-Caveat Lector- >From http://www.arabia.com/afp/news/mideast/article/english/0,10846,307719,00.html
"...northern Iraq, a mainly Kurdish area outside the control of the central Iraqi government ..." >>>Note: this is probably where Shrub's AWOL utility fielder Al Qaeda is reportedly hanging out. A<>E<>R<<< Several hundred Turkish troops in northern Iraq: minister October 10, 2002, 10:03 PM ISTANBUL (AFP) - Turkey is keeping "several hundred" soldiers in neighboring northern Iraq, a mainly Kurdish area outside the control of the central Iraqi government, to protect its regional security interests, Foreign Minister Sukru Sina Gurel said in an interview with AFP. The Turkish army has carried out incursions into northern Iraq to pursue rebels from the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which, Ankara says, have taken advantage of the authority vacuum in the area to establish themselves there and launch attacks on Turkish territory. "That created immense problems for Turkey, and cost it both materially and otherwise," Gurel said. "Turkey has had to take an interest in northern Iraq because of its security interests. And those security interests continue," he said. Turkish officials have recently acknowledged that a certain number of Turkish troops remain in northern Iraq, without giving a number. The air space over the region was declared a UN no-fly zone after the 1991 Gulf War. Turkey is now concerned that the Kurdish factions in the enclave could move towards independence if the United States launches a military operation against the Iraqi regime of President Saddam Hussein. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit warned last week that Turkey could consider military measures if a Kurdish state is to be proclaimed there. Ankara fears such a state could incite its own Kurds into separatism at a time when the PKK's 15-year campaign for self-rule has notably abated. Those fears lie at the core of Turkey's opposition to US military action against Iraq. "I think there is still some room for finding a political solution" to the Iraqi issue, Gurel said. "If political ways are exhausted to the end, any other action should be based on legitimacy and consensus of the international community," he said, echoing a statement by the Turkish leadership last week. If the US decided to strike Iraq, it will look to Turkey for support. The country, which is a member of NATO, is already home to US and British warplanes enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Forwarded as information only; I don't believe everything I read or send (but that doesn't stop me from considering it; obviously SOMEBODY thinks it's important) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + "Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." --- Ernest Hemingway <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/ctrl@;listserv.aol.com/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
