Posted: 10/19/2011 2:19:09 AM EDT
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Up on Fox News:
Turkey Reportedly Launches Incursion Into Iraq Published October 19, 2011 | Associated Press ANKARA, Turkey – Turkish soldiers, air force bombers and helicopter gunships reportedly launched an incursion into Iraq on Wednesday, hours after Kurdish rebels killed 26 soldiers and wounded 22 others in multiple attacks along the border. Turkish authorities did not immediately confirm the incursion but the chief of the military as well as interior and defense ministers rushed to the border area while Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled a visit to Kazakhstan. Read more here. |
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This happened as well in 09 when I was in Kirkuk. Nothing was done by the Iraqis other than a protest note and IIRC, we didn't really mention it either. I do not remember that. Maybe this isn't a big deal, but with us looking like we will be pulling everybody out, it looks like Turkey may be trying to expand their sphere of influence. |
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This happened as well in 09 when I was in Kirkuk. Nothing was done by the Iraqis other than a protest note and IIRC, we didn't really mention it either. I do not remember that. Maybe this isn't a big deal, but with us looking like we will be pulling everybody out, it looks like Turkey may be trying to expand their sphere of influence. Either that, or they're looking to settle some scores with the Kurds while the Iraqi .gov is still unable to respond effectively |
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This happened as well in 09 when I was in Kirkuk. Nothing was done by the Iraqis other than a protest note and IIRC, we didn't really mention it either. I do not remember that. Maybe this isn't a big deal, but with us looking like we will be pulling everybody out, it looks like Turkey may be trying to expand their sphere of influence. Either that, or they're looking to settle some scores with the Kurds while the Iraqi .gov is still unable to respond effectively Sounds pretty plausible. |
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I remember reading about pilots patrolling the northern no-fly zone, protecting the Kurds from Saddam Hussein. They'd get an order to return to base, then when they went back up they'd see that the Turks had bombed the villages they were protecting.
It was pretty frustrating for them. |
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This happened as well in 09 when I was in Kirkuk. Nothing was done by the Iraqis other than a protest note and IIRC, we didn't really mention it either. I do not remember that. Maybe this isn't a big deal, but with us looking like we will be pulling everybody out, it looks like Turkey may be trying to expand their sphere of influence. It has been routine for some time - but this sounds like a larger move. Tension has been increasing - we even have a US liaison position on the Turkish side of the border to keep an eye on things. The Baghdad government has zero influence there, and I doubt they really are bothered by it, despite needing to make the usual official protestations. The Kurds wore out their sympathy hand a long time ago in Iraq - and never really had one in Turkey. |
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The Kurds wore out their sympathy hand a long time ago in Iraq - and never really had one in Turkey. Ever since Saddam gassed them.... Turks never liked them, not only because of the PKK activities in eastern Turkey. I would argue the Kurds had some sympathy at first from the other elements of the Iraqi opposition - including the new Shia-dominated government - at first. Their continued ridiculous attempts at land grabs and attempts to play mom against dad (US/coalition vs. GoI) eventually reached the point where people stopped caring too much. Their half hearted efforts to clean up the PKK have ben seen as just what they are - token gestures to the west, while supporting them under the table. It has truly been a "give an inch, take a mile" situation. |