Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
July 25 2005

Turkey’s Possible Cross-Border Operation

Semih Idiz

Source: Milliyet

Columnist Semih Idiz comments on a possible Turkish cross-border
operation in northern Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:

`The issue of whether or not Turkey will conduct a cross-border
operation against the terrorist PKK’s camps in northern Iraq is being
taken seriously. The US and Britain are following this issue very
closely because these countries are now in Iraq militarily. However,
the European Union is also involved because it’s considered certain
that such an operation would put the Kurdish lobby in Europe in play
as well. Obviously those who are trying to hinder Turkey’s EU
membership will try to benefit from this operation, just like they
used the issue of the so-called Armenian genocide. What’s more, Arabs
are also involved in the issue as well. All the operations carried
out by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in northern Iraq in the past,
which were considered to be based on just cause even by the US, were
condemned by the Arab League. Of course now everybody forgets that
not only Kurds, but also Arabs were against Turkey’s entrance into
Iraq even if under American command following the US invasion of
Iraq. In sum, everybody is discussing the effects of a possible
military operation by Turkey in northern Iraq. It seems nobody is
viewing this positively because nobody thinks that this will be a
simple operation as it was in the past.

Everybody says that if such an operation occurs, it will have serious
repercussions on the regional level and on Turkish-US and Turkish-EU
relations, both of which are very sensitive these days. People also
say that the fact that Turkey will base this operation on Article 51
of the UN Charter on `self-defense’ won’t be able to dispel this
fallout. People also believe that if Turkey enters northern Iraq, it
will face peshmerga and American forces. Meanwhile, these remarks of
a Western diplomat about Turks summarize the general opinion among
foreigners: `Your problem isn’t there, but within yourself. Even if
you carry out 50 cross-border operations, you can’t escape from this
truth.’ Arab diplomats I spoke to agreed with this. At this point, so
many questions could be asked, including: The US and Britain are
invaders in Iraq, so why are they giving lessons to us? However, no
matter how angry they are, military and civilian planners shouldn’t
be emotional, but realistic. Obviously, if Turkey finds it necessary,
it would conduct such an operation. Many people already want one to
counter the increasing PKK attacks. However, if some people think
this will cost nothing and lead to a happy ending, I must say that
they are mistaken.’