I think there are something like 14 divisions of Turks

[Joe for Clark]

Sitting on the border waiting to see just how we handle things right now.

They are waiting. This issue - not win or lose - but if the matter stays internal to Iraq -is going to be decided shortly. And it is going to happen in that province NE of Baghdad.

By December - there will be a vote about the oil up there. That oil is more than half of the production of the country - and those Kurds want to keep the money and if they do Turkey will move to block it - it is really simply in a way.

We will almost certainly end up in a fight with the Kurds that helped us or a NATO ally.

And by the way - if we were going to move to oppose Turkey - we don't have 14 divisions to oppose it.

It probably won't matter - we'll be screwed by September anyway.

Closing on a cheerful note.

Joe

[Old and In the Way]

1. Good point.

I feel better knowing that this President and his steel-trap mind is considering all of the variables which, if mistakes are made, could lead to a hot war in the ME.

:smiley with a little gun blowing my brains out:

[Joe for Clark]

4. I want to be wrong -very wrong.

Cause you understand if it is right - The body bags will be coming hot and steady.

I don't want to be right.

Joe

[Viva_La_Revolution]

6. ...

[Joe for Clark]

2. Oh yeah -by that time - I think my kids war will be over.

He will have done many years in that hell hole- and if he lives from now til then - he owes nothing further to "The Cause".

And my cause ends then - one way or the other.

This is a VERY bad summer coming.

There is no doubt.

Joe

[aquart]

3. Turkey is going to protect the integrity of its borders.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

And NATO will have no objection.

The Kurds will fight for their lives, their land, their right to be a united nation, and the only ones who have lifted a finger to help them are the equally despised Israelis. The Turks have money, men, arms, and a reputation for massacre. The Kurds ...know how to fight dirty.

Is that an even match?

[Joe for Clark]

5. The problem is - so would we.

The other NATO powers will stay far away from this one.

Turkey thinks - probably right - that any significant advantange handed to Kurd groups will enable a movement by PKK or others- which Kurds think rightful - into Turk territory. Because they think that territory is rightfully theirs.

They are both right.

And we are caught in the middle- like a fly in a spider web.

The truth is - we won't get that far. Cause all hell will break lose well before then all thru the province - It is like - if you had the intention of short circuiting the US - that is where you would want to do it. And it won't take alot right now. And they all know it.

That is why Turkey is on the border and that is why that commander in the province was begging for reinforcements - that is all connected. It is going to be a bad summer alright.

Joe

[Disturbed]

7. If the UN doesn't step up there will be a few thousand

dead Kurds.

[seemslikeadream]

8. Kurds meet the Hmong