Posted on 07/09/2007 7:56:02 AM PDT by kellynla
Turkey has massed 140,000 soldiers on its border with northern Iraq, Iraq's foreign minister said Monday, calling the neighboring country's fears of Kurdish rebels based there "legitimate" but better resolved through negotiation.
The Turkish military had no comment to the remarks by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd from northern Iraq, and it was unclear where he got the figures. If they are accurate, Turkey would have nearly as many soldiers along its border with Iraq as the 155,000 troops which the U.S. has in the country.
Zebari's comments came amid calls by Turkey's military for the government to give it the green light to carry out military operations in northern Iraqi against the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.
"Turkey is building up forces on the border. There are 140,000 soldiers fully armed on the border. We are against any military interference or violation of Iraqi sovereignty," Zebari said in Baghdad.
Turkey has been pressuring the United States and Iraq to eliminate PKK bases in Kurdish-controlled parts of northern Iraq and has said it will carry out a cross-border offensive if necessary.
"Turkey's fears are legitimate but such things can be discussed," Zebari said. ""The perfect solution is the withdrawal of the Turkish forces from the borders."
He added: "No one wants a new military conflict in the region."
He said there had been no "Turkey military violation until now," citing artillery shelling and Turkish surveillance overflights.
Turkey has long complained of U.S. inaction against separatist rebels, who have escalated attacks inside Turkey in recent months. Last week, Turkey's military chief asked the government to set political guidelines for an incursion into northern Iraq.
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Friday confirmed that detailed incursion plans were ready.
Zebari said that his government cannot send its troops to secure the border with Turkey at a time when U.S. and Iraqi forces are fighting a deadly insurgency that has killed thousands of people.
"Our military forces are over-occupied with securing the streets and we do not have forces enough to open a new front. We do not want any conflict. However, no military violation has taken place till now," Zebari said.
Turkey has been battling separatist Kurdish rebels since 1984 in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people. There has been a recent surge in rebel attacks, and 67 soldiers have been killed this year. More than 110 rebels were killed in the same period, according to the Turkish military.
Zebari said the best way is to address Turkey's "legitimate security concerns" and revive the security and military commission which is made up of the united states, Iraq and Turkey.
I wonder how NATO feels about this?
Turkey is hearing the defeatist talk and rumours in Washington DC of our withdrawal next year. Those 140,000 Turkish troops are not amassing for some strikes against PKK in Iraq... this is just the superficial official reason. They are waiting for our withdrawal, to fully invade Kurdistan and annex Kirkuk. Expect the Iranians to do something similar soon.
Turkey has long complained of U.S. inaction against separatist rebels...
Tough Shiite, Turkey. We will help you as you have helped US.
Uh-Oh......was April Glaspie seen in Istanbul recently?
Imagine what could be done if the various countries in the region were to act together for once.
Good point, I didn’t think about that possibility.
Imagine all the people living live at peace...
Nothing will focus the Iraqi politicians quite like the prospect of a Turkish invasion and the loss of the northern oil fields.
If I was ruling Turkey (or Syria, Saudi, etc) then I’d be preparing for war too. When the US cuts and runs, the whole place will become a huge war zone, between Kurds, Shites and Sunis. If there’s gonna be a war, then you really need to be ready for it.
I was thinking more along the lines of removing theocracies and installing secular gov’ts here and there.
Ottoman Empire, part 2?
“Ottoman Empire, part 2?”
The Ottomans ruled Iraq for 1000 years, and arguably did a better job than anyone since 1919.
The Ottoman Empire was the Islamic Caliphate. Add to this the absence of radical Islamist terrorism as a violent opposition and a technological state comparable to the late bronze age... and there is little dysfunction to expect.
The Ottomans BTW also excelled at murdering Christians like no other Muslim people.
I agree. They don’t want to mess with the Turkish army.
It might be a good thing. Turkey is a secular nation. Maybe they can turn Iraq into one also.
I’ll bet Europe is worried now.
Don't you know man that if someone just took BushCheneyCo out of office everyone would just start loving each other man. Nothing but ice cream sundaes, ultimate frisbee tournaments, and the Euphrates would be a river of chocolate with cute little gumdrop paddle boats for everyone to ride on!
The Ottoman Empire was a Caliphate, but Turkey is not.
The army is the only thing keeping Turkey as a secular state and they won’t allow it to be otherwise.
“The Ottomans BTW also excelled at murdering Christians like no other Muslim people.”
They generally worked like the mafia — they made you offers that you couldn’t refuse. They paid off the local tribal leaders who in turn kept the peace (and money flowing back home), and killed anyone who didn’t like the arrangement. Saddam simply did the same.
The Armenians were seen as a threat, for any number of reasons, and they were dealt with in typical Ottoman fashion.
What a novel idea.
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