US Confirms Reinforcement in N. Iraq; Turkey not the Target

[leftchick]

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&hn=16683

The US Embassy in Ankara has denied claims that American military activity in Northern Iraq is targeted at Turkey.

A statement released by the Embassy denied a report published in The Guardian, which said American forces were "discreetly" reinforcing its military bases in northern Iraq to protect against the possibility of a Turkish intervention or ethnic conflict. The statement does confirm there have been changes to the duties in northern Iraq, but insists that these were not made to address a possible Turkish intervention. It also highlighted that every claim in this regard is false and says the concentration in northern Iraq is focused on insurgents in Musul (Mosul). The Embassy stressed that a military operation by any one of Iraq's neighbors will disrupt stability and pave the way for wide scale disputes. The US acknowledged that Turkey already knows this fact and says it does not anticipate such a move from Turkey. The statement says Turkish-American dialogue is based on common interests and concerns about Iraq.

The Guardian and The New York Times Reports

Turkish diplomatic sources point out the importance of the timing of this statement and the care given to the statement. Officials also say that the statement implies a response to some pro-intervention circles in Turkey with its insinuation of the harms of such an intervention and says Turkey was aware of the shift in US forces in northern Iraq.

The British newspaper, The Guardian, had published an analysis by Simon Tisdall that said the US was discreetly reinforcing its military bases in northern Iraq against a possibility of a Turkish intervention. The New York Times published an article by Sandra Mackey that said if control of Kerkuk (Kirkuk) is given to the Kurds, Turkey will not refrain from intervening and, that if it did intervene, the US may use force in the region against the Kurds.

[mhr]

1. Preparation For A Northern Assault On Syria And Possibly Iran

eom

[leftchick]

2. with what soldiers?

:shrug:

[mhr]

3. With All Those Troops Recently Released From Ballot Box Patrol

About 30,000 I believe.

[skids]

4. "turkey not the target"

The article says the Guardian was speculating that the troop buildup was to protect U.S. interests from Turkey sending troops into Iraq to intervene in local disputes. Even if it is true, that's not "targetting Turkey."

Did the Guardian actually say anything about "targeting Turkey"? Or, is this choice of language part of an ongoing attempt to (further) marginalize the Guardian? Or is it just sensationalistic headlining?

Curious.

[Wright Patman]

5. That last graf makes no sense at all

As I understand it, the Kurds are the only group in Iraq which can be described plausibly as an "ally" of the U.S. This paragraph says that control of Kirkuk is an issue, but that if Turkey crosses the border, the U.S. will suddenly change sides and join in driving the Kurds out of Kirkuk.

If the U.S. is that inclined to changing sides and stabbing allies in the back, it makes one wonder why a Kurd would ally oneself with the U.S. to begin with, other than the fact it is such a desperate marginalized group that it will take support, however temporary, from whatever source for however long it lasts.

The Kurds can be likened to Israelis without nukes, which shows why Israel decided it had to stockpile the nukes to begin with. Otherwise, it'd be having to make "deals with the devil" such as this all the time also.

[bemildred]

6. Bafflegab.

There are so many things wrong with this story, you don't know where to start.
But, it sounds like something is up or somebody is getting nervous.