U.S. Knew of Turkey's Plan To Hit PKK, Didn't Object

Wall Stret Journal ^ | February 26, 2008 | Yochi J. Dreazen

[Truth29]

WASHINGTON -- The Turkish government briefed the Bush administration about its plans to strike northern Iraq well in advance of launching the controversial operation and the U.S. raised no objections, according to American and Turkish officials.

Turkish representatives told U.S. diplomatic and military officials that Ankara was planning to send ground troops into Iraq to strike targets belonging to the Kurdish Workers Party, or PKK, an anti-Turkish guerilla group, according to officials from both countries. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan personally told President Bush about the plans, the officials said. The White House confirmed the conversation occurred.

"In terms of the ground operation, we did inform well in advance the U.S. diplomatic and military authorities," Turkish ambassador Nabi Sensoy said in an interview. "They understood why Turkey was doing this." A senior U.S. administration official confirmed Turkey discussed the planned invasion with the U.S. and said the U.S. didn't give the Turks a firm red light. "We already have a lot of cooperation with them in the area, providing intelligence," he said. The administration has offered virtually no public criticism of the Turkish strikes, which mark the first large-scale Turkish push into Iraqi territory since the start of the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. State Department spokesman Tom Casey said yesterday the PKK was a threat to the U.S., as well as to Turkey and Iraq. "The PKK is a common enemy," he told reporters.

(snip)

Kurdish officials have begun to publicly accuse the U.S. of effectively collaborating with the Turkish assaults. Mr. Sensoy said Ankara wasn't feeling any real U.S. pressure to wind down the effort. "I don't think there is pressure, and I do not expect that there will be any," he said. "Turkey will stop the operation when the predetermined military targets are achieved."

[Truth29]

When we push for an independent Kosovo, we open up a can of worms for other movements like the Kurds for Kurdistan. The PKK and the KLA were both terrorist organizations.

[Truth29]

ping

[Truth29]

ping

[Westbrook]

The PKK are communist/islamist thugs.

But how are they any different from the KLA?

[Grimmy]

But how are they any different from the KLA?

I would guess... because the msm and the DoS euro worshipers say so?

[Truth29]

"The PKK are communist/islamist thugs.

But how are they any different from the KLA?"

There may be some difference in ideology, but they both were/are terrorist organizations. The difference was that the US backed and armed the KLA under Clinton and assisted them in fighting the Serbs. The US backing of the KLA and support for the succession of Kosovo is a precedent that will be used by other groups seeking independence - no matter how many times the US says Kosovo is not a precedent.

[blueheron2]

Muslims killing Muslims, how existential.

Apologies to Geico.

[UKTory]

“The PKK are communist/islamist thugs.

But how are they any different from the KLA?”

The latter are not currently overtly attacking the US or any of its allies?

[agere_contra]

IMO they’re different from the KLA because Clinton isn’t in office.

[Grimmy]

Ding Ding Ding! There it is!

[PGalt]

More here (interesting article, organization)...

http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2720

from granny’s world terrorism thread

[Bokababe]

"“The PKK are communist/islamist thugs. But how are they any different from the KLA?” The latter are not currently overtly attacking the US or any of its allies?"

YET. Wait until they find out that they never won "independence", but rather "armed occupation". That Pro-America flag waiving will become a distant memory and their Wahhabi friends will exploit their frustration, against us.

We let the genie out of the bottle.

[nw_arizona_granny]

Bump.

Thanks for passing it on.