Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

The Turkish armed forces are involved in major incursions into northern Iraq in order to destroy or limit the role of the PKK Kurdish faction.  However, in America vioces are being raised and U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, urges restraint.  But how hollow is this to Turkey?

If we look at events closely, then Turkey could rightly point out that their incursions into Iraq is purely because of America`s failure in Iraq.  After all, if the state of Iraq was unified and democratized,  which were the goals of America, then this issue would not apply today.  However, it is clear to the entire world that terrorism and decentralization is taking place all over Iraq and the current government can do little to change this.

Therefore, what options does Turkey have?  Should Turkey allow the PKK to build up her military forces in northern Iraq or should she try to destroy these destructive forces, from a Turkish point of view?  Given these harsh choices, then it is clear that Turkey had to do something but of course everyone worries about the "can of worms" because this is what America did.  Yet the situation is different because Turkey is only concerned about a limited area in northern Iraq.

Some people of course have sympathy with the Kurdish PKK movement and what about the "Kosovo" question in relation to the Kurds of Turkey?   However, this question will lead me away from this topic but it is a valid point!  And more alarming for others, is that the current situation may endanger Kurdish politics in northern Iraq because the Kurds have been divided for decades.  Therefore, internal Kurdish politics also faces major problems because do they "turn a blind eye" or "just raise mild voices" or do they support their co-Kurds?

This issue is also a problem for the Turkish government because they fear an independent Kurdish state in northern Iraq and Turkey is worried about the persecution of Turkomans by Kurds in this region of Iraq.  So maybe Turkey merely wants to use the PKK in order to weaken the Kurdish position or to divide them once more?

Whatever the merits of Turkey entering Iraq it is abundantly clear that America can not call for restraint because of their current role in this nation.  After all, did America create stability or instability in Iraq?  Also, didn`t their involvement in this nation create the current situation?  Given this, then Turkey is right to protect her own national interests and the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recap Tayyip Erdogan, states "Turkish soldiers would return after achieving goals."

Lee Jay Walker Dip BA MA

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