Sensibilities on the trail
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey and Iraq agreed to try to root out a Kurdish rebel group from northern Iraq, but Iraq's prime minister said he could not sign an agreement implementing the promise until it was put to his parliament.
The Bush administration devised a plan to stave off the very serious possibility of Turkish military action in northern Iraq. It was potentially parlous: U.S. special forces would work with the Turkish military to locate and capture leaders of a violent Kurdish rebel group. Covert action, classified planning and the utmost secrecy were required — but so too were congressional briefings. Unimpressed Capitol Hill denizens chucked prudence to the wind as one or more of the members present presumably leaked the content of briefings, conducted by Eric Edelman, undersecretary of defense for policy, to columnist Robert Novak, undermining U.S. interests and effectively scuttling the plan's chances at success.
The Bush administration devised a plan to stave off the very serious possibility of Turkish military action in northern Iraq. It was potentially parlous: U.S. special forces would work with the Turkish military to locate and capture leaders of a violent Kurdish rebel group. Covert action, classified planning and the utmost secrecy were required — but so too were congressional briefings. Unimpressed Capitol Hill denizens chucked prudence to the wind as one or more of the members present presumably leaked the content of briefings, conducted by Eric Edelman, undersecretary of defense for policy, to columnist Robert Novak, undermining U.S. interests and effectively scuttling the plan's chances at success.
ISTANBUL — The governing party's stunning re-election victory, which brought more than 100 deputies of Kurdish origin into parliament, has made the prospect of a large-scale Turkish military incursion into Iraq less likely, legislators said yesterday.
ISTANBUL — The governing party's stunning re-election victory, which brought more than 100 deputies of Kurdish origin into parliament, has made the prospect of a large-scale Turkish military incursion into Iraq less likely, legislators said yesterday.
Turkey's top general said again last week he would like to cross Turkey's border with Iraq to strike terrorist camps of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). Leaders of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling AK Party (which its critics label "Islamist") have publicly suggested an incursion is possible before Turkey's July 22 general elections. Will Turkey shoot?
IRBIL, Iraq — Growing tensions between Turkey and Kurds in control of northern Iraq belie a deepening cooperation, as Turkish companies, workers and goods flock to a market enriched by 17 percent of Iraq's oil revenues.
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Feuding among Turkey"s politicians threatens to stymie planned reforms and exacerbate the country"s internal conflict.
