It is quite simple, really. The US must adopt the exact opposite of its current policy. Instead of telling Turkey that its a bad thing, Bush must publicly demand that Turkish troops aid the US in securing Iraq. Considering Turkish Pride, Turkish attitudes towards the US, and Turkish attitudes towards Bush, this will mean not one Turkish soldier steps across the border.

SGTObvious

and after they prove you wrong by "helping" secure the kurds in northern iraq you have an equally great idea to get them to go home sometime in the future?

Of course!   If Bush demands that the Turkish troops STAY, they will leave immediately, just to prove they are not American puppets.

But, that will not be necessary if he demands help from them, for the same reasons.  No Turkish leader wants to appear as if he is giving in to American demands. 

 

SGTObvious

ermmm...  presume you are just doing the humour thing here.....

 

Bush inviting them in is what they have been asking for.... they will see this as him finally giving in to common sense and their demands. and say thank you for seeing the light......2 years late as usual...... :-)

 

seriously for a minute... they must have been given a bit of a green light already as they have been crossing over for last few months after they stepped up the political heat back at end of last year. the latest escalation is probably because the light is getting brighter....

 

either that or they have decided to go against the US public demands that the do not cross because they see nothing to lose anymore and US badwill is not as bad as the damage the PKK are causing. could even be a big pre warning against the setting up of Kurdistan...

 

Paul

Seems a bit of both.

 

The area they are supposed to be hiding in sounds a lot like Tora Bora.  Mountainous, isolated, and with few roads.

 

Turkey has mounted several attacks in the past, but without much effect.  The Kurds act as if they think the Turks will refuse to leave if they do invade, but I expect that the Turks won't stay one second longer than they have to.

yep....    lots of PKK sheltering in Iraq to prevent them being attacked by Turks...

 

Iraqi government is basically protecting these terrorists when they don't do anything to stop them operating and refuse to allow others to sort out the problem.... a lot of the reason behind lack of action is that the Kurds have a big power basis within the Iraqi government structure and the US is not being very clear on what their policy towards terrorists is.

 

Kurds also attack Iran and Syria (to a far lesser degree) from within Iraq.

 

I also expect that the Turks would be out as quick as they can as they have no desire to appear as an occupier and there is little to gain by trying to stay there.

 

Paul

I also expect that the Turks would be out as quick as they can as they have no desire to appear as an occupier and there is little to gain by trying to stay there.

Paul

Just like Cyprus, Paul?