[Marxism] Turkey into the Vortex of the Iraq Quagmire (Bullet 68)

["Pance Stojkovski" <pance@xxxxxxxxxx>]

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A Socialist Project e-bulletin .... No. 68 .... October 30, 2007
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Turkey into the Vortex of the Iraq Quagmire:
Another breach in U.S. policy

Sungur Savran

A new dimension of immense importance is being added to the contradictions
of U.S. policy in Iraq and the Middle East at large. Turkey, a staunch U.S.
ally for over half a century and a NATO member, is threatening to
militarily intervene in Northern Iraq, i.e. Iraqi Kurdistan. A resolution
was passed by the Turkish parliament in mid-October giving free rein to the
government and the Turkish army to enter Northern Iraq whenever deemed
necessary within the next twelve months, a veritable multiple entry visa,
except that it is not given by the host country! The reason cited is, of
course, to smash the PKK (Kurdish Workers' Party) bases in Northern Iraq in
order to put a halt to guerrilla operations inside Turkey. Yet there is a
further motive that goes unmentioned: to give a warning to the Kurdish
leadership in Iraq, i.e. Barzani and Talabani, for them to rein in any
dynamics toward independence and toward making the oil-rich region of
Kirkouk an exclusively Kurdish possession. Some currents within the Turkish
political establishment even have the fantastical dream of taking Kirkouk
and Mossoul, former Ottoman possessions, back.

Turkey and U.S. at odds 

The immediate reason behind the threat of military incursion is the
escalation of the hit-and-run actions of the PKK. However, the threat has
really been in the air throughout 2007. One reason why the escalation is
taking place in 2007 is the provision in the U.S.-imposed Iraqi
constitution that stipulates a referendum on the political status of
Kirkouk this year. Given that Kurds have moved into the city massively
after the fall of Saddam, the outcome is a foregone conclusion. The
attribution of Kirkouk to the Kurdish formation in Northern Iraq would be a
nightmare for the Turkish state since it will guarantee the economic
survival of this new formation and strengthen the prospects for its
eventual independence. The referendum has been postponed, but is certain to
come on the agenda once again in the not too distant future. 

Complete bullet:
http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/bullet068.html


Pance.




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