Iraq minister rejects possible Turk troop presence

[NNN0LHI]

There are going to be problems here.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L04224929.htm

DUBAI, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Iraq's newly appointed foreign minister said on Thursday his government would not welcome peacekeeping forces from neighbouring countries such as Turkey as this could lead to more instability in Iraq.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hoshyar Zebari was speaking to Arabic television channel Al Jazeera shortly after the United States said it would propose to the U.N. Security Council a resolution designed to induce countries -- mainly Turkey -- to contribute troops to a multinational peacekeeping force in Iraq.

Asked about a possible Turkish role in the peacekeeping force, Zebari said: "Our neighbouring countries have their own political agendas, which they could bring with them to Iraq, thus causing more instability in Iraq".

The U.S. proposal is designed to attract countries such as Turkey that would prefer to send their troops under a U.N. mandate. The United States, however, will be in charge of this multinational force.

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[underpants]

1. I was wondering about that. The Turks would LOVE to get into Iraq.

Hell everyone wants to get their hands into that bag o' cash.

Remember the struggle to keep them from storming over the border (they actually did for short periods of time) and siezing the northern oil fields?

I don't think the Kurds in the north will be too happy about Turks being their overlords and having UN approval to do so.

[ugarte]

2. I'm not sure this guy has any say in the matter

Who does he think he is? Donald Rumsfeld?

[Aidoneus]

3. the Kurds & Muqtada Sadr reject them also

Those 2 particularly being just who I've read specific comments in response to this idea before, though it seems there's a fairly unanimous "unwanted" stance, if not the "if they come here we'll fight them" attitude some Iraqis take to the suggestion. The Turks wish to get involved for some leverege or control over the Kirkuk oilfields, and securing a place for the Iraqi Turcomans (coincidentally, also in that area). They may use the PKK/KADEK as a pretense towards moving in anyway, for the self-declared truce of the rebels of North Kurdistan apparently just went out the window a couple days ago after being in place for a few years.

I don't really see how getting(/coercing) other states into sending occupation forces in to do the coercing of Iraqis into playing ball with US corporations would work any better than if its just the current crew and their "Iraqi face"--putting a slightly different appearance to the same acts & goals seems irrelevant. The idea of having this done under the "UN" (as if it wouldn't be a US-dominated exercise anyway as officials have already said) seems to fool the more easily placated into accepting the occupation, as if changing the most shallow layers of the visible face does anything to change the heart of the matter itself. I've noticed here even those who opposed the war before are nonetheless now defending the occupation (at the same time thus defending the criminals who got us into it and their goals).

If it's put to a vote, the Turkish people would probably also reject the idea of involving themselves in picking up the pieces of this failing adventure, assuming the military doesn't follow Wolfowitz's suggestion and takes matters into their own hands again.

:shrug:

[cliss]

4. Good post, Aiodenus

I'm wondering: do they really know what they're doing when they say they need lots of peacekeeping forces from lots of countries?

Just imagine what that would be like. (with the assumption that Big Daddy, the US is holding the reins). We have a few Japanese, some Danes (not too many, after all that population is pretty small), maybe some Irish, lots of Hindu troops, plenty of Eastern Bloc troops, maybe Brazilian? Why not. They've got lots of charm.

Now, keep in mind all these fellas speak a different language. They've got to have their translators, and oh - they can't eat Iraqi food. They have their own customs, which may not be compatible with muslims. How many of these people would have an understanding of the Iraqis, so they don't shoot them if they see someone combing their hair, or otherwise "threatening" gesture.

I can visualize it pretty easily: it would look like a Kumbha Mela; a melee of humanity, moving about, in more or less chaos.

Anybody want to open an International Food Court?