Turks Consider Anti-Kurd Strikes in Iraq-Nam

The Turkish government has had a problem with Kurdish nationalists for decades. It is a case of one man’s terrorist being another man’s freedom fighter. However, the Kurdish people live not only within the borders of Turkey but also are found in Iraq-Nam and Iran. Thus, the militant Kurds often attack Turkey from outside that country. The current Justice and Development [AK] Party government has reached the point where it feels a large incursion into Iraq-Nam’s Kurdish territory is necessary for national security. This puts it at odds with its NATO ally, the United States of America.

Today’s Zaman, a daily paper with a most useful English-language website, reported,

Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, speaking to reporters in Parliament, said the motion is to be submitted to Parliament after the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, which takes place on Oct. 12-14. The motion is expected to be debated first at a Cabinet meeting convening on Oct. 15 and then sent to Parliament for approval. Talks with US and Iraqi officials on the issue are expected to take place in between.

Parliament is due to hold a second round of voting on Oct. 16 on a constitutional amendment proposing election of the president by popular vote. Barring an unexpected change, the troop dispatch motion is then expected to be taken up by Parliament on Oct. 17. Government sources told Today’s Zaman that the motion will not include any provision on the time and scope of the cross-border operation, leaving it to the government to decide on these matters. The government, in turn, plans to ask the General Staff to decide on the timing and the scope of the operation.