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Thu, 20. Jul 2006
Turkish officials signaled yesterday they are prepared to send the army into
northern Iraq if U.S. and Iraqi forces do not take steps to combat Turkish
Kurdish guerrillas there a move that could put Turkey on a collision
course with the United States.
Turkey is facing increasing domestic pressure to act after 15 soldiers,
police and guards were killed fighting the guerrillas in southeastern Turkey
in the past week.
The government is really in a bind, said Seyfi Tashan, director of the
Foreign Policy Institute at Bilkent University in Ankara. On the one hand,
they dont want things to break down with the United States. On the other
hand, the public is crying for action.
Diplomats and experts cautioned the increasingly aggressive Turkish
statements were likely aimed at calming public anger and pressing the U.S.
and Iraq to act against the Turkish Kurdish guerrillas. But they also said
Turkish politicians and military officers could act if nothing is done.
U.S. officials in Turkey and Washington were in contact with Turkish
officials and military commanders to press them to work with Washington to
combat the guerrillas and not to act alone, a Western diplomat said,
speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject.
Turkeys NTV television and Hurriyet newspaper report the government has
told the military to draw up plans for a push into northern Iraq and to
advise on the possibilities such an incursion could lead to a clash with
Iraqi Kurds or U.S. troops.
Any operation was unlikely before the end of August, when the current
military chief of staff is replaced by an officer widely regarded as a
hard-liner, NTV said.
The Western diplomat said the Turkish military long has had plans for
fighting guerrillas in northern Iraq. These range from limited artillery and
airstrikes on guerrilla bases to attacks by commando forces and a broader
ground offensive.
American officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, have
repeatedly warned Turkey against entering northern Iraq, one of the few
stable areas of the country.
U.S. Ambassador Ross Wilson said Turkish, Iraqi and U.S. cooperation is a
more sensible way to go forward than perhaps to ... try to do it
unilaterally.
Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan regional government in
northern Iraq, appeared to be addressing Turkish concerns when he said
yesterday that Iraqi Kurds wont allow anyone to harm our neighbors by
using our territory.
But he also said the problem with the guerrillas cannot be solved through
military means alone, Turkeys DHA news agency reported.
Turkey considers the guerrillas terrorists and has refused to talk with
them.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to confirm reports that the
military was ordered to draft plans when he said yesterday: We know how to
take care of (terrorism) on our own... Our competent units are making
preparations and will continue to do so.