Turkey raps Iraqi Kurd boss over intervention threat

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Turkey raps Iraqi Kurd boss over intervention threat
09 Apr 2007 10:10:44 GMT
Source: Reuters

ANKARA, April 9 (Reuters) - Turkey's prime minister issued a stern warning
on Monday to Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani over comments he made
about Turkey's policy towards northern Iraq, saying Barzani would "be crushed
by his own words".

Barzani said in a television interview at the weekend that if Turkey intervened
in mainly Kurdish northern Iraq, as it has often threatened to do, then Iraqi
Kurds would intervene in cities in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast.

"They (the Iraqi Kurds) should be very careful in their use of words... otherwise
they will be crushed by those words... Barzani has again exceeded the limits,"
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters in televised remarks.


Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09104273.htm

[youngdem]

1. What in the HELL is Barzani thinking?

The Kurds are not high on our priority list. If Barzani provokes Turkey by threatening a reprisal invasion in Kurdish areas of Turkey, Turkey is gonna attack them. Turkey is just looking for a reason, and Barzani seems ready to give it to him.

Does Barzani think the US is gonna help repel the Turks? I doubt we will. We are likely unable to stop it, both diplomatically and militarily. Plus, do we REALLY want to attack a member of NATO in defense of an ethnic group the average American does not know or care about?

Barzani is badly miscalculating.

[yava]

6. Kurds have been persecuted by Turkey for centuries

So, the US of Clinton bombed Serbia for abuse of Albanians. Now you are saying that Turks can invade Kurdish people and they are supposed to stay put, say thank you? just because Turkey is a power!!!
Well with that kind of logic, no wonder US is in Iraq too!

[youngdem]

9. Suicidal provocations do your people no good and is bad statesmanship

His responsibility is not to his testosterone, it is to his people. Talking tougher than you can back up at a time of GREAT difficulty for your fledgling nation is fucking stupid. He has provoked Turkey into attacking them.

Barzani needs to start talking like a politician, or he is going to make it a political and perceived internal security necessity for Turkish politicians to attack Kurdistan.

[ohio2007]

2. Wasn't there a thread about Turkey invading Iraq ?

Going after the Kurds?
Seems the news article proved to be false.

Turkish army enters Northern Iraq
Source: Azeri-Press Agency

The Turkish army units have entered the Nothern Iraq, planning a large-scale operation against PKK gorillas, an Iraqi internet website related to head of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani reported Thursday.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2775226&mesg_id=2775226

[Eugene]

3. Despite the PUK's false alarm, the war of words goes on.

The invasion report originated from the PUK's web site
and was never confirmed independently. Turkish and
Iraqi Kurd leaders are threatening each other on the
record and the U.S. is scrambling to defuse the crisis.

[Kagemusha]

4. Clearly there are large-scale plans but they remain just plans for now

Unless Turkey's gonna actually do something that displeases the US, Barzani's bluster looks very good at home. And he has some honor to build up after the loss of face from the Irbil raid by the US that nabbed those Iranian "consulate" (official status pending) diplomats.

[Igel]

5. Actually, that was the second such thread I've seen here.

And yes, it turns out to have been hyperbolic rumor-mongering.

[Eugene]

7. Update: Turkey raps Iraqi Kurds over intervention comments

Source: Reuters

Turkey raps Iraqi Kurds over intervention comments
09 Apr 2007 18:11:34 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Adds U.S. State Dept comment)

By Hidir Goktas and Gareth Jones

-snip-

A Barzani aide later said the Kurd leader's comments had not been
meant as a threat.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack
called Barzani's comments "unhelpful".

"They certainly do not further the goal of greater Turkish-Iraqi
cooperation on issues of common concern, including fighting the PKK
(the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party)."

-snip-

Security officials said a Turkish soldier and three guerrillas from
the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed on Monday
in fresh fighting in southeast Turkey.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09119271.htm

[bemildred]

8. Gul: You Will See Our Answer

ANKARA - Turkish FM & Deputy PM Abdullah Gul has reacted to recent remarks of Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani saying that everyone would see Turkey`s answer.

Replying to questions of journalists before attending ceremonies to mark the 162nd anniversary of Turkish Police Dept., Gul said, "you will see our answer to Barzani."

http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=170670