U.S. Admits Forces In Iraq Helping Turks

As CBS First Reported The Pentagon Is Spying On Kurdish Terrorists

(CBS)  The U.S. acknowledged Wednesday it has undertaken military moves against Kurdish rebels in Iraq after asserting for weeks that their strikes in Turkey were a diplomatic matter.

Pentagon officials are now starting to say publicly that the U.S. is flying manned spy planes over the border area, providing Turkey with more intelligence information, and that there are standing orders for American forces to capture rebels they find.

CBS News national security correspondent David Martin reported last Friday that the Pentagon was planning to fly reconnaissance aircraft to gather intelligence on Kurdish terrorists.

But the U.S. commander in northern Iraq, Army Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, told Martin that he planned to do "absolutely nothing" to counter Kurdish rebels operating from the region.

The top American commander in Iraq, in comments that appeared aimed at allaying Turkish frustration over the matter, said Sunday the U.S. military was playing a role in trying to defuse tensions.

Gen. David Petraeus declined to elaborate. Since then, however, Pentagon officials have detailed a number of examples to undermine the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, holed up in bases in northern Iraq.

"We are assisting the Turks in their efforts to combat the PKK by supplying them with intelligence, lots of intelligence," Defense Department press secretary Geoff Morrell said.

He said 10 members of the PKK - which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization - are in a U.S. "most-wanted" database. That means American forces have had standing orders for some time to pick them up if they are found.

In Iraq, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Baghdad would ensure there were more checkpoints along its northern border to halt shipments of fuel, food and other supplies to Kurdish insurgents. Zebari, a Kurd, said Iraq would also take other, unspecified measures to hinder PKK cross-border operations.

The assurances from the U.S. and Iraq came after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Massoud Barzani, the leader of Iraq's semiautonomous Kurdish region, of "aiding and abetting" the rebels, in a sign of growing frustration with Iraqi Kurds' refusal to crack down on them.

Turkey fears that Iraqi Kurds could set up an independent Kurdish state - Barzani has set that as his ultimate goal - in a move that could fuel separatist sentiments within Turkey.

Erdogan planned to meet Friday in Turkey with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Turkey has complained for months about what it contends is a lack of U.S. support against the PKK. The Turkish government has threatened a full-scale ground attack into northern Iraq if the U.S. and Iraqi officials fail to do something about the rebels.

"We have given them more and more intelligence as a result of the recent concerns. ... There has been an increased level of intelligence sharing," Morrell told reporters.

He did not say when the stepped-up cooperation began or how the intelligence was being gathered. But the military in the last week or so has sent manned U-2 spy planes to areas used by rebels and is providing reconnaissance on the border, a defense official said.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

The official also said the U.S. military saw a battalion of several hundred Peshmerga - the militia of the Kurdish Iraqi regional authorities - move toward the border over the weekend.

Top Defense Department and State Department officials have said that Iraq's Kurdish regional government should cut rebel supplies and disrupt rebel movement over the border, and that Washington is frustrated by Kurdish inaction.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates suggested last week that airstrikes or major ground assaults by U.S., Turkish, or other forces would not help much because not enough is known about where the rebels are at a given time.

The U.S. and Iraqi governments have urged Turkey not to send troops across the border and are promoting a diplomatic solution. They fear a large military operation, opening a new front in the Iraq war, would unsettle what is now the most stable part of the country.

A Turkish incursion would also put the United States in an awkward position involving NATO-member Turkey, the Baghdad government and the self-governing Iraqi Kurds in the north.

Turkey's prime minister, Erdogan, said this week that it was "unavoidable that Turkey will have to go through a more intensive military process" to counter the rebels. Turkish forces have been shelling rebel positions near the border.

Erdogan plans talks with President Bush next week in Washington.

"We expect the Iraqis to step up and make sure that they are doing everything they can to eradicate the PKK," White House press secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday.

"Turkey has a right to defend its people, it has a right to look for its soldiers, and we are asking Turkey, as well, to exercise restraint and to limit its exercises to the PKK. And so far that's continuing to work, but it takes a lot of dialogue and discussions," she said.

[oldprophet]

You get the sense that our country is desperate for someone to show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a NEW WAY. Think about this for a minute. What if we pulled all of our troops out of South Korea? They''ve been there for 50+ years. What if we quit worrying about Iran, but instead, realized that its having a nuclear weapon will not mean the end of the world? What if we pulled all of our troops out of the Middle-East, and brought them all home? What if we realistically addressed the National Debt, and paid attention to REALLY DOING SOMETHING about stopping illegal immigration? These are the ideas of Republican Presidential candidate, Dr. Ron Paul. He''s a ten term Congressman and a physician who has delivered over 4,000 babies. He''s an intellectual who''s published four books, three of which are devoted entirely to sound economics. He was raised on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania as a pious Lutheran, but now he attends a Baptist church. Paul is given to mulling things over morally. Whenever he recollects the helicopter pilots he treated as an Air Force Flight Surgeon (Captain) during the Vietnam War, a war which he now says was "totally unnecessary and illegal," he laments, "They were gung-ho. I%u2019ve often thought about how many of those people never came back." Candidates with the high level of personal integrity and proven track record of adherance to The Constitution, Congressman Paul has always demonstrated only come around once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky.

[toldyouso21]

Posted by tbweb at 10:17 PM : Oct 31, 2007


The Iraqis ARE faking it. This all started with a Bush ultimatum: 1.The US will not leave before Democratic elections are held in Iraq--so they faked it and complied and hoped we would leave. We didn''t. Instead Bush then said:

2. The first election does not really count, cuz the Sunnis did not participate. So the Sunnis participated and waited for us to leave. We didn''t.

By then, they realized we were just liars with no intention of leaving and about at that point the carnage really took off. The present government has no intention of really honoring what America wants--they know now, that every positive step they make, Bush will take credit for to justify the invasion and occupation of Iraq--so they don''t make any--they just make a lot of shuffling moves that look like their feet are moving forward--when really they are standing still. Here is a question for you--if any positive move you made ultimately benefitted your enemy (and yes, the Iraqis see us as enemies NOT saviours or friends) what would you do to benefit those illegally in your country?

You''d do nothing--and pretend only to --to get paid and to prevent more bombs--or would you be a true collaborator and give your all to make the invaders occupation of your country a success. FAce it--we are loathed--and with good reason--only a fool would hurt someone and think they could be liked by the same person.

[toldyouso21]

Outside influences notwithstanding, its gets to a point where the Iraqi''''s can only point the finger at themselves!

Posted by tbweb at 09:46 PM : Oct 31, 2007


did you consider that the reason Iraq does not try to help itself is that any victory for them in that regard would be a victory for America and a justification for America to invade more countries, unleash mayhem and do nation building? There are a lot of reasons to not really cooperate with countries who invade you--not even to appear to help oneself. You may not have thought of this--I bet the Iraqis have. Why should they help us secure a victory in their country? Who helps an invader kick their own azz except true collaborators?

[toldyouso21]

Gee....and I''d bet the Kurds really thought they had a good thing---with America as allies--they fail to realize that America''s only true friend, who they are loyal to no matter what--is America.

Scratch that, the events from the past 6 years prove that to be a fallacy. Okay then, America''s only true friend is lean, green and extra crispy--it is the DOLLAR. LOL

[prinzowhales]

Where are those ''missing'' weapons that YOU were in charge of, General Betrayus?--You know the ones... with the serial numbers unrecorded so that their path to the hands of the PKK and other terrorist organizations could be concealed...You are a plagirist, General, and you will always be remembered as a pathetic comic figure who padded along with Barney on the heels of the Coward-in-Chief, Fearless George, the rancher-president who is afraid of horses and allows military male prostitutes to overnight at the White House. I think I hear Admiral Fallon whistling for you, General...

[forthepeopl1]

"It''''s one thing if someone believes in what''''s going on over there and volunteers, but it''''s another thing to send someone over there on a forced assignment, and I''''m sorry but basically that''''s a potential death sentence," Jack Croddy, a senior Foreign Service officer, said on that call.

AS A FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS THEY HAVE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE TOLD TO DO JUST AS OUR TROOPS...NO DIFFERENT,

BUT IT IS FUNNY TO SEE THEM NOW SAY TO THE GOVERNEMNT F/U/C/K/ OFF,CRYING LIKE BABYS NOW THAT THEY HAVE TO GO OVER...EVERYTHINGS OK UNTIL SOMEONE TELL A EMPLOYEE OF THE GOVERNEMNT TO GO OVER TO WHAT BUSH/CHENEY SAY IS THE SAFEST PLAY ON EARTH...FUNNY I CANT STOP LAUGHTING..HA.HA.HA,HA,

HEY GENERAL HERE COMES SOME HELP JUST HOLD ON OK, YOU CHICKEN CANT STAND UP TO THIS PRESIDENT AND TELL HIM I WILL NOT PLAY ARMY FOR YOU AND CHENEY..

[tbweb]

"... Erradicate is the word of choice when the intent is to kill every man, woman, and child. Rgards, " Posted by Nancy_Naive

Correct Nan, but I was leaning toward "commit genocide against", as it more correctly reflects the real concept of what these vampires are doing in the name of "freeing the Iraqi people".

Posted by brianbwb at 06:42 AM : Nov 01, 2007,,,

I must stay up to date! Eradicate? It use to be "clean and sweep" and prior to that it was "search and destroy". Eradicate eh? So clean, so sanitary! LOL

[brianbwb-2009]

Bush''''s fondest dream would be for a probably dead Bin Laden to control Iraq.

Sorry web, I meant Pakistan. This coffee is GOOD!

[brianbwb-2009]

"...Osama bin Laden and Islamic extremist are trying to overthrow the Pakistan government, if they were to gain control of Pakistans nukes then it would be an issue, that''''s the danger I was alluding to and in effect it is a latent threat to Israel indirectly!
Posted by tbweb

Sorry, I had to do some other work.

It is not "Islamic extremists" that seek to gain control, as the warmongers would have you believe, it is the opposition political party, seeking to get all four of their feet into the trough. Since Osama at least used to work for Bush, Bush''s fondest dream would be for a probably dead Bin Laden to control Iraq.

Just like some Repubs in the US like to hide behind the Bible to convince the "christians" that "God" is somehow behind their agenda, (like a president that says that "GOD told me to straighten out the middle east, and d*rn it, that''s what I''m a gonna do") Islam also has its'' pimps.

The important thing is to recognize this, and not blindly support the invasion and occupation of other countries based on a false belief in an Islamic "boogie man".

"... Erradicate is the word of choice when the intent is to kill every man, woman, and child. Rgards, " Posted by Nancy_Naive

Correct Nan, but I was leaning toward "commit genocide against", as it more correctly reflects the real concept of what these vampires are doing in the name of "freeing the Iraqi people".

[tbweb]

Pakistan has no interest in bombing Israel, it''''s nuclear capability is intended as defense against India. That "cold war" has been on for decades now, they usually test in answer to India''''s announced advances. If they wanted to bomb Israel, they would have launched (or secretly sent to a more hostile anti Israel country)long before now, as they have had nuclear weapons for at least a decade or more...

Posted by brianbwb at 02:20 AM : Nov 01, 2007,,,

I didn''t mean to imply that Pakistan would or wanted to nuke Israel, I was only pointing out that Pakistans nukes can reach Israel "now" and since Osama bin Laden and Islamic extremist are trying to overthrow the Pakistan government, if they were to gain control of Pakistans nukes then it would be an issue, that''s the danger I was alluding to and in effect it is a latent threat to Israel indirectly!

[brianbwb-2009]

"We expect the Iraqis to step up and make sure that they are doing everything they can to eradicate the PKK," White House press secretary Dana Perino said Wednesday."

So when the Kurds that signed Bush''s oil deal for "their" area of Iraq are dead, who honors the agreement?

This is exactly the same as if someone were to say "we should eradicate the Jewish Defense League in America", or the Anti Castro groups in Florida.

Better to use the term murder, rather than eradication, it is closer to the truth.

[brianbwb-2009]

Have you checked out Dubai, it has everything but streets of gold! I bet they are all meeting up there when the smoke clears! LOL

Posted by tbweb

Yep, I"ve seen the malls. When the PR campaign said "Buy Fly Dubai", Cheney and Halliburton took it literally. Building a house next door to Michael Jackson''s retreat, I hear tell.

[tbweb]

Posted by brianbwb at 02:21 AM : Nov 01, 2007,,,

Have you checked out Dubai, it has everything but streets of gold! I bet they are all meeting up there when the smoke clears! LOL

[usaprophet]

I don''t know about you, but I''m sick of no-win pseudo-wars, like The War on Drugs and The War on Terrorism. I''m sick of undeclared wars like The War in Iraq and unnecessary and protracted police actions like the one in Korea. I''m sick of income taxes, which are unconstitutional because they are are a direct tax and are not equally apportioned as the Constitution requires. I''m sick of back door national ID cards like The Real ID Act. I''m sick of warrantless domestic spying by the Department of Homeland Insecurity and the loss of my civil liberties as a result of Draconian, fear-based Laws with oxymoronic names like The Patrot Act. I''m sick of secret offshore prisons like the one in Guantanamo, where our government tortures prisoners, who have no right to redress of grievance, or to writ of habeus corpus. I''m also sick of the Federal Reserve (a secret group of private banks) manipulation of our worthless, fiat currency. Do yourself a favor. Support the 2008 candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul for President of The United States. I believe he''s our only hope to restore peace, prosperity and freedom in this country. Presidential candidates with the personal integrity and the consistent track record of adherance to our Constitution that Ron Paul has demonstrated only come around once in a lifetime, if we''re lucky. The stakes are too high, and the cause of freedom is too important to let anything stand in the way of our participation in this 21st Century political revolution. Go Ron Paul!

[brianbwb-2009]

I want my cut or I''''m spilling the beans, cut me in or else! LOL
Posted by tbweb

Spill on, bro, because unless you are a "business associate" of the Bush klan, you ain''t gettin'' no cut...

[brianbwb-2009]

Pakistan is the number one hot spot in the World today with active nuclear warheads that can reach Israel right now! On the World stage, Pakistan is the "Gorilla" in the room for sure!
Posted by tbweb

Pakistan has no interest in bombing Israel, it''s nuclear capability is intended as defense against India. That "cold war" has been on for decades now, they usually test in answer to India''s announced advances. If they wanted to bomb Israel, they would have launched (or secretly sent to a more hostile anti Israel country)long before now, as they have had nuclear weapons for at least a decade or more...

[usaprophet]

I''ve heard some folks in this discussion question Ron Paul''s physical fitness. First of all, you can tell the man is in GREAT shape for a 72 year-old man. He''s trim because he''s an avid runner. He used to be a track star in college. His campaign aides, some of whome are half his age, are always complaining that they can hardly keep-up with the man. He''s a Doctor. He knows how to take care of his health. If you were running for president, and were being wisked from one venue to the next all day, everyday, some of which you barely show-up for in time, you''d look a little tired or disheveled. The fact that the man has held up so well to a rigorous presidential campaign schedule should speak volumes about how well he''d hold-up while in office.

[tbweb]

Exactly. That is why the candidates and politicians from both sides cannot do the logical and right thing, admit the mistake, get out, and ensure personal accountability, choosing instead vague and false reasons about "the difficulty of getting out" (left) and the "we don''''t cut and run" (right).

You will see the highest prices the country can stand, possibly higher, and it is the Bush klan and those who got bribed for enabling them, who make the profit, and I guarantee you it won''''t "trickle down"...

Posted by brianbwb at 02:11 AM : Nov 01, 2007,,,

I want my cut or I''m spilling the beans, cut me in or else! LOL

[brianbwb-2009]

If that 70% Oil Contract you mentioned is true and I wasn''''t aware of it before your Post, the U.S. may never leave Iraq, why should it with a deal like that! LOL
Posted by tbweb

Exactly. That is why the candidates and politicians from both sides cannot do the logical and right thing, admit the mistake, get out, and ensure personal accountability, choosing instead vague and false reasons about "the difficulty of getting out" (left) and the "we don''t cut and run" (right).

You will see the highest prices the country can stand, possibly higher, and it is the Bush klan and those who got bribed for enabling them, who make the profit, and I guarantee you it won''t "trickle down"...

[tbweb]

You get the sense that the country is desperate for someone to show us the way. Not the old way. Not the same way, but a NEW WAY. Think about this for a minute. What if we pulled all of our troops out of South Korea? They''ve been there for 50 years.

Posted by USAProphet at 02:03 AM : Nov 01, 2007,,,

Maybe we should pull our troops out of South Korea and move them to Afghanistan because the number one problem is not Iraq or Iran, its Pakistan! Pakistan is the number one hot spot in the World today with active nuclear warheads that can reach Israel right now! On the World stage, Pakistan is the "Gorilla" in the room for sure!