Turkey threatens to attack in Iraq

Skybird · 07-20-06, 02:16 AM

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle1185357.ece

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=34872

If there is a mess - live it to the very end. A Turkish intervention is the last thing that is needed for Iraq. On the other hand - it could help to move Europeans away from the idea of Turkish EU membership. Seen that way, it is an opportunity for the West. If that is not queer.

snowsub · 07-20-06, 03:40 AM

I reakon they could do some artilliary strikes with only harsh words from the US.
Turkey's airforce over Iraq might push it a little though, but actual turkish forces on the ground would really have the "you know what" hit the fan.

PeriscopeDepth · 07-20-06, 03:51 AM

Good look with that Turkey.

Silly Turks, Trix are for kids.

PD

Skybird · 07-20-06, 05:58 AM

I think you underestimate the Turkish military. We repeatedly met or where escorted by ground forces of theirs. They are tough, and good, usually disciplined soldiers, the officers keep a tight and punishing regime with little tolerance for failures. I have also seen myself in Eastern Anatolia what they can do to villages that they take on - they used to do their business with far lesser self-restriction than we in the West wish our troops to do. Traditonally, the Turks are a warrior people, and they were considered to be a military elite in earlier times. And I doubt that they leave it to some arty strikes if they decide to go after the Kurds in Northwestern Iraq. I expect a major ground operation if they should become serious about this. And Washington already has learned by several examples that the cold war is over and Ankara does not listen to it anymore. they have their own ambitions, and if America likes that or not is of little interest for them. In this context I even ask if now while the threat which to counter NATO has been founded for has gone, turkey even should remain a member of NATO anymore. Despite shared interests rooting in the constellation of the cold war, Europe has nothing more in common with Turkey's interests.

scandium · 07-20-06, 07:55 AM

*shrug* what do you expect? It is open season in the ME and everyone's a target or potential target by everyone else. Israel is off hunting in Lebanon and Gazza with an eye on Syria and Iran, who are both planning or intending who knows what - perhaps nothing - Saudia Arabia is busy repressing its own people, Pakistan and India are preoccupied with each other and Kashmir, Afghanistan is a disaster, and the US Military is so helplessly bogged down in Iraq that it still cannont get all of its own people out of Lebanon even though its right next door, as is the West which cannot even agree on what to do over Lebanon or how to enforce any measures like an enforced cease fire.

Turkey, if you'll recall, was a major regional power in its own rights in the not so distant Ottoman empire, still retains considerable military power, has a real beef of its own with the Kurds, and covets the rich oil fields in their region which would be a huge boon to the Turkish economy. What better time to find, or manufacture, a pretext for an incursion into Kurdish Iraq and who is going to stop them?

snowsub · 07-20-06, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scandium

<snip> What better time to find, or manufacture, a pretext for an incursion into Kurdish Iraq and who is going to stop them?

US Forces, I'll bet if they notice a buildup there will be "increase insurgent activity" around the turkish border in N Iraq.

Dump a few companies there and turkey will back off a bit, might not want a "mistake" to happen and some GI's get killed, bad for diplomatic relations you know...

just my prescient 2c

August · 07-20-06, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scandium

the US Military is so helplessly bogged down in Iraq that it still cannont get all of its own people out of Lebanon even though its right next door

Apparently you aren't that good at geography, are you?

TteFAboB · 07-20-06, 10:23 AM

Grey Wolves. Leeway for nationalist boost.

They know they can exterminate Kurds when nobody's watching, but they wouldn't dare doing it with every camera pointed at them. Every camera pointed at them: that's what it comes down to.

07-20-06, 02:16 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,615 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Turkey threatens to attack in Iraq http://news.independent.co.uk/world/...cle1185357.ece http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=34872 If there is a mess - live it to the very end. A Turkish intervention is the last thing that is needed for Iraq. On the other hand - it could help to move Europeans away from the idea of Turkish EU membership. Seen that way, it is an opportunity for the West. If that is not queer. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

07-20-06, 03:40 AM	#2
snowsub 中国水兵 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Moreton bay Posts: 286 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I reakon they could do some artilliary strikes with only harsh words from the US. Turkey's airforce over Iraq might push it a little though, but actual turkish forces on the ground would really have the "you know what" hit the fan. __________________

07-20-06, 05:58 AM	#4
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,615 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	I think you underestimate the Turkish military. We repeatedly met or where escorted by ground forces of theirs. They are tough, and good, usually disciplined soldiers, the officers keep a tight and punishing regime with little tolerance for failures. I have also seen myself in Eastern Anatolia what they can do to villages that they take on - they used to do their business with far lesser self-restriction than we in the West wish our troops to do. Traditonally, the Turks are a warrior people, and they were considered to be a military elite in earlier times. And I doubt that they leave it to some arty strikes if they decide to go after the Kurds in Northwestern Iraq. I expect a major ground operation if they should become serious about this. And Washington already has learned by several examples that the cold war is over and Ankara does not listen to it anymore. they have their own ambitions, and if America likes that or not is of little interest for them. In this context I even ask if now while the threat which to counter NATO has been founded for has gone, turkey even should remain a member of NATO anymore. Despite shared interests rooting in the constellation of the cold war, Europe has nothing more in common with Turkey's interests. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert. Last edited by Skybird; 07-20-06 at 06:01 AM.

07-20-06, 07:55 AM	#5
scandium Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,098 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	shrug what do you expect? It is open season in the ME and everyone's a target or potential target by everyone else. Israel is off hunting in Lebanon and Gazza with an eye on Syria and Iran, who are both planning or intending who knows what - perhaps nothing - Saudia Arabia is busy repressing its own people, Pakistan and India are preoccupied with each other and Kashmir, Afghanistan is a disaster, and the US Military is so helplessly bogged down in Iraq that it still cannont get all of its own people out of Lebanon even though its right next door, as is the West which cannot even agree on what to do over Lebanon or how to enforce any measures like an enforced cease fire. Turkey, if you'll recall, was a major regional power in its own rights in the not so distant Ottoman empire, still retains considerable military power, has a real beef of its own with the Kurds, and covets the rich oil fields in their region which would be a huge boon to the Turkish economy. What better time to find, or manufacture, a pretext for an incursion into Kurdish Iraq and who is going to stop them? __________________ What can you do against the lunatic who is more intelligent than yourself, who gives your arguments a fair hearing and then simply persists in his lunacy? -- George Orwell

07-20-06, 10:23 AM	#8
TteFAboB Admiral Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2,247 Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	Grey Wolves. Leeway for nationalist boost. They know they can exterminate Kurds when nobody's watching, but they wouldn't dare doing it with every camera pointed at them. Every camera pointed at them: that's what it comes down to. __________________ "Tout ce qui est exagéré est insignifiant." ("All that is exaggerated is insignificant.") - Talleyrand

07-20-06, 03:51 AM	#3
PeriscopeDepth Sea Lord Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 1,894 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Good look with that Turkey. Silly Turks, Trix are for kids. PD