Turkey Forms Alliance With Iran Against Kurds

Turkey Forms Alliance With Iran Against Kurds

www.newsmax.com

U.S. ally Turkey and U.S. arch-enemy Iran have formed a military alliance to drive opposition Kurds from bases in northern Iraq they have used since 2004 to launch guerrilla operations inside Iran, rebel leaders told Newsmax at a secret base in the Qandil mountains.

Both Iran and Turkey have vowed to send troops into northern Iraq, but until now evidence of active military cooperation between them has remained a closely-held secret.

(visit the link for the full news article)

Well, I found this one strange. But when you look back, Iran did shell Kurd positions in past few months. But coordination with Turkey? That's new to me. Could also be a hype. Thoughts?

www.newsmax.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

reply to post by Duby78


both countries have a right to defend them selves
and remember the speach from the US president about the US going after threats in diffrent countries who harbour terrorists?

both Turkey and Iran have the same right to defend their people.

reply to post by bodrul


Absolutely! They are sovereign countries, and are entitled to make their own decisions independently. If the US is defending its citizens by occupying Iraq, tho Iraq is thousands of miles away from US, I see no reasons why wouldn't Turkey be allowed to do the same, especially because Kurdish PKK is a real threat to Turks, and it is being entrenched in Kurd controlled area in Iraq, and that is the very neighborhood of Turkey.

Iran seems to have the same problem, so cooperation with Turkey isn't unnatural.

But, Turkey is a NATO member and extremely important US partner, and Iran is often shown as a rogue state that sponsors terrorism and is trying to develop nuclear weapons etc etc, and therefore is an enemy of the US (which is mostly BS, IMO). What are the implications of this cooperation? It is an interesting situation, isn't it?

reply to post by Duby78


the enemy of my enemy is my friend (not that Iran and turkey are foes, i think atleast) but by going together they have a better chance of getting their objectives done then both sides doing it on their own.

It has a potential to upset things in Iraq quite severely, however.

You know how bellicose the Bush Administration has been about Iranian incursions into Iraq. Assuming this is true, it could be just the excuse they're looking for.

The Kurds actually have something worth fighting for.

I hope they do go in, I bet they wouldn’t even be successful. So far the Kurds have been kicking the revolutionary guards butts. More than Iran would ever admit.

People seem to assume entering Iraq would be bad/insulting to the US, but it’s more so to the government of Iraq. Turkey would really damage themselves regarding future relations should Iraq ever be stabilized (which I think it will be down the road). I don’t tell me the Iraq government is not legitimate just because the US helped it put itself in power. This is naive. It is what it is…

YES the US entered Iraq without permission, but in doing so it replaced the government, (same goes for Afghanistan). Right now there are specific objectives in building Iraq as a new country. So saying turkey has a right to just go in just because the US did is not really justifiable due to Iraq’s current condition and process.

If turkey wants to get rid of the northern threat, the right thing to do is work with the Iraqi government and US forces to support the whole cause militarily, financially and socially to stabilize the whole country instead of focusing on only what effects them. If turkey goes in and fails, they will get zero support and look stupid in the process.

This has been in the works for a while. I believe the Turkish ambassador to Iran hinted at such an alliance several months ago, when reports started of US intelligence officers helping train Kurdish rebel groups in Iran to destabalize the government.

I suspect this may be hyped, to a degree, but may also be the Turkish government sending a signal to the USA. They are already deeply unhappy over how Iraq is being handled, and the condemnation of the Armenian genocide by the USA probably hasn't made Turkey feel too friendly to the USA either.

Personally, I say "tough luck". Turkey can either act like a civilized nation, or a bunch of sh*t flinging primates towards the Kurds. Since they have chosen the latter, they have to reap the consequences. If they didn't treat them like second class citizens, which they do, then the PKK wouldn't have a leg to stand on. But that's apparently too easy, or something.

Originally posted by Kaliayev
Personally, I say "tough luck". Turkey can either act like a civilized nation, or a bunch of sh*t flinging primates towards the Kurds. Since they have chosen the latter, they have to reap the consequences.

this just cracked me up
put the US in place of Turkey and PPK with alquida and so on and you get the same scenario.

its just funny how some people are jumping aginst turkey when they are using the same rights as the US used when it invaded two countries,




[edit on 16-10-2007 by bodrul]

reply to post by bodrul


i just love your posts

exactly, the only question remaining is: How will react the US to this "strange alliance" and, of course, will the Bush Administration use the Iranian interference in Iraq as a excuse to attack Iran? (Well, after some "scenarios" happen in Iraqi ground).

Sounds like the beginning of something big... please keep this thread up to date, this is really a interesting turnout.

Well, here are some news, this time from Iranian side. I'm putting the entire article here because it is small, and might disappear as new articles are being placed on top. You can see here some interesting things about Turkey-Iran relationship.

Iran-Turkey Relations Growing
ANKARA, Turkey, Oct. 17--Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh said Iran and Turkey understand each other better than ever, IRNA quoted the Turkish daily Aksham as reporting Sunday.
The paper further quoted Aminzadeh as saying that expansion of Ankara-Tehran ties is beneficial for both the capitals. He also stressed that bilateral relations are growing speedily.
The Iranian diplomat noted that improvement of bilateral economic bonds is more tangible.
"Developments indicate that the two sides have progressed a great deal in establishing mutual trust," he said.
Asked about confidence-building measures pursued by the two countries, Aminzadeh said, " Iran and Turkey understand each other better than in the past. Establishment of contacts between senior officials of the two countries and intelligence cooperation in line with the best national interests of both countries are quite important and lead to enhancement of mutual trust."
Commenting on Turkey's convergence with Europe, he noted, "Iran has no problems in this respect and Turkey's membership in European Union can positively affect regional development while Iran would also become a neighbor of the EU."
The deputy foreign minister lauded the performance of Turkey's Justice and Development Party and said Iran is opposed to the presence of PKK elements on its territories.
On the transport of Iranian gas to Europe and the competition encountered by Russia and Central Asia in this regard, Aminzadeh said, "Healthy competition is an important consideration in free economy. Since EU places importance on Iranian gas resources in line with its policy of diversifying energy resources, I believe that ultimately Iranian gas will be exported to Europe through Turkey's collaboration."

Iran-Turkey Relations Growing



[edit on 17-10-2007 by Duby78]

Wait, it gets even 'better'! Now Syria is supporting Turkish incursion into Kurd controlled Iraq. What is their reason for this support is beyond me.

ANKARA (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday said he would support a Turkish incursion into northern Iraq against Kurdish rebels, as the parliament in Ankara met to vote for military action.


"We support the decisions the Turkish government has put on its agenda against terrorism and terrorist activities," Assad told reporters after talks with Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul. "We see this as Turkey's legitimate right."

He was speaking shortly before the Turkish parliament was expected to approve a government motion seeking authorisation for cross-border operations into neighbouring northern Iraq to pursue Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels based there.

Turkey says some 3,500 PKK militants enjoy safe haven in autonomous Kurdish-held northern Iraq, which they use as a springboard for attacks on Turkish territory.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist group by Turkey and much of the international community, has been fighting for Kurdish self-rule in southeast Turkey since 1984. The conflict has claimed more than 37,000 lives.

Syria gives backing to possible Turkish incursion into Iraq

If one looks at the history of the PKK and the formation of an offshoot called the "Kurdistan Freedom Falcons" (where do they come up with these names?!) it is no surprise that Iran has an interest in this conflict. We all look to Iran as an instigator of terrorist activities but did you know they have been attacked themselves by Kurd rebels? The KFF and an even more extreme offshoot from the KFF, the Pejak have carried out a number of attacks on Iran.
Sources:

news.bbc.co.uk...
en.wikipedia.org...
www.turkishweekly.net...
www.ekurd.net...

This alliance is not in the least bit surprising...