Article

2003-01-14 Axis of Evil

Turkey points its N. Iraq military deployment atâŠ the Kurds

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Posted by Steve 2003-01-14 11:33 am|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 looks like the Kurds may be caught in a squeeze play. If the goal in Iraq is get Saddam, then letting the Turkish Generals come down from the north might be a good move vis a vis arab sensibilities and European (NATO) support. Sure throw a scare into Syria and Lebanon.

Posted by john 2003-01-14 19:06:37|| 2003-01-14 19:06:37|| Front Page Top

#2 Don't portray this as an all-or-nothing grab by Turkey. The bit about no Kurdish autonomy and Turkish ownership of the oil is a negotiating ploy designed to make sure that Turkey doesn't get excluded from the final dealmaking. Creating a oil "corporation" that rather resembles the Trans Siberian RR concession across Manchuria prior to 1905 is entirely within the possibilities of both a "unified Iraq" and "local Kurdish autonomy" (for everything that isn't a mineral right and doesn't have Turkish license plates on it).

Posted by Tom Roberts 2003-01-14 22:09:36|| 2003-01-14 22:09:36|| Front Page Top

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