Screw Turkey

Brian in Mesa · March 21st, 2003, 08:03 AM

They said we couldn't fly over, then they said we could, now they seem to be attempting to limit our use of their airspace.

Hey Turkey, make up your mind.

Remember..."You're either with us, or you're French."

Chaplin · March 21st, 2003, 08:04 AM

AND they want to send troops into Northern Iraq.

WizardOfAz · March 21st, 2003, 08:05 AM

Does it have anything to do with the money??

jf-08 · March 21st, 2003, 08:05 AM

Damn Frenchies!

Brian in Mesa · March 21st, 2003, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chaplin
AND they want to send troops into Northern Iraq.

Hey if they want to help, that's fine. Seems odd though that they'd want to limit our use of their country's airspace and yet they want to send in their troops. Do they have some motives of their own? Maybe they watched Three Kings with Clooney and want some of that gold...

Chaplin · March 21st, 2003, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
Hey if they want to help, that's fine. Seems odd though that they'd want to limit our use of their country's airspace and yet they want to send in their troops. Do they have some motives of their own? Maybe they watched Three Kings with Clooney and want some of that gold...

They DEFINITELY have their own motives. But we won't let them help.

WizardOfAz · March 21st, 2003, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
Hey if they want to help, that's fine.

I don't think they really want to help.

Something about a few years of bad blood between them and the Kurds.....I'm sure they'll work it out though.

SECTION 11 · March 21st, 2003, 08:11 AM

My guess is that Turkey does not a Kurd majority having anything to do with a new gov't in Iraq, and would want to establish some sort of control or at least requlation of the northern portion of Iraq.
Turkey's history of dealing with the Kurds is marginally better than Iraq's.

AZCB34 · March 21st, 2003, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SECTION 11
My guess is that Turkey does not a Kurd majority having anything to do with a new gov't in Iraq, and would want to establish some sort of control or at least requlation of the northern portion of Iraq.
Turkey's history of dealing with the Kurds is marginally better than Iraq's.

I think that is exactly why the Turks want into N Iraq. Their whole process would be to go after the Kurds...who also have committed terrorist acts in Turkey. Lots of layers here.

WaywardFan · March 21st, 2003, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by AZCB34
I think that is exactly why the Turks want into N Iraq. Their whole process would be to go after the Kurds...who also have committed terrorist acts in Turkey. Lots of layers here.

That's exactly it. We can't let them do that.

It doesn't appear we'll need the access anyway.

Chaplin · March 21st, 2003, 09:07 AM

There's no way we're going to let the Turks in. The Kurds are pretty much an ally for us in the North--it'd be absolutely insane to let the Turks in.

WizardOfAz · March 21st, 2003, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chaplin
There's no way we're going to let the Turks in. The Kurds are pretty much an ally for us in the North--it'd be absolutely insane to let the Turks in.

Turkey Moves 1,000 Soldiers Into N. Iraq

By SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey moved 1,000 soldiers into northern Iraq (news - web sites) on Friday to beef up its forces there, a Turkish military official said. Turkey already maintains several thousand soldiers backed by a few dozen tanks in northern Iraq to chase Turkish Kurdish guerrillas. Turkey is also shifting some 5,000 soldiers to the border region, the military official said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity.

The Turkish foreign minister said Friday his nation was determined to send its troops over the border into northern Iraq to contain a possible refugee flow and prevent any attempt by Iraqi Kurds to break away from Iraq.

Abdullah Gul's remarks came despite strong opposition in Washington to any unilateral move by Turkey into northern Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said Friday: "We don't see any need for any Turkish incursions into northern Iraq."

But "Turkish soldiers will go in," Gul told reporters on his return from a trip from Brussels.

Gul's statement came after Turkey agreed Friday to allow U.S. overflights for a war with Iraq, reversing an earlier decision to block Turkey's airspace because of a disagreement with the United States over a Turkish troop deployment.

Washington has warned that a Turkish incursion could lead to friendly fire incidents with U.S. forces. Iraqi Kurdish groups say the move could lead to clashes.

In Washington, a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Turkey opened its airspace without any conditions attached, adding that the U.S. administration continued to discuss the issue of Turkish troops separately.

Turkey's Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul also said Turkish and U.S. officials would continue negotiations.

Turkey has frequently sent soldiers into northern Iraq to chase Kurdish rebels belonging to the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which fought a 15-year battle for autonomy from Turkey.

Gul said Turkey wanted to prevent Iraq's breakup and to contain a possible refugee flow within Iraq's borders.

"Turkey's Iraq policy is ... Iraq's territorial integrity, that Iraq's resources are shared by the whole population ... that a refugee flow is contained within Iraq," Gul said.

"Turkey has no designs whatsoever on Iraq's territory. Turkey will take measures in line with these aims," he said.

Turkey fears that Iraq could fragment during a war, leading Iraqi Kurds to declare independence, which could encourage Turkish Kurdish rebels.

Turkey's parliament voted Thursday to allow the United States to use the airspace, a measure that would allow strike aircraft on carriers in the Mediterranean to fly more directly into Iraq.

The resolution passed by parliament would also allow Turkey to move its own forces into northern Iraq.

Screw Turkey

The Turks Are In!