Democrats Need to Fully Support the Bush Administration in WARNING Turkey and the Kurds!

3-24-03 | Golden Gate

[Golden Gate]

While our first concern is to be successful in the war against the Iraqi troops, we also have a potential problem of hostilites breaking out between Turkey and the Kurds. There are suggestions that if this were to occur, then there are several other groups with rivalries that could erupt into conflict, and the entire country of Iraq could explode into civil war.

The Bush Administration has issued its warnings to Turkey about sending troops into northern Iraq. There needs to be unified support from Democrats to fully support Pres. Bush in keeping Turkey, the Kurds, and the other groups in line, while the Coalition Forces focus on defeating Dictator Hussein and the Iraqi army.

A Current MUST READ Article for Democrats, and others:
Construction Paper: Why liberals need an affirmative position on IRAQ

Also:   Will Turkey jump into war? Understanding Ankara's long-term designs on Iraq

[Captain Kirk]

How you can possible object to a pre-emptive military action by a country that has been a victim of terrorism e.g Turkey?

[Golden Gate]

Golden Invite

[Enemy Of The State]

Its my opinion that we need to be over there protecting the Kurds against Turkey. We are trying to maintain the territorial integrity of Iraq and Turkey and Iraq are merely trying to decide which part of the pie they are going to divide up among themselves.

There has been a long history between Turkey and the Kurds and if Turkey gets in there, they are just going to annhialate the Kurds to keep them from creating an independent state.

[Golden Gate]

#2. That is a relevant and common question.
My quick answer for now is... Turkey (&the the Kurds, and all the others) need to have restraint, and cooperation with Bush & Blair as they conduct the war.

[George W. Bush]

Nice writing. But Iran is the Big Dog in all this.

Many people aren't aware that in the negotiations on post-war planning for Iraq, we included the Saudis and the Iranians and we excluded the Turks while maintaining very good relations with the Kurds.

There's a lot afoot here. Saddam is just the first objective we are pursuing in the region.

For some excellent analysis on Iran's pivotal role in all this, you really should read this piece: Iran's neutrality on the line

[George W. Bush]

Turkey (&the the Kurds, and all the others) need to have restraint, and cooperation with Bush & Blair as they conduct the war.

Short version: the Kurds and the Iranians will deal with the Turks if they invade. Iran will come across the border into Iraq with out permission. In addition, we would support them with logistics and weaponry and intel.

This is why the Turks announced their entry of 1500 commandos and then denied it. Now they're denying any intention of sending 100,000 troops into Iraq. We've been fully prepared for Turkish treachery ever since Ankara started wobbling and our planning has proceeded on the assumption of Turkish military expansionism in northern Iraq.

We got the drop on the Turks, using our new friends, the Kurds, and Turkey's enemy, Iran. Nice piece of diplomacy and power politics, little noted in the media anywhere. We can't make any of these people love us but we can use their historical hatred and suspicions of each other to our advantage in pursuing our war objectives and post-war regional outcomes.

I keep wondering why Ankara hasn't figured any of this out yet and joined the alliance. I guess the Stupid Party in Ankara is still calling the shots. Oh well, they'll learn eventually.

[DB]

"How you can possible object to a pre-emptive military action by a country that has been a victim of terrorism e.g Turkey?"

With our guys on the ground between them you can damn well understand why. We by invading Iraq are taking on the responsibility of sorting out the terrorists among the Kurds. If the Turks have information on known terrorist there they should share it with us. We don't need another blood war between the Kurds and the Turks in N. Iraq where we will get the blame for the result.

[AMNZ]

The demoRats will not support American efforts against terrorists.

1. They hate George too much.
2. They are terrorists themselves, witness their position toward progress on anything.
3. Look at the corruption in their leadership and the organizations they do support.

What's good about this? - THEY ARE KILLING THEMSELVES FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

[Consort]

Oath of Office:

I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic*; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.

* E.g., the Democrat Party

[aristotleman]

This is not going to escalate, nor are the Turks interested in entering Iraq and controlling an area or fighting with the Kurds.

The Turkish military has certain calculated tactics they like to use when a political aim needs to be achieved.

The imminent threat of force is one of the tactics that the military is employing here, firstly to kepp the extremist Kurd element guessing, worrying and deterred, and secondly to make it clear to the US commanders that Turkey is serious about the situation.

I don't believe the Turkish military would easily defy the US desires.

[nkycincinnatikid]

The Turkish line is that Kurds are merely " mountain Turks". This being the case there can be no legitamacy in fear of some more "mountain Turks" liberating themselves from Arab tyranny.Turkey should welcome that development, wouldn't you think?

[aristotleman]

A few "mountain turks" would like to kill "city Turks".

That's the issue.

[George W. Bush]

It's not "mountain Turks". It's Ankara's claims to the old Ottoman empire. And those are going up in flames before their eyes.

Ankara has a special interest in any land that was once a part of the Ottoman empire and which has vast oil reserves. And their plans are in ruins.

We and our allies have averted a Turkish conquest of northern Iraq to seize Kirkuk/Mosul. The Turkomen and the Kurds were just a sideshow in all this.

Turkey=bigtime loser in Gulf War 2

[aristotleman]

Riiiiiight.

They're would not ber risking entry to the EU for a chance at a few barrels of oil that America will NOT let them take anyway.

You don't seem to understand Turkish policy, my friend.

Don't be blinded by your own wishes.

[Mortimer Snavely]

"...our new friends, the Kurds, and Turkey's enemy, Iran."

I always thought that our fight was against terrorists and Islamists. By supporting those most enthusiastic about terror and Islamism, do you not think that this will blow up in our face?

Is it beyond the realm of possibility that your post war plans for the New Iraq will turn around and bite us, with a bizarre mix of Marxists and Islamists killing everyone and everything which disagrees with them having a piece of the action there? How do you propose to control these parties? Is there not a lethal amount of wishful thinking in your plans?

[George W. Bush]

I always thought that our fight was against terrorists and Islamists.

It is. You just don't seem to recognize how many countries that includes.

Is it beyond the realm of possibility that your post war plans for the New Iraq will turn around and bite us, with a bizarre mix of Marxists and Islamists killing everyone and everything which disagrees with them having a piece of the action there? How do you propose to control these parties? Is there not a lethal amount of wishful thinking in your plans?

Oh, and if we only let Turkey do anything that comes into their violent pointy little heads, everything would be fine?

You could offer no guarantee on these same matters if we and the others hadn't put Turkey on a leash. I don't think you've even begun to realize just how badly Turkey has harmed itself in these matters. So unnecessary, so stupid.

[George W. Bush]

You don't seem to understand Turkish policy, my friend.

I understand it very well. So does our Pentagon and State. So does the EU. I think it's you who doesn't understand Turkey's history or their intentions in this matter.

But I'm not concerned anyway. Turkey's been leashed and muzzled for the duration.

Just as an exercise in rational thought, exactly how do you explain that Belgium, then Germany, then all the EU felt it was necessary to issue this warning to Turkey? How do you explain that we are firmly telling the Turks "NO" 24 hours a day from every military and diplomatic contact we have?

I'm afraid it's your estimation of the situtaion that comes up quite short.

[aristotleman]

Just as an exercise in rational thought, exactly how do you explain that Belgium, then Germany, then all the EU felt it was necessary to issue this warning to Turkey? How do you explain that we are firmly telling the Turks "NO" 24 hours a day from every military and diplomatic contact we have?

If you can't shout at the Father, shout at his son.

Indirect pressure.

The EU is now against all who support the US. You'll see how the EU will make it difficult for the prospective countries to join, if they expressed support for this war.

[Mortimer Snavely]

Erdogan and his buffoons have cheapened and discredited their country, to be sure, and I understand why the President has written him of the list of folks to contact about the current conflict.

What I can't understand is turning a blind eye to the PKK and Iranian Islamists, and giving them a piece of the action in New Iraq. A strong Turkish presence in Northern Iraq would, on the other hand, definitely burn out the hornets' nest of the PKK, and make the reconstruction of the country just that much easier.

What I see here is not a plan designed to succeed in creating a new country ultimately governed by law. I see a plan which has, as its primary objective, thumbing its nose at Turkey. That strikes me as counter-productive. I see nothing but future problems, unless the Turkish Army quits twiddling its thumbs and decides to get rid of Erdogan and the AKP.

I see no value at all in setting up a bigger and better PKK, with a rejuvenated Islamic Iran, to boot.