Iraqi VP Warns Against Turkish Incursion

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Iraqi VP Warns Against Turkish Incursion

By SELCAN HACAOGLU
The Associated Press
Tuesday, March 27, 2007; 3:38 AM

ANKARA, Turkey -- Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on Tuesday
warned against a possible Turkish incursion into Iraq to fight
separatist Kurdish guerrillas and promised to prevent cross-border
attacks by the rebels.

"We want both countries to respect the borders of each other and
expect the sides to be against such a thing," al-Hashimi said upon
his arrival in Ankara for a one-day visit. He was responding to a
question about a possible Turkish incursion into his country to hunt
down guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK.

Al-Hashimi reiterated promises by Iraq to prevent attacks by the
rebels. "Iraq will never allow its soil be used as a base for attacks
against other countries, especially against its brother and friend,
Turkey," he said.

Turkey's political and military leaders have expressed frustration
with the level of Iraqi cooperation and U.S. help in eradicating
PKK rebels holed up in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The
United States has warned Turkey against entering Iraq, fearing
such a move could lead to tension with local Iraqi Kurdish groups,
a key U.S. ally.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/27/AR2007032700480.html

[maddezmom]

1. some previous LBN threads on the topic

US struggles to avert Turkish intervention in northern Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2777556

Turkish general says can hit Kurd rebels in Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2762152

[Tempest]

2. Talk is cheap

The Iraqi government and the U.S. have been promising Turkey for the last two years to stop the border incursions. So far it's been just talk.