We are this close to seeing the war in Iraq spread to the stable provinces of Northern Iraq, the ones where the Kurds reside:
ISTANBUL, Oct. 21 — At least nine Turkish soldiers were killed in fighting with Kurdish militants after midnight on Sunday [Ed. note: Other reports place the number of dead as higher (e.g., CNN), describe a separate bomb attack on a civilian bus which wounded from 8-12 people (and may have killed at least one person), and report on claims that Turkish soldiers have been taken hostage by PKK fighters], and more soldiers were reported missing, prompting Turkey’s prime minister to call an emergency security summit. The deaths dramatically increase the pressure on the government to launch a military offensive into Iraq. […]
The deaths came just four days after Turkey’s parliament voted to give Mr. Erdogan and his government full authority to send troops into northern Iraq where Kurds have hideouts.
At the time, Turkish officials emphasized that they did not intend to apply that authority immediately. Rather, security experts said the resolution would be used mainly to force the United States to act against the Kurdish militants, who attack Turkey from their bases in northern Iraq.
But Sunday’s death toll was high, according to preliminary accounts, and the government, now fully authorized for an offensive, will be under intense pressure to act.
Dear Leader (or his little storm trooperette) better put in some overtime this week getting the Kurds to reign in the PKK or as the proverbial phrase goes “there’ll be hell to pay.” Otherwise this year “Turkey” might be in the national news for something other than being the traditional main course at our Thanksgiving dinners.
