| Submit your comments on this article |
| Europe |
| Turkish Press Stories 14 Aug |
| 2003-08-14 |
| TURKEY REPORTEDLY PREPARING TO SEND 10,000 TROOPS TO IRAQ According to diplomatic sources, Ankara is planning to send approximately 10,000 soldiers to Iraq, which would make Turkey the third-biggest military force in the region, following the US and Britain. The General Staff Office and the Foreign Ministry have reportedly sped up their preparations to complete all the necessary procedures and plans. Ankara is expected to sign an agreement on the issue with a US delegation set to visit Turkey next week. /Hurriyet/ Iâd like to see details on what area the Turkish forces will be operating in and the chain of command, but their help will be welcomed. US OFFICIAL: âPKK/KADEK TERRORISTS MUST RETURN TO TURKEY TO PLEA FOR LENIENCE OR ELSE FACE US MILITARY FORCEâ Speaking to daily Hurriyet, an anonymous US official yesterday stated that PKK/KADEK terrorists must leave northern Iraq and return to Turkey to appeal for lenience under the recently passed repentance law, popularly known as âReturn to Home,â or face certain US military force. Stressing that conditions in northern Iraq had changed significantly since the warâs end, the official said that if the PKK/KADEK failed to grasp this new reality and refused to return to Turkey, then US military forces would have no choice but to engage them in combat. âThey shouldnât pass up this opportunity,â warned the official. âThey must return to Turkey, otherwise theyâll be finished off by US forces.â /Hurriyet/ A "anonymous US official", huh? Seperating the PKK/KADEK from the other Kurdish groups could be very tricky. Iâd want to work with the Kurdish leadership in Iraq on this one before any combat. |
| Posted by:Steve |