From: Adam <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the field.near
the bridge">

Hum maybe. The key will be what the US does not the Kurds.

Adam

Rich Gauszka wrote:
> yet more fuel to the fire
> http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_100042_04/06/2007_84082
>
> The Kurds lived in the region for millennia before the arrival of the Turks.
> Today they are divided among four states, with most living in Turkey,
> followed by those in Iraq, Iran and Syria. At the Treaty of Sevres in 1920,
> the Kurds saw their dream of a homeland almost become reality but the treaty
> was stillborn. In 1945, in a part of Iran that was occupied by Soviet
> forces, Kurds set up the Republic of Mahabad. By the end of 1946, after the
> Soviet withdrawal, this rebellion was crushed by the Iranians. Later, backed
> by Iran and the United States, the Iraqi Kurds rose against the regime in
> Baghdad. But in 1975, the shah made a deal with Iraq and abandoned the
> Kurds, as did the US. Inevitably, after each rebellion the Kurds suffered
> terrible reprisals. That is why they say the Kurds have no friends but the
> mountains.
> ....
> As true practitioners of realpolitik, the Kurds of Iraq have in the past
> allied themselves with Turkish forces against Turkey's Kurds, knowing that
> they need Ankara's tolerance to survive. But now that Kurdish autonomy in
> northern Iraq is a fact, and with the US making it abundantly clear that
> they are not in favor of Turkish adventurism, the Iraqi Kurds will fight.
> The Turkish tanks now massing on the border may suffer the same fate as
> Saddam's when they are forced to leave the plains of Mesopotamia and enter
> the mountains. Also, if Turkish forces start to lose blood and treasure in
> Iraq this may prompt a broader rebellion in southeastern Turkey that will be
> difficult to control. The military cost will be inestimable, but the
> political one will be even greater and will lead to greater Kurdish
> confidence at Turkey's expense.
>
>
> "Adam" <""4thwormcastfromthemolehill\"{at}the
field.near the bridge"> wrote in
> message news:4667ce88$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>>
http://news.google.co.uk/news?q=turkish+troops+northern+Iraq&hl=en&um=1&sa=X
&oi=news&ct=title
>>
>> Many many coverages.
>>
>> Hum.
>>
>> One wonders if DC or at least the local US HQ was pre-informed.
>>
>> "Turkish security officials say several thousand Turkish troops have
>> crossed into northern Iraq to chase Kurdish guerrillas who operate from
>> bases there.
>>
>> The officials tell The Associated Press that the raid is limited in
>> scope and that it does not constitute the kind of large incursion that
>> Turkish leaders have been discussing in recent weeks.
>>
>> The last major Turkish incursion into northern Iraq was in 1997, when
>> about 50,000 troops were sent to the region. The officials have not said
>> where the Turkish force was operating and have not said how long they
>> would be there.
>>
>> The US military says it can't confirm the reports but is "very
>> concerned.""
>>
>>
>> Meanwhile Gul is denying...
>>
>> "Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul denied Wednesday that Turkish
>> troops had entered neighboring northern Iraq in a cross-border operation
>> to hunt down separatist Kurdish rebels.
>>
>> Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul denied Wednesday that Turkish
>> troops had entered neighboring northern Iraq in a cross-border operation
>> to hunt down separatist Kurdish rebels.
>>
>> "There is no incursion into any other country at the
moment," Gul told
>> reporters here. "
>>
>>
>> Note the use of "at the moment". i.e. this is true so
long as what's
>> planned has either (A) ended or (B) not started.....
>>
>> Oh joy.
>>
>> My big worry in all this Iraq mess has been Turkey turning away from the
>> West & to the South.
>>
>> People on the right in the US witter on about AQ....AQ ain't squat
>> compared to Turkey.
>>
>> An "activist" Turkey in the ME.....lead by
"islamists" keen to push an
>> alternative Islamist approach to  AQ/Saudi or Hezbollah/Iran or
>> Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood
>>
>>
>> Blimey this could get fun fast.
>>
>> The reality in the ME is that there are only 3 "natural"
powers: Egypt,
>> Persia/Iran, and Asia Minor/Turkey.
>>
>> All the others are shooting stars either propelled by outside power
>> (Israel) or temporary resources (Saudi/oil rich Arab states in general).
>>
>> Twas ever so. e.g. Eqyptians vs Hittites vs Persians (esp with the
>> arrival of Cyrus).
>>
>> External empires have always found this e.g. Anthony & Cleopatra,
>> Parthian wars etc.etc.
>>
>> Adam
>
>

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