. Kurdish terrorist attacks in Iran and Turkey are also being ignored

Bush is supporting the Kurdish terrorists, not the national government of Turkey.

[endarkenment]

17. The term 'terrorist' has lost all meaning.

You are simply using it to mean military action by organizations you do not approve of.

[Tempest]

18. You are doing the same thing

You're refusing to use the word to denote actions you may approve of.

Funny how that works.

[Selatius]

15. If you mean the US Southwest, perhaps

"Manifest Destiny" was used to justify the expansion all the way to the west coast.

[The Magistrate]

2. Matters Continue To Deteriorate, Sir

The current regime's invasion of Iraq will go down in history as one of the greatest follies a great power ever engaged in.

[sabra]

3. BushCo likes to claim that history will judge their actions...

indeed it will.

[MADem]

6. Yeah, who's playing ARCHDUKE FERDINAND in this little historical

playlet????

[Selatius]

10. You're not the first one to draw comparisons to the "powder keg of Europe"

Iraq bears some passing similarity to the Balkans pre-WWI. Unfortunately, powder kegs explode all the same no matter how different they look on the outside.

[enid602]

11. perhaps the arch-fiend of Crawford?

[reprobate]

5. Additionally, it will mark the beginning of the end of a once great power.

[tatertop]

4. So close the Kurds can almost taste Greater Kurdistan

But alas, this is never to be.
Ferocious fighting fueled by blood hate to follow.

[enid602]

8. Turkey

I'd like to see the pukes try to swiftboat Turkey now, especially after having allegedly offered them a nuclear reactor just last week! The Lord moves in mysterious ways, indeed.

[leftchick]

9. "who could have predicted this turn of events?"

The whole fucking world save bushco, freepers amd the neofreaks!

:grr:

[bemildred]

14. Gee, who could have predicted this?

Indeed, the surprise is that it's taken this long. Now the Turks no longer feel a need to dissemble about it.

[leftchick]

19. I fully expected this two years ago

who knows, perhaps they have been in there a while and it is just being reported now.

[bemildred]

20. I know you did.

:think::think:
:hi:

[leftchick]

21. we did

didn't we? :hi:

[lovuian]

22. So is Turkey declaring war on Iraq???

cause it sounds like it!!!

[ripple]

23. A friend told me that he heard on NPR today

that Iran lobbed bombs at the Kurdish border of Iraq. I just got home and I'm trying to find out more. Has anyone else heard this, or is he mistaken? God, I hope he's mistaken.

[bemildred]

24. Iran has been shelling Kurdish border areas for a several weeks.

At least there have been news reports to that effect.