Iraq Says Turkish Incursion Would Destabilize Region

[Flabbergasted]

Source: VOA

Iraq Says Turkish Incursion Would Destabilize Region
By VOA News
18 October 2007

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari says a Turkish military incursion against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq would have serious repercussions for the entire region.

Zebari told VOA Kurdish Service that Iraq does not approve of the rebels' presence in the northern autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq. But he said a Turkish parliament decision authorizing cross-border military operations against the rebels could destabilize the region. He said the measure also violates Iraq's sovereignty.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, who is in Egypt, said parliament authorized the action because efforts to curb terrorism by working with the U.S. and Iraqi governments have failed.

In the United States, a visiting Iraqi government spokesman urged Turkey to refrain from crossing the Iraqi border. He told reporters at the White House that the problem with Kurdish rebels cannot be solved militarily.



Read more: http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-18-voa58.cfm

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Exactly why Bush isn't taking this seriously. Rice is down trying to make peace in Israel. Bush is busy killing children in America.

[Hydra]

1. Why should he take it seriously?

it will drive the oil prices through the roof, and kill more kurds for him. I'm not seeing a downside for him.

[Flabbergasted]

4. The conflict with Turkey could lead to repeal of military support by Turkey.

[Hydra]

7. So?

It's a small country- we can run them over while we're destroying Iran and Syria. 5 for the price of 1.

On the less flip side, if we allow Turkey to do it, they'll let us use their bases, still. George is only slightly bothered by this development.

[Flabbergasted]

8. NATO ally. Pretty complicated. nt

[Hydra]

10. It would be

but this is my pet peeve about "rules for hunting terrorists"- Turkey has every right based on the precedent we set to invade the Kurd territory and kill any number of bystanders while hunting for the PKK people.

If we allow Turkey to do this, it would destabilize Iraq, but we're doing that anyway, so having another scapegoat would be useful. I don't see why Bush won't look at this as a highly useful thing, as he's not much concerned how many kurds live in his oilfields.

[Flabbergasted]

11. Actually it is far more justified for Turkey to Invade Iraq than Bush invading...

What is never said is how cruelly Turkey has treated the Kurds. Turkey treats Kurds like Israel treats Palestinians. In WWI the Kurds were promised an independent state. They are still waiting. This could be their opportunity but I wonder if they should just quit while they're ahead.

[tekisui]

13. Can the Kurds resist Turkey's military?

[Flabbergasted]

14. The Iraqi Kurds have a strong army....

It's nowhere near what Turkey has but they did manage to keep a relative sovereignty when Saddam was in power.

At the point Turkey invades it is really difficult to say what would happen. The Kurds, numbering 25 to 30 million, across five countries could destabilize the entire region. There is also the possibility of military conflicts with the US.

It's way to early for predictions. I tend to believe that Turkey is not that stupid.

[tekisui]

12. Maybe he thinks Turkey really just wants his oil.

Didn't the Kurds just sign that oil deal with Hunt Oil.
Maybe that helped Turkey's decide to invade.

[Flabbergasted]

15. Turkey would not engage in something like that. They don't have the political clout..

nor the military power.

[azurnoir]

16. They already have in 1994

Turkey sent 50,000 troops in to Iraq

http://www.flashpoints.info/countries-conflicts/Turkey-Kurdistan-web/Turkey-Kurdistan_briefing.html

[Flabbergasted]

18. They were not there to seize the oil fields.

[azurnoir]

19. They are now

The Turks entered Iraq some months back and have set about 3 miles inside of Iraqi territory, this happened this past spring. At the time I searched for this Time had an article on this but had removed it from their site sometime within the last week.


http://www.indiescribe.com/2007/10/turkey-to-send-.html

on edit: remember when we first invaded Iraq in 2003 and the Turks were up in arms but then all of the sudden backed down?

[Flabbergasted]

20. You may be right. nt

[lips]

2. Anyone every play the old timish PC game PIPEDREAM?

Turkey....meet the Kurds.

[aquart]

3. Okay, that's seriously funny.

[tekisui]

5. It is so very stable, now.

Maybe he is referring to that little slice of calm in Northern Iraq. The one that Iran's been shelling for months?

[Flabbergasted]

6. Bush doesn't mention Iran shelling Iraq either.

[Critters2]

9. Destabilize the region?

I'd say that ship has sailed.

[Javaman]

17. Is there really such a fine line between cluster fuck and shit storm? nt

[Toots]

21. Well we certainly would not want to destabilize the region...

It being so very stable since the US invasion and occupation..I do believe Republicans live in a very different world than normal people.