Anatolian Times, Turkey
Feb 9 2007
The U.S. Might Discuss A Cross-border Op With Turkey
BY ASLI AYDINBAS
SABAH- The US administration, which is preparing to receive Chief of
General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit close on the heels of Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul, has given signals that it’s ready to discuss a
cross-border operation in northern Iraq against the terrorist PKK. A
high-ranking official from the Bush administration, which has put the
brakes on cross-border ops in recent years, told Sabah that everybody
understood Turkey’s concerns and that now certain figures in the
administration see this request favorably. The official said that the
Bush people might discuss the request for an operation on the
condition that it’s `limited and definite.’ He said that some in the
administration were open to discussing it, but they should firstly
consider all other alternatives. He added that the territory was very
rough and it wasn’t clear what would be found across the border.
American sources are ready to discuss a limited and definite
operation against PKK leaders using civilian and military officials
from Turkey, instead of a military operation using a large number of
soldiers. However, the sources who spoke to Sabah said that US
Special Envoy for countering terrorism Joseph Ralston’s recent visit
and the contacts held by the chief of General Staff had both been
successful. `Firstly, let’s talk about other alternatives,’ one
added. `There’s sympathy for Turkey’s position, but there are also
certain efforts to find a scapegoat in the PKK issue. Yes, the PKK is
a large problem for Turkey, but the issue doesn’t end with it.’
The US administration says that the civilian and military sectors in
Turkey neglected to try non-military methods against the PKK and also
stresses that terrorism is a multidimensional problem with military,
economic and social aspects. Officials also emphasize that the recent
rise of nationalism in Turkey and the election-year atmosphere
brought the military alternative to the forefront and that there have
been no concrete steps to solve the Kurdish issue since Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s landmark 2005 speech in Diyarbakir
and that the issue has been stuck between civilian and military
leaders.
But the US administration, now welcoming a cross-border op against
PKK leaders more than in recent years, is only concerned with
conventions. Washington is concerned that if the Turkish Armed Forces
(TSK) enters northern Iraq during hot pursuit or under an air
operation, neighboring countries such as Iran and Syria will assert
their own right to hot pursuit. The high-ranking official asked Sabah
how neighboring countries can be prevented from crossing the border
if Turkey enters Iraq. Also, the US government believes passage of
the Armenian resolution would make a cross-border op more likely. The
strong support received by the US Congress for the resolution spurred
the State Department, White House and Pentagon to prepare efforts to
head it off. US officials say that even a debate of the resolution on
the US House of Representatives floor would damage Turkish-American
relations and end Washington’s power to deter a cross-border
operation.