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Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Basin Ozeti * the Australian November 16. 2007 Raid into Iraq imminent, Turkish general says TURKEY is in the process of implementing a cross-bor<strong>de</strong>r operation against Kurdish guerrillas who use northern Iraq as a base to launch attacks, a senior Turkish general said today. From correspon<strong>de</strong>nts in Ankara But there were no immediate signs of increased military activity along Turkey's mountainous bor<strong>de</strong>r with Iraq on overnight, Reuters reporters in the region said, suggesting any offensive may still be in the preparatory stages. "We are in the process of implementing the crossbor<strong>de</strong>r operation," General llker Basbug, head of the l<strong>and</strong> forces <strong>and</strong> the second most powerful man in the armed forces, said at a diplomatic recep¬ tion. Gen Basbug did not specify what he meant by implementing an operation, but the military has for weeks been boosting their presence along the bor<strong>de</strong>r. Analysts also say authorities have stepped up the rhetoric to pressure US <strong>and</strong> Iraqi authorities to move against the rebels. Turkey has amassed as many as 100,000 troops, backed by warplanes, helicopters <strong>and</strong> tanks, for a possible cross-bor<strong>de</strong>r incursion to root out the separatist rebels, blamed by Ankara for a series of attacks on its security personnel. FINANCIAL TIMES A Reuters reporter in the northern Iraqi town of Zakhu, which is close to the bor<strong>de</strong>r with Turkey, said he could not hear any explosions or the sound of aircraft flying overhead. The situation in the town appeared normal, he said. One senior US military official in Baghdad said he was not immediately aware of any Turkish action. Officials from the Iraqi government could not be reached for comment. Yesterday security sources said Turkey had sent hundreds of special forces to the bor<strong>de</strong>r to bolster its forces there. Washington has urged Ankara to avoid a large-scale incursion, fearing it could <strong>de</strong>stabilise the most peaceful part of Iraq <strong>and</strong> cause a bigger regional crisis. Gen Basbug's comments followed a reaffirmation by the government this week that Turkey was ready to carry out an offensive against some 3000 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants based in the mountains of northern Iraq. The PKK took up arms in 1984 with the aim of creating an ethnic homel<strong>and</strong> in mainly Kurdish southeast Turkey. Nearly 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict. NATO-member Turkey has staged limited raids, predominantly air strikes, in the past month across the mountainous frontier against the rebels. "Turkish armed forces have been doing crossbor<strong>de</strong>r operations for years <strong>and</strong> they has been November 15 2007 By Wesley Clark Just over a week after US presi¬ m<strong>and</strong>s for a <strong>de</strong>cisive military solu¬ <strong>de</strong>nt George W. Bush <strong>and</strong> Re¬ tion. Turkish popular opinion stron¬ cep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's gly supported attacks on rebel base prime minister, met in Washington, camps insi<strong>de</strong> Iraqi Kurdistan, <strong>and</strong> Turkish troops remained poised to the Turkish armed forces have move across the bor<strong>de</strong>r into Iraqi mobilised more than 100,000 Kurdistan in an attempt to <strong>de</strong>stroy troops on the Iraqi bor<strong>de</strong>r, setting elements of the Kurdistan Workers the stage for a massive Turkish party (PKK). We can only hope that invasion of northern Iraq that would a solution based on the i<strong>de</strong>a of joint have disastrous consequences. co-operation against the PKK that seemed to be forged in the Oval Office meeting, focusing on diplo¬ matic engagement between the US, Turkey, Iraq <strong>and</strong> the Kurdistan Regional Government, will trump the still-looming military assault. On paper all wars seem simple. Turkish military planners may hope that one bold thrust into Iraqi Kur¬ distan will, once <strong>and</strong> for all, eradi¬ cate the PKK. A glance at what soldiers call the "troop-to-task" ratio might suggest that the job could be The Turks are un<strong>de</strong>rst<strong>and</strong>ably done quickly. Turkey has a very angry <strong>and</strong> ready for war. Accumula¬ good army <strong>and</strong> it would seem ted frustrations over recent attacks feasible that 100,000 well-trained by the PKK erupted in public <strong>de</strong>- <strong>and</strong> fully equipped Turkish troops successful so far," Gen Basbug said, answering criticism about the effectiveness of previous offensives in northern Iraq. He said that if such operations had not been carried out there would be 10,000 rebels rather than the 5000 PKK fighters estimated to be in Iraq <strong>and</strong> Turkey. Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said this week a military operation was still planned, <strong>de</strong>spite logistical difficulties as winter closes in across the rugged region. Last week, Mr Erdogan urged US Presi<strong>de</strong>nt George W. Bush in Washington to crack down on the militants. Invasion is wrong answer to Turkey's problems could quickly capture or kill 3,000 PKK rebels hiding in an area so¬ mewhat larger than Maryl<strong>and</strong>. But war is never simple. The friction <strong>and</strong> fog of war always conspire to make the actual combat far more complex, time consuming <strong>and</strong> bloodier than the sterile <strong>and</strong> opti¬ mistic plans written in the comfort of remote headquarters. Even a milita¬ ry genius like Alex<strong>and</strong>er the Great was stalled by the inhospitable terrain of southern Turkey <strong>and</strong> northern Iraq. Despite popular longing for a quick military solution, a Turkish invasion of Iraq would bring only stalemate, frustration <strong>and</strong> - more ominously - <strong>de</strong>stabilise the region, un<strong>de</strong>rmine US-Turkish relations for <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>s, <strong>and</strong> jeopar¬ dise the stability <strong>and</strong> prosperity of Iraq has pledged to hunt down <strong>and</strong> arrest PKK lea<strong>de</strong>rs. But Baghdad has little influence over the semi-autonomous Kurdish region in the north <strong>and</strong> the success of any measures against the PKK would <strong>de</strong>pend on cooperation of Kurdish authorities. Turkey's parliament approved last month a go¬ vernment request to be able to launch cross-bor<strong>de</strong>r operations into northern Iraq. Iraq's Kurdistan region. Turkey will certainly benefit by continuing on the more creative <strong>and</strong> diplomatic path now being pursued by Mr Erdogan. He has secured a US promise to share intelligence <strong>and</strong> to co-operate in neutralising PKK elements in Iraq <strong>and</strong> preven¬ ting their movement across the bor<strong>de</strong>r. He should open a dialogue with the KRG to formulate joint measures to prevent the PKK from striking Turkey from Iraqi territory. To that end, he needs to embrace the establishment of four-party talks between Turkey, Iraq, the US <strong>and</strong> the KRG. This must be the way forward. War is not the answer, especially given the creative alternatives 89