Kurds flee homes as Iran shells Iraq's northern frontier

The Guardian ^ | Friday August 18, 2006 | Michael Howard in Qandil Mountain

[Bloodclot]

Turkey and Iran have dispatched tanks, artillery and thousands of troops to their frontiers with Iraq during the past few weeks in what appears to be a coordinated effort to disrupt the activities of Kurdish rebel bases.

Scores of Kurds have fled their homes in the northern frontier region after four days of shelling by the Iranian army. Local officials said Turkey had also fired a number of shells into Iraqi territory.

. . .

Frustrated by the reluctance of the US and the government in Baghdad to crack down on the PKK bases inside Iraq, Turkish generals have hinted they are considering a large-scale military operation across the border. They are said to be sharing intelligence about Kurdish rebel movements with their Iranian counterparts.

[Bloodclot]

Read the rest. I'm not sure what to make of this?

[SlowBoat407]

It's called "If you think what Israel did was okay, then you're not allowed to complain about this".

[SlowBoat407]

P.S. I disagree with that "logic".

[KoRn]

"It's called "If you think what Israel did was okay, then you're not allowed to complain about this"."

Israel are the good guys.

[vimto]

Turkey are very worried that the Kurds will demand land form them as a homeland.

They banned Kurdish names at one point and as far as I know the media cannot use the Kurdish language (which was one reason why the Kurdish kids died in the bird 'flu outbreak).

[SlowBoat407]

No argument. I was stating the premise under which Turkey and Iran think they can get away with attacks inside Iraq. I should wake up a little more before I try to be clever.

[KoRn]

No worries. I'm still trying to figure out which direction UP is, by noon I should be awake. I AM NOT a morning person lol.

[gotribe]

Totalitarian v. totalitarian v. totalitarian. At least we'll have only two to destroy after they're finished.

[AmericaUnited]

Interesting... MAYBE the Iranians are doing the very same thing Israel just did, i.e. attempt to neutralize the imminent threat on their border, before some future action.

[nuconvert]

It's been going on for quite a while. (off & on)

[Real Cynic No More]

It must be a feint ahead of 'the big one.'

[Red Badger]

WHERE'S THE OUTRAGE! WHERE'S THE UN CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE? WHERE'S THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA? WHERE'S FLAT FATIMA?..............

[Marius3188]

It's called the Guardian, thats the problem.

[EQAndyBuzz]

It isn't about good guys and bad guys. It is about Kurds who live in Iraq who are going into Iran and Turkey and causing problems.

The Kurds believe that territory belongs to them. Well it doesn't and Iran and Turkey are protecting their interiors.

That's what I think slowboat is referring to.

[tdewey10]

I'll support the Kurds over Turkey and Iran any day.

[APRPEH]

[MSSC6644]

I'll support the Kurds over Turkey and Iran any day.

I think gotribe had it right in post #8. The PKK is a communist terrorist organization.

[APRPEH]

there is more to Kurdistan than the PKK. it is an American interest to support non-commie Kurdish leaders without appearing to control what happens.

Patriodic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)

Kurdish parties

[Texas Lizard]

Me Too

[RSmithOpt]

Here we go..........Iran and Turkey are attacking Iraq. Just because the northern borders of Iraq have been shelled doesn't mean that Iraq is not under attack by foreign powers. Hope we don't have too many soldiers in those areas, otherwise, the crap's gonna hit the fan.