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CONGRESSIONAL VOTE COULD TRIGGER TURKEY'S INVASION OF IRAQ
World Tribune
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/20 07/me_turkey_10_10.asp
Oct 10 2007
ANKARA - Turkey is finalizing plans to invade Iraq in an effort to
destroy the Kurdish Workers Party.
Turkey concluded two days of high-level discussions that focused on
plans for a major military incursion of northern Iraq. Officials said
the General Staff has presented plans for an invasion by thousands
of Turkish troops, backed by attack helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft
and armored vehicles, of Iraq's Kandil mountains, the stronghold of
the PKK.
The meetings took place on the eve of a vote on a U.S. congressional
resolution that would deem Turkey responsible for the killing of 1.5
million Armenians during World War I. Officials said passage of the
so-called Armenian Genocide resolution could prompt a decision by
Ankara to invade Iraq.
"There will be a backlash and no government can be indifferent to
that," Turkey's ambassador in Washington, Nabi Sensoy, said.
Officials said the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan
has urged the Bush administration to block a vote in Congress on the
Armenian Genocide resolution. On Oct. 10, the resolution was scheduled
for a vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which could lead
to another vote by the full House.
Turkey has directed U.S. military contractors to oppose the resolution
in the Democratic-controlled House, where it was expected to
pass. Ankara has also recruited Israel and its lobby to work against
the resolution.
"The lobbying has been the most intense that I have ever seen it,"
Rep. Adam Schiff, the sponsor of the House resolution, said.
The calls for a Turkish invasion have intensified in wake of the
killing of 15 Turkish soldiers and police officers over the weekend.
The soldiers were killed in PKK improvised explosive device operations
in the Sirnak province along the Iraqi border.
"Institutions concerned have been given the necessary orders and
instructions to make all kinds of legal, economic and political
preparations to end the presence of the terror organization in a
neighboring country in the upcoming period, including if necessary
a cross-border operation," the government statement said on Tuesday.
The PKK attacks triggered a military offensive against Kurdish
insurgents along the Iraqi border. Officials said the military has
amassed tens of thousands of troops for an invasion of Iraq that
could take place over the next few days. They said the outline of
the military plan was relayed to parliament.
"If we're talking about hot pursuit, then there is no need for
parliamentary authorization," Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul
said. "If it's a cross-border operation, then there is need for one."
Over the last six months, Turkey has conducted a series of exercises
and operations along the 500-kilometer border with Iraq. Officials
said Ankara has carried out small-scale incursions into northern Iraq
to attack suspected PKK strongholds.
Under the latest plans, Ankara would launch a major operation in
the Kandil mountains meant to destroy PKK bases before the onset of
winter, where ground maneuvers would be virtually impossible. Turkey
has assessed that about 5,000 PKK fighters were in the Kandil mountains
or inside Turkey.
Turkey's General Staff has sought approval from the government of
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan for an invasion of Iraq. But Erdogan,
under pressure from the European Union and the United States, has
demurred, and instead sought to obtain cooperation from Iraq for
operations against the PKK.
"I am not sure that unilateral incursions are the way to go, the way
to resolve the issue," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
said on Tuesday. "We have counseled them both in public and private
for many, many months [on] the idea that it is important to work
cooperatively to resolve this issue."
On Tuesday, the U.S. embassy in Ankara warned Americans in Turkey of
the prospect of violence in wake of House passage of the Armenian
genocide resolution. The embassy said anti-American demonstrations
could take place throughout Turkey.
"The Department of State advises U.S. citizens traveling or residing in
Turkey to be alert to the potential for demonstrations, and to avoid
large gatherings," the embassy said. "Even demonstrations intended
to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into
violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas
of demonstrations if possible, and to avoid areas of demonstrations
if possible. Particular caution should be exercised in places known
to be frequented by Americans."
World Tribune
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/20 07/me_turkey_10_10.asp
Oct 10 2007
ANKARA - Turkey is finalizing plans to invade Iraq in an effort to
destroy the Kurdish Workers Party.
Turkey concluded two days of high-level discussions that focused on
plans for a major military incursion of northern Iraq. Officials said
the General Staff has presented plans for an invasion by thousands
of Turkish troops, backed by attack helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft
and armored vehicles, of Iraq's Kandil mountains, the stronghold of
the PKK.
The meetings took place on the eve of a vote on a U.S. congressional
resolution that would deem Turkey responsible for the killing of 1.5
million Armenians during World War I. Officials said passage of the
so-called Armenian Genocide resolution could prompt a decision by
Ankara to invade Iraq.
"There will be a backlash and no government can be indifferent to
that," Turkey's ambassador in Washington, Nabi Sensoy, said.
Officials said the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan
has urged the Bush administration to block a vote in Congress on the
Armenian Genocide resolution. On Oct. 10, the resolution was scheduled
for a vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which could lead
to another vote by the full House.
Turkey has directed U.S. military contractors to oppose the resolution
in the Democratic-controlled House, where it was expected to
pass. Ankara has also recruited Israel and its lobby to work against
the resolution.
"The lobbying has been the most intense that I have ever seen it,"
Rep. Adam Schiff, the sponsor of the House resolution, said.
The calls for a Turkish invasion have intensified in wake of the
killing of 15 Turkish soldiers and police officers over the weekend.
The soldiers were killed in PKK improvised explosive device operations
in the Sirnak province along the Iraqi border.
"Institutions concerned have been given the necessary orders and
instructions to make all kinds of legal, economic and political
preparations to end the presence of the terror organization in a
neighboring country in the upcoming period, including if necessary
a cross-border operation," the government statement said on Tuesday.
The PKK attacks triggered a military offensive against Kurdish
insurgents along the Iraqi border. Officials said the military has
amassed tens of thousands of troops for an invasion of Iraq that
could take place over the next few days. They said the outline of
the military plan was relayed to parliament.
"If we're talking about hot pursuit, then there is no need for
parliamentary authorization," Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul
said. "If it's a cross-border operation, then there is need for one."
Over the last six months, Turkey has conducted a series of exercises
and operations along the 500-kilometer border with Iraq. Officials
said Ankara has carried out small-scale incursions into northern Iraq
to attack suspected PKK strongholds.
Under the latest plans, Ankara would launch a major operation in
the Kandil mountains meant to destroy PKK bases before the onset of
winter, where ground maneuvers would be virtually impossible. Turkey
has assessed that about 5,000 PKK fighters were in the Kandil mountains
or inside Turkey.
Turkey's General Staff has sought approval from the government of
Prime Minister Recep Erdogan for an invasion of Iraq. But Erdogan,
under pressure from the European Union and the United States, has
demurred, and instead sought to obtain cooperation from Iraq for
operations against the PKK.
"I am not sure that unilateral incursions are the way to go, the way
to resolve the issue," U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
said on Tuesday. "We have counseled them both in public and private
for many, many months [on] the idea that it is important to work
cooperatively to resolve this issue."
On Tuesday, the U.S. embassy in Ankara warned Americans in Turkey of
the prospect of violence in wake of House passage of the Armenian
genocide resolution. The embassy said anti-American demonstrations
could take place throughout Turkey.
"The Department of State advises U.S. citizens traveling or residing in
Turkey to be alert to the potential for demonstrations, and to avoid
large gatherings," the embassy said. "Even demonstrations intended
to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into
violence. American citizens are therefore urged to avoid the areas
of demonstrations if possible, and to avoid areas of demonstrations
if possible. Particular caution should be exercised in places known
to be frequented by Americans."