also, this is incredible timing given that Tony Blair just 'retired' !!!





also, this is incredible timing given that Tony Blair just 'retired' !!!




What does Tony Blair retiring have anything to do with this article?
And its more complicated than just troops crossing the southern borders....
ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) — Turkish and Iranian forces shelled Kurdish rebel positions across the border in northern Iraq, Iraqi Kurd officials reported Friday, amid fears that the conflict could open a new front in Iraq.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/i...an-kurds_N.htm
Nature knows no indecencies; man invents them. ~ Mark Twain





... the new UK prime minister might be pressured to withdraw British troops if the Iranians were able to inflict a large number of casualties on the British troops in Basra.What does Tony Blair retiring have anything to do with this article?
yup, and Turkey is 'supposed to be' a NATO ally ! Basically, they have their own designs on Kurdistan OilAnd its more complicated than just troops crossing the southern borders....
^^^
The Kurdish north of Iraq has been swimming along quite nicely... it actually fairly secured and economically is prospering and self governing with a clause (at least at the stage i followed it at) in the Iraqi constitution for partition (not sure of the time frame, similar to the arrangements of Kosovo and Montenegro in the post-Yugolslav constitutions).
Turkey's problem is that it has a highly militised Kurdish minority of its own who its been suppressing violent for decades and who want independence. In the likely 3-state partition of Iraq, a Iraqi Kurdistan would likely mass-mobilise Turkey's Kurds to succeed from turkey.
Been a eggshell situation in Iraq, especially for George Smlr who can't piss off Turkey (as mentioned they are a Nato/US ally), but can't alienate the Kurds (whose co-operation it needs in the Iraqi parliament), or be seen to be oppressing their right to independence. I guess with no end to the fighting, Turkey is trying to remind the Kurds in Iraq that independence would not be good idea??? Which provides a conundrum for the occupying forces; they can hardly stop Turkey, yet if they don't, the case for other countries citing national interest (such as Iran, who have a case, strictly speaking, given the instability a civil war next door has domestically) to send in their own troops suddenly stands on very shaky ground.
in regards to the article; i'm curious as to how their troops finding safe ground in the Sunni-dominated south? Strategically, wouldn't it make sense to feed troops in through the Shiite dominated areas? Or do we think west of Bagdad is too factional atm to attempt any kind of manovering? Strategically speaking, Sunni insurgents in the south must be fairly wary of Iranian involvement, especially, if its actively on their soil?



I believe there have been numerous reports of both sides crossing the borders. The reporting of the incident is probably the main news here. (British/US looking to raise tensions)
Turkey wants to make sure Kurdistan doesn't exist/doesn't prosper, and prevent any kurds crossing their border to help their local kurds.
The guy who created Iraq just wanted to make mischief (Churchill).





well, to me at least, this certainly seems like a 'replay' of islamic terrorist actions when Spain held elections a couple of years ago. As soon as Gordon Brown took the PM mantle, all hell has been breaking loose in the UK ...
... and please don't attempt to pursuade me that Iranian attacks on UK troops in Iraq and this latest crop of islamic terrorist attacks inside the UK during the same week when a new PM is taking over for Tony Blair are totally unrelated events !
Bookmarks