I was watching BBC America news last night

I didn't catch the entire report, but apparently the Turkish Parliament has approved military incursions into Iraq to fight the PPK. There hasn't been a whisper of this in our news, this is opening a whole new can of worms now, but it isn't one I haven't expected to see coming, This is something we better keep an eye on and get it out to the public, since our news organizations don't seem to believe they need to cover it.

Thanks to Caro's headline post, I found this:

Turkey says ready to send troops into N.Iraq

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's prime minister gave the green light on Tuesday for possible military action in northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels there, drawing a warning from the United States, which fears wider regional instability.

Tayyip Erdogan's government prepared to request parliament's approval for an incursion into the mainly Kurdish region, Turkish private broadcasters CNN Turk and NTV reported.

Washington urged Ankara to hold off on unilateral action, fearing it could destabilize Iraq's most peaceful area and potentially the wider region.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSL0913061820071009

Just what we need, a further escalation.

It's time to get the hell out of there!

It just seems to important to let this slide under the radar. Things like this can escalate in a hurry, we need to get this out there now.

and Turkey is our ally?????

We attacked, invaded, and occupied Iraq based on lies - they posed NO threat. Turkey is sustaining incursions and attacks against its sovereign territory from forces in Iraq. Who has a greater 'right' to defend themselves???

:shrug:

under poppy, he argued against invading Iraq at the time. he must have lain awake night after night letting his inner thoughts gnaw away his soul.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/world/europe/10turkey.html?em&ex=1192161600&en=eec6b40cbf94a082&ei=5087%0A

Turkey took a step toward a military operation in Iraq on Tuesday, as its top political and military leaders issued a statement authorizing troops to cross the Iraq border to eliminate separatist Kurdish rebel camps in the northern region.

Turkey moved toward military action in the face of strong opposition by the United States, which is anxious to maintain peace in the region, one of the rare areas of stability in conflict-torn Iraq. But more than two dozen Turkish soldiers have been killed in recent days, and the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan seemed far more determined than before to act decisively.

A government official without authorization to speak publicly on the issue who asked not to be identified by name, said preparations were under way to seek parliamentary approval for a cross-border military operation, a request that would be the first formal step toward an offensive.

The Associated Press reported that the request would be submitted to Parliament as early as Wednesday.

Government offices and institutions have been ordered “to take all economic and political measures, including cross-border operations when necessary, in order to end the existence of the terror organization in a neighboring country,” said the statement, which was released by Mr. Erdogan’s office, after he met with political and military leaders in Ankara.



Juan Cole has been reporting on it....


After Kurdish guerrillas killed over a dozen Turkish troops, Turkey's prime minister authorized a military strike against suspected guerrilla strongholds in Iraqi Kurdistan on Friday.

The US State Department immediately asked Turkey to reconsider using force in this way. Turkey's leaders are already annoyed with the US over the looming Congressional resolution condemning Turkey for the Armenian genocide of 1915, and some politicians are suggesting that Incirlik Air Force Base could be closed to the US if the resolution passes. The base is now a major route for getting supplies to the US military in Iraq. The Armenian Lobby is behind the congressional vote and is being opposed by the Turkey Lobby.

http://juancole.com/

Could they be warning the U.S. not to vote against them?

to support this, I am of Armenian ancestry, and this vote will be very important to all Armenians, but again, the US is a ally of Turkey, and they (the House) will probably slam down this resolution. This action will get many Armenians angry.

:shrug:

Eeek! This could be a really REALLY aweful development. N. Iraq was supposed to be the most stable area in the country. Correct?

now we are getting the Turks in the equation, and Turkey going into that area of Kirkuk has oil, and how will the Americans stand on this? we are going to be even more embedded into a civil war, Kurds against Turks, and we end up in the middle again, I hate Bush.

,...in Iraq by making some ridiculous tie into a resolution having absolutely nothing to do with what is happening?

:shrug:

OMG! Are the Bushites EXPECTING Iraq to now devolve into an even more unstable situation?

:scared:

if this happens the Turks going in this will be horrendous.

look below the surface.

it's always about resources and money.

:kick:

In 2000 as Leader of the House Dennis Hastert "shelved" this same "genocide bill" and was paid handsomely..Check it out

I am very confused. :crazy:

Rice and Gates didn't address that so much as warning Congress that the resolution would upset Turkey and potentially hurt the troops.

Bush just spoke and said to leave Turkey alone and not vote for the resolution

Turkey has DECIDED to take unilateral military actions in N. Iraq.

Bush, Rice and Gates are telling Congress to 'leave Turkey alone' as if a non-actionable resolution makes any damn difference on Turkey's military decision?

I am still confused.

Are they trying to cover their asses by making a lame attempt to tie a non-actionable resolution into and Iraq that will now fall apart because Turkey is going to engage in unilateral intervention?

:shrug:

now he is fucking the Armenian people.

or kills
or insults

just like when saddam threatened to invade kuwait. poppy, played it down and it got virtually no air play, but when they did, "he was all so surprised and offended by such a bold US like action".

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2006563&mesg_id=2006563

this is not good

(snip)

A Turkish military offensive into northern Iraq, while unlikely, would have far-reaching consequences for the United States. Turkey is a NATO member and has the region’s most powerful army. Turkey’s support of the United States in the Iraq war is crucial. The United States’ Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey supplies the military in central Iraq.

Sean McCormack, a State Department spokesman, said the United States had encouraged Turkish officials to work together with the Iraqi government.

“In our view, it is not going to lead to a long-term, durable solution to have significant incursions from Turkey into Iraq,” he said at a news briefing in Washington.

But Iraq’s government has little authority in the region, which is controlled exclusively by Kurds, and an accord reached by Iraq’s interior minister and senior Turkish officials last month did not include permission for military operations, a formulation that frustrated Turkey.

(end snip)

Right before the war, Turkey parliament denied the U.S. access for military operations. Thereafter, that denial was reversed. I always wondered if Cheney negotiated permission by promising a piece of the oil pie. If so, his negotiations will ultimately explode.