By: Dr. N. Hawramany
Switzerland
Feb 28, 2008
The recent Turkish aggression against Iraqi Kurdistan by
sending large numbers of ground troops into territories of Iraqi Kurdistan, is a
serious escalation of the Turkey-PKK conflict.
The worst thing about this military adventure is that it's conducted with the
knowledge and assistance of the American army in Iraq, with utter disregard of
the Iraqi sovereignty and the people of Iraqi Kurdistan.
For Turkey it constitutes its last trump card in its futile war on the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK). It has been threatening that its troops will march into
South Kurdistan, since the authorization by the chauvinist Turkish parliament in
October 2007, for Turkish troops to wage a new military campaign against Kurdish
freedom fighters of North Kurdistan ( PKK fighters) in Iraqi Kurdistan
territories, which is a blatant violation of international laws. Turkey is
trying to export its internal problems to Iraqi Kurdistan, its aims seems more
to threaten the Kurdistan regional government and to create instability in Iraqi
Kurdistan rather than wiping out the PKK fighters, because the major presence
and the roots of the problem is within Turkey, mainly the bad treatment of its
20 million sized Kurdish population.
Turkey had waged several previous military campaigns against PKK since 1984
without any measurable success. The Turkish government and military are shunning
all calls by Iraqi, Kurdish and Western leaders for a peaceful dialog to end the
crisis.
The failure of this military adventure, which is almost certain to happen, will
depict the Turkish army as paper Tiger in the region and will undermine the myth
of the invincible Turkish army. The PKK is going to get more sympathy in Turkish
Kurdistan as well as in Iraqi Kurdistan .Any Turkish influence in Iraq will be
rejected fiercely by Kurdish populace in Iraq, especially when it comes into any
meddling in Kirkuk referendum. Turkey is destroying Kurdish villages and vital
bridges forcing tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurdish villagers to flee to main
urban populations, thereby creating new misery and new refugee crisis.
The after effects of such military incursions into Iraqi Kurdistan will be far
reaching. Kurds will not be eager to improve economic relations with Turkey if
the military operation not ended very soon.
The American administration has committed a great blunder by
selling out Iraqi Kurds, their only consistent ally in Iraq. The Kurds in Iraq
now regain vivid memories of previous betrayals by American administrations in
1975 and 1991.By sanctioning and assisting the recalcitrant Turkish
establishment in its aggression against Iraqi Kurdistan, the Americans are going
to feel less enthusiasm and sympathy from Iraqi Kurds for their regional and
Iraqi plans.
The Kurds should learn by now not to put all their eggs in one basket and
certainly not all of it in the shaky American basket. Kurds should learn by now
not to sacrifice their national interests for the sake of inconsistent and
untrustworthy American interests.
If Americans want really to avert a catastrophe, they should use their heavy
weight to force Turkey out of Iraqi Kurdistan very soon and to put pressure on
Turkey to seek a peaceful dialogue with Iraqi and Kurdish leaders both in Iraqi
Kurdistan and Turkish Kurdistan.
