A couple, actually:
"Kurdish militants free 8 Turkish soldiers; Released on eve of talks between premier, Bush" by C. Onur Ant/Associated Press November 5, 2007
ISTANBUL - Kurdish militants released eight Turkish soldiers yesterday to avert a cross-border offensive against guerrilla bases in northern Iraq.... Turkey has ruled out talks with the PKK, and has dismissed past overtures by the group as attempts only to improve its image.
Yalim Eralp, a former Turkish diplomat: "I cannot see any kind of link between the release of the soldiers and the eradication of PKK in northern Iraq."
I don't like eradication. First the Pakistanis, now the Kurds.
Even as news of the release spread, skirmishes between the two sides continued, with a village guard employed by the government and two Kurdish militants killed in the border town of Idil, state-run Anatolia news agency reported.
The Kurdish regional government in Iraq pressed the PKK to release the soldiers for humanitarian reasons, said Fuad Hussein, a government spokesman. PKK militants said the release was an olive branch.
Murat Karayilan, northern Iraq-based PKK commander told the pro-Kurdish Firat news agency:
"I'm making a call to all national and international powers, mainly to the US, based on these principles: They should support a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question, instead of a violent and armed one. We released these soldiers to make clear that we want to solve the Kurdish problem with peaceful means and methods."
The same time, the United States has emphasized that it has classified the PKK as a terrorist organization and assured Turkey they are a "common enemy."
But not P.J.A.K.?
"Kurdish Rebels Free Turkish Soldiers" by RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
DAHOK, Iraq, Nov. 4 — The top commander for the rebels, Murat Karayilan, described the move as an effort to soften relations with Turkish officials.... The move was unlikely to assuage the deep anger of Turkish officials, who describe the guerrillas as irredeemable terrorists.
Unless they are P.J.A.K., right?
The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, which has been stung by criticism from its patron and close ally, the United States, that it has done little to curb guerrilla activities, sought to capitalize on its role in urging the prisoners’ release.
One senior Kurdish official:
“We are sending a message to Turkey, and now we want Turkey to answer this message.”
But Turkey has derided past calls to the rebels by the Iraqi Kurds for peace and criticized as “theater” the limited steps Iraqi and Kurdish officials have taken.
Nuthin' ever good enough for 'em, huh?
The soldiers were captured Oct. 21 during a surprise attack three miles inside Turkey that left 12 Turkish soldiers dead.
Who attacked who? It was INSIDE Turkey?
Mr. Karayilan, the rebel commander, speaking on a satellite television channel, said he hoped the move would show Turkey that the group wanted peace. He also said he hoped Turkey would now improve its treatment of Abdullah Ocalan, the rebel group’s leader, who is imprisoned in Turkey.
Mr. Karayilan, describing Mr. Ocalan as being in poor health:
“Turkey is slowly pinching Abdullah Ocalan in the prison.”
And yet, the Globe opines:
"Turkish threat" Boston Globe editorial November 5, 2007
TURKEY HAS massed about 100,000 troops along the border with Iraqi Kurdistan and is threatening to attack the mountain sanctuaries of Kurdish guerrillas, known as the PKK, who have been killing soldiers and civilians in southeastern Turkey.
It is an open secret that the PKK wants to provoke Turkey into invading northern Iraq.
After what was reported above by themselves and their mom, they print this Zionist-colored AIPAC/Clean Break/PNAC view?
Pfffffftttttt!
PKK fighters are dug into caves high on Kandil Mountain near the border with Iran, and the snow that starts falling there in November makes their hideouts less accessible than ever. The group's goal is to bring Turkey into confrontation not only with the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, but also with the United States.
Yeah, what about P.J.A.K.?
A rational assessment of Turkey's interests should persuade Erdogan and his colleagues to avoid stumbling into the PKK's trap. A cross-border incursion would not solve the problem of PKK violence. It would inflame nationalistic passions among the Kurds living in the poor and ill-served region of southeastern Turkey. And an impulsive Turkish military intervention that added to the violent chaos of Iraq could only harm Ankara's relations with Washington.
Yeah, only Amurka can do that! You know, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran.
Last but not least, if Turkish troops invaded Iraqi Kurdistan, Turkey's chances of being accepted into the European Union would be reduced to nil for the foreseeable future.
Ah, the Globe's Globalist self is revealed!
Unfortunately, rationality is up against paranoia and national pride - not only in the minds of Turkey's civilian and military leaders, but also within the leadership of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq. Its president, Massoud Barzani, said recently that a Turkish invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan would mean war. The PKK, he said "is just an excuse" for Turkish leaders "whose real target is the Kurdistan region" of Iraq. Barzani's assumption is that Turkey would like to thwart progress in the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq out of a fear that its success will inevitably cause Kurds in Turkey to seek a similar status.
Still bashing the Kurds. But wait, it gets better!
Bush should use American influence with Barzani to have him press PKK leaders to accept an extended cease-fire with Turkey. And Erdogan should be prodded to use that cease-fire to promote economic development and extend linguistic and cultural rights for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.
They have ASKED FOR ONE!
At some point, Turkey will also need to offer amnesty to PKK leaders willing to put down their weapons and be repatriated. These would be rational ways to avoid another regional disaster. " cease fire."
Yeah, leave the disaster-making to Bush, will ya?
They don't even read their own reporting! Sob, sob, sob!
