Turkish PM: US Wants Turkish Soldiers For Iraq - Agency

[Nambe]

ANKARA (AP)

The U.S. has asked Turkey to contribute soldiers to help patrol Iraq, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying Sunday.

Erdogan didn't elaborate but the request apparently came during a visit Friday by two top U.S. generals who held talks in the Turkish capital to help smooth strained relations. ---

"The United States has requested soldiers from Turkey to send to the region," the Anatolia news agency quoted Erdogan as saying during a speech in the southeastern city of Batman.

Erdogan didn't say whether Turkey had agreed to send soldiers, but officials have in the past indicated that Turkey was willing to contribute peacekeepers.

Hurriyet newspaper said Sunday that during talks between the military officials the sides discussed the possibility of Turkey contributing up to 10, 000 soldiers to Iraq. There was no immediate comment from the military. ---

[indictrichardperle]

1. Some thoughts on this

If Turkey does provide troops, then the US is going to give Turkey a free hand in the north of Iraq, the Kurds are going to be sold out.

The EU/Nato are going to tell Turkey-dont even think about it without going through the UN-or suffer the consequences.

This is going to cause a huge uprising/protests/back-lash amongst Turkeys molems, 95% of which opposed the war(Turkey is not a democracy, they just opress their people-im tired of neo-cons praising Turkeys democracy).

[acmavm]

2. Hey, that should make the Kurds really happy.

n/t

[LauraK]

6. Turkey has it's own Kurd community, rowdy follks indeed.

So far, the PM has resisted going against his people.

[htuttle]

3. Best read along with this article

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

US, Turkey discuss ridding Iraq of Kurd militants
The United States and Turkey are discussing ways to get rid of Kurdish militants holed up in northern Iraq as the two NATO allies try to end a diplomatic crisis over Turkey's role in the troubled region.
(more in other thread)

[papau]

4. Turks asked to police Kurds - Today 2 US killed in North Iraq

Seems the game is just beginning.

But the important thing to Rummny is the cost savings of rent a 3rd world cop. The effect on foriegn policy goals we will worry about after the election.

And the Turks may really send 10,000 - doubling the current 40 nation promise - and they may not be hung up on giving the UN political power in Iraq via a new UN resolution before troops are sent.

3rd world police, even after the bribes, are a great buy.

[Nottingham]

5. This is the US downfall! Turkey has screwed us everytime!

They will do so again and this will turn into a major war with Turkey taking over the oilfields in the North

Can America take on Turkey too! Escalation Escalation

[Frances]

7. My thoughts

1. No country is willing to send more than a token force to Iraq, and the U.S. is desperate for more soldiers.

2. Turkey is eager to go into northern Iraq so it can control the Kurds who are the enemies of the Turks.

3. The U.S. is apparently willing to betray the Kurds who have caused no problems to the U.S. troops.

4. What happens if 10,000 Turkish soldiers are in northern Iraq (with more stationed on the border) and the fighting gets more intense in the Sunni area, and the Shites decide to rise up in the South?

5. Could the 10,000 Turks act like the men in the Trojan horse? And what would happen to our tired soldiers then?

In my opinion, not a smart move to invite the Turks in.