Iraq and Turkey See Tensions Rise After Ambush

Iraq and Turkey See Tensions Rise After Ambush

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/wo..._r=1&th&emc=th

ISTANBUL, Oct. 21 — A brazen ambush by Kurdish militants that left at least 12 Turkish soldiers dead touched off a major escalation in Turkey-Iraq tensions on Sunday, bringing fears that Turkey would retaliate immediately by sending troops across the border into Iraq. But Turkey’s prime minister said he delayed a decision, after Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally intervened.

Turkish troops were attacked by rebels near Daglica.
The ambush by a large group of Kurdish militants about three miles from the border with Iraq early on Sunday was seen as a direct provocation on the part of the militants, who have increasingly staged raids into Turkey from hide-outs in the mountains of northern Iraq.

Such action by Turkey, a NATO ally, would be extremely embarrassing for the United States, which has military control over the territory that the Turks are threatening to invade. Moreover, a Turkish advance into northern Iraq would instantly bring fresh troubles to a country where the United States is preoccupied with the war. And it would complicate stability in the broader region, which is generally antagonistic to American policy. Iran made remarks criticizing American policy on Sunday. Syria did the same four days before.

Mr. Erdogan used diplomatic language to say that a final decision about retaliation had not yet been made. He said Turkey would wait until all “military requirements” had been met. “The government will use this authority when the military requirements exist,” he said. “When requirements do not exist, such a step cannot be taken on emotional ground, because some people request or wish for it.”

He said he expected the United States to take “swift steps” against the militants.

Turkey has worked hard to avoid military action, said a Western official, because it knows that an offensive would damage relations with the United States as well as Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, a goal Mr. Erdogan’s government has aggressively pressed.

“I think we’ve passed the threshold,” Mr. Kiniklioglu said. “It looks like for two days or three days there will be a holding off and a waiting period. Unless the U.S. comes up with something magic in the next few days, which is highly unlikely, we’ll probably go in.”

“Possible repercussion of such an operation on our relations with the U.S., or the European Union, or economy are now of secondary importance behind our national security and well-being," Mr. Kuloglu said.

The longer we stay the deeper in the mire we get intrenched... it has been past time to leave since they voted for their own government.
It is not our fault they voted for Iranian backed warlords. That is who they wanted, let them have them.
It is not worth one more US life for one more day.