Turkey Presses Ahead With Iraq Offensive

Military Reports 7 Troops, Dozens Of Kurdish Rebels Killed In Cross-Border Fighting

(CBS/AP)  Turkish forces pressed ahead with ground operations against Kurdish rebels in Iraq on Saturday. Two Turkish soldiers and at least 35 Kurdish rebels died in new fighting in northern Iraq today, the Turkish military said.

Turkish forces pressed ahead with ground operations against Kurdish rebels in Iraq that began earlier this week. It is Turkey's first major ground incursion against Kurdish rebel bases in nearly a decade.

A total of seven soldiers and at least 79 rebels have been killed in Iraq since Turkey launched a ground incursion late Thursday, according to the military.

The rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, said it killed 15 troops on Saturday's clashes and was in possession of their bodies, the pro-Kurdish news agency Firat reported, citing rebel spokesman Ozgur Gabar. It was not possible to independently confirm the conflicting claims of casualty tolls.

Iraqi and Kurdish officials expressed displeasure Saturday with Turkey's ground incursion into Iraq to pursue Kurdish rebels, with Iraq's government spokesman suggesting Turkey take another approach and the Kurdish president warning the Turks not to target civilians.

The U.S.-backed Iraqi government said Turkey had assured it that the operation, Ankara's first major ground incursion against Kurdish rebel bases in nearly a decade, would target only rebels who have staged hit-and-run attacks on Turkish targets from hideouts in northern Iraq.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Iraqis understood that Turkey faced threats from the fighters of the PKK, which has waged a battle for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for years, often using bases in northern Iraq.

"But military operations will not solve the PKK problem. Turkey has resorted to military options but this never resulted in a good thing," al-Dabbagh said at a news conference on reconstruction. "Turkey should adopt another type of solution."

Meanwhile, a Turkish soldier was killed and another was wounded in a land mine blast on Saturday in the Turkish province of Bingol, nearly 190 miles from the border, local media said.

Two buses and five vans on Saturday ferried soldiers toward the Turkish border town of Cukurca, which lies north of the combat area, Dogan news agency reported. Vehicles used to carry ammunition were seen returning from the border area.

Two Turkish warplanes were seen flying toward Cukurca, Dogan said, but it was unclear whether they were on a bombing mission.

Further west, soldiers in Besta swept roads for possible land mines. Dozens of troops carrying assault rifles, light mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and sleeping mats patrolled near mountains with snow-covered peaks.

Supported by air power, Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq late Thursday in an offensive that marked a dramatic escalation in Turkey's fight with the rebel PKK, even though Turkish officials described the operation as limited.

The Turkish military said five troops and 24 Kurdish rebels were killed in clashes. At least 20 more rebels were killed by artillery and helicopter gunships, it said. Artillery units positioned near Cukurca could be heard firing shells across the border on Friday evening, Dogan agency reported.

The Iraqi government said Saturday that fewer than 1,000 Turkish troops had crossed the frontier. Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Turkish commanders had assured Iraq that the "operation will be a limited one and it will not violate certain standards that they have set."

Al-Dabbagh said Iraq's president and prime minister had spoken to Turkish officials.

"We know the threats that Turkey is facing but military operations will not solve the PKK problem. Turkey has resorted to military options, but this never resulted in a good thing," al-Dabbagh said. He acknowledged that Turkey was "suffering from the terrorist PKK organization."

On Friday, a military officer of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq said on condition of anonymity that several hundred Turkish soldiers had crossed the border. The coalition has satellites as well as drones and other surveillance aircraft at its disposal.

Sky-Turk television said about 2,000 Turkish soldiers were in Iraq, operating against rebel camps about 2-2.5 miles in from the border. NTV television said a total of 10,000 soldiers were inside Iraq in an operation that had extended 6 miles past the frontier. The activity was reportedly occurring about 60 miles east of Cizre, a major town near the border with Iraq.

It was not possible to confirm independently the size or scope of the attack on the PKK, which is considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union. CNN-Turk television, citing Turkish security officials, said the operation could last two weeks.

The advance was the first confirmed Turkish military ground operation in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003. Turkey's army is believed to have carried out unacknowledged "hot pursuits" in recent years, with small groups of troops staying in Iraq for as little as a few hours or a day.

Turkey staged about two-dozen attacks in Iraq during the rule of Saddam, who conducted brutal campaigns against Iraqi Kurds. Some Turkish offensives, including several in the late 1990s, involved tens of thousands of soldiers. Results were mixed; rebels suffered combat losses but regrouped after Turkish forces withdrew.

The PKK militants are fighting for autonomy in predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey and have carried out attacks on Turkish targets from bases in the semiautonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq. The conflict started in 1984 and has claimed as many as 40,000 lives.

Turkey's government has complained that Iraqi and U.S. authorities were not doing enough to stop guerrilla operations. The Turkish air force has been staging air raids on PKK forces in the north since December with the help of intelligence provided by the U.S., a NATO ally.

"We continue to express our absolute solidarity with Turkey about the PKK. This is a common enemy of the United States and Turkey," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday in Washington. "It is also an enemy of the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government because the Iraqi territory cannot be used for terror, should not be used for terrorist attacks against Turkey."

Rice, however, said: "We've also been very clear, though, that stability and progress for Iraq is in the interest of Turkey. And so, everything should keep in mind that nothing should be done to destabilize what is a fragile but improving situation in Iraq."

Iraq's Oil Ministry, meanwhile, confirmed that oil exports to turkey would flow unimpeded. A pipeline that runs into Turkey was often halted in past years due to sabotage, but is now pumping more than 300,000 barrels per day.

"Turkish military operations will not affect pumping oil through this pipeline as both Iraqi and Turkish governments are keen not to halt it," Assem Jihad told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Kurdish President Massoud Barzani's office warned in a statement that the regional government would not stand by if the Turks struck civilians.

"The regional government of Kurdistan will not be a part of the conflict between the Turkish government and the PKK fighters. But at the same time we stress that if the Turkish military targets any Kurdish civilian citizens or any civilian structures then we will order a large-scale resistance," it said.

Tariq Jawhar, a spokesman for the National Assembly of Kurdistan, a regional body, said that "we want the Iraqi federal government and the U.S. to ... work hard to stop this aggression and to seek peaceful negotiation to solve the problem."

"Such military operations are considered a clear violation of the federal Iraqi territory," he said.


Volley Of Rockets Or Mortars Targets U.S.-Protected Green Zone In Iraq

Rockets or mortars hit the U.S.-protected Green Zone early Saturday, just a day after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army militia to extend its cease-fire by another six months.

Starting about 6:15 a.m., nearly 10 blasts could be heard in the sprawling area along the Tigris River that houses the U.S. and British embassies, the Iraqi government headquarters and thousands of American troops.

Maj. Brad Leighton, a U.S. military spokesman, confirmed the Green Zone was hit by indirect fire - the military's term for a rocket or mortar attack - but could not immediately provide more details.

It was the fourth time this week that U.S. outposts in Baghdad appeared to be the targets of rocket or mortar attacks, killing at least six people and wounding both Iraqis and Americans, including at least two U.S. troops.

The flurry of attacks has followed a substantial lull in such assaults as security has increased and violence around the capital has dropped over the last half-year.

As the U.S. praised al-Sadr for extending his cease-fire it also pledged to pursue the breakaway militias, which it calls "special groups."

"Those who dishonor the Sadr pledge are regrettably tarnishing both the name and the honor of the movement," it said.

[mcvet]

Ah yes, Iraq! The BIG LIE that just keeps on giving...or taking as the case may be. Any bets on how much THIS blunder will end up costing the tax payers of this nation? Sieg Heil Bush

[gkc99]

"Free, independent" Kosovo, but not Kurdistan? Why not?

Because the Darth Bushit regime could care less about freedom. Kosovo--a finger in the Russians'' eye. Kurdistan--a phony pretext for an oil-occupation of Iraq.

Turkey refused assistance in the US invasion, while the Kurds supported removal of Saddam.

Bushit''s response--punish the Kurds and reward the Turks.

Real smart, Bushits!

[inventagod]

I would not be surprised if somehow, someone in the USA is making $$$ from the Turkish invasion...

[cyberus-2009]

------Oh, the conflict killed some people. Stop!! Someone is advertising An online dating service xxxxxx.com, but when viewing some sad news, is there anyone interested in dating?
-------
No .. and by repeating the name is a quote all you do is help the spammer

[cbs_oliver]

Posted by MCVet at 09:39 AM : Feb 23, 2008
-------

A friendly observation.

Your comments will likely have more impact with any who are subject to influence if you leave off the unnecessary ending "salute".

[rowdytexan2]

Letting the Turks go across the border and aiding them is just a little friendly Bushit intimidation of the Iraqi''s. It''s just his way of letting them know who''s in charge. Kindof like, remember when Hussein gassed a bunch of the Kurds for rebelling, remember? Instead of gassing them, Bush is letting the Turks kill ''em.

[wdrussell1]

Iraq could stand a chance if they could get all of the foreign fighters to leave.
The Iranians
The Saudis
The Americans
The Turks.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Why is everybody so upset with the kill''in going over in Iraq! Over 45 million babies have been taken out over here in America! I do not get it. Only when some sees it on TV do they speak out! Maybe they should play on TV all the aborted babies crime that has been done!

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by pilgrimsway at 12:02 PM : Feb 23, 2008

Just a for instance, abortion is a personal choice, it''s not being done en masse in your name by an elected official for the purpose of greed.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Episode 1 The killin of baby one!
Episode 2 The killin of a baby through dismemberment!
Episode 3 The killin of a baby through burn''in by saline solution!
Episode 4 The killin of baby through born alive abortion!
Episode 5 The killin of baby to get the placenta!
Episode 6 The killin of baby one a rerun for those who never wanted to see the first!
etc

[pilgrimsway-2009]

They could the babies being killed as a coming attraction in the movie houses! That would be cool and gloriously invigorating to the staunch and hardened hearted person, yes!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Check out these cool photos, at least they are not movies on the aborted baby issue!
Warning you better not because I could not!
Warning you better not because I could not!
Warning you better not because I could not!
http://www.100abortionpictures.com/Aborted_Baby_Pictures_Abortion_Photos/

They are really cool right!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

ainttaken

Did you like the cool pictures! I bet you did not look at least 5 of these pretty pictures!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

What do we have out there WIMPS. They only talk a talk they do not talk a walk!

[downtowner97]

How can we pretend we have any kind of control over Iraq when this is happening?

[ohillary-2009]

"Military Reports 7 Troops, Dozens Of Kurdish Revels Killed In Cross-Border Fighting"

The teaser above has me wondering just what a Kurdish "Revel" might look like.

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, Since you are on the rag about abortions -- Look at your own party, the GOP''s policy of the "Morning After Pill" RU-486 ------ '' Abortion For Profit, While Decieving Their Base ''

Bush''s administration conservatives pushed for Over the Counter Sale of the abortion pill to anyone who looks old enough to but them.

It is physical termination of the fetis well beyound the 3rd trimester, well into the 8th.

[missingamerica]

I find it interesting that our poster who is so concerned about "babies" has adopted the name of a culture who burned people at the stake

Posted by ainttaken


lollll....and hung people for supposed crimes of "witchcraft"....

And would undoubtedly return to that kind of behavior, were they given the power to force their morality upon America.

I have no doubt that - given the power - they''d soon make Islam''s "Mutaween" look like Santa''s helpers.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

An Obama article,

Keyes pointedly stated he was condemning Obama for his support of infanticide. Nevertheless, live birth abortion must be included in the list of procedures Obama condones. Obama responded first to Keyes by saying, as quoted in his July 10, 2006, USA Today op ed:... [W]e live in a pluralistic society, and that I can''t impose my religious views on another. (so outlawing murder, theft, robbery...is that not based on religious views, too ? What about people who feel differently...pluralism, after all ?)




That guy named Atta wanted to change the world too you know!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Is this now considered to be Obama''s morality instead of God morality? Lets follow him so we could be as the children who followed Peter Pans Dream. Come on now lets get real with these statments!

[j-whitman]

As long as there is a GOP, there will be dishonor & division --- From Abortion to War & Security,, it''s not about morals, or lives,,,,, it''s the profit.

Here is the situation in Basra Iraq, a test of Iraqi rlie under relatively optmial conditions,, it has the best economic base, little ethnic tension. ----- It''s not ''Rosey'' in the least bit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/world/middleeast/23basra.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp&oref=slogin

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hey j-whitman,
On my posts do you see the live abortion issue? Did you hear about it?? Infanticides will be accepted in about 10 years I bet, because remember nobody wants God''s morals or values! But only a leader like perhaps Obama! This is what has been projected for America''s future!

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,, To understand our future we must 1st thoroughly lood at our past -
--- Button pushing issures like abortion have only ever been about corporation control over who''s doing it --
--- The politics of Fear to control & decieve the masses.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

tuckerndfw,
You see this is the problem of shortsightedness? Who ever said that God is Bushes man? I certainly never did. Yo always rant from a stereotype position that anyone who stands up for right and wrong good and evil is in conspiracy with Bush! please know that there are honest individuals who are not connected to this party! You sell them, us, short from our intentions. Sure we may speak out what may be as an injustice for us but it does not mean we are in bed with Bush. I spoke this in the language you understand!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

j-whitman,
Thats exactly right!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

tuckerndfw,
Now we get real and you now just entered my arena. God loves you tucker and you know as well as I we cannot change ourselves, our self centeredness. We can elude to the fact that we are learning but we can never change our heart! God through Jesus Christ can change you tucker if you let Him. You can hold onto self or you can hold onto Christ Jesus. Its your choice. Hey you are very intelligent, I mean that.

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,,, Jesus has been dead for 2,000 years.. Let go of him & practice what he preached.

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by pilgrimsway at 01:49 PM : Feb 23, 2008

Is this Singinrick in disguise?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hey J-whitman,
Thats just it He is alive, not in the empty tomb. He''s wait''in for you to call on Him. The reality step taken to call on Him, Jesus, will be met by Him. He is not a fake though everyone else is. This is the cornerstone foundation of a life by Him in you!

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, Jewish archeologists found the bones of Jesus & his family in 1980 --- Get up to date --

Don''t force your religious views on people -- Don''t push the fears of your politics or your religion -- It''s flatly dishonest & immoral,

--- Your own republican party abuses you & your religion... You are but a tool for their corruption.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

j-whitman,
No one is forcing no one here. I think it is just your response to the fact of what was shared is right. You do not need to fear Gods love for you but just to rest in it! Jesus love j-whitman and Tucker and Pilgrim and everyone else. Are part is easy. Just call on Jesus and believe God raised Him from the dead on your behalf. You do not need ever again to fear death once this step is taken because then you would know for sure of the reality I have spoken about.

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, Start paying attention to what''s going on around you...... Stop abusing religion to mask the problems in your face

[trkshdlght]

What do these idiotic comments have to do with Turkey Operation on PKK terrorists??

[rowdytexan2]

Posted by pilgrimsway at 02:16 PM : Feb 23, 2008

Morality and a belief system is a personal choice and has nothing to do with the article posted here. You cannot legislate morality and your party''s attempted to do so is just posturizing to get votes.

What Mr. Bush is doing here, as shown by this article is genociding of Kurdish rebels, just like Saddam Hussein did...except he''s using the Turks to do it.

I do not see one thing in this article about abortion.

[glossypan]

Okay. Bush or Rice or McCain ... whoever is now the Republican spokesweasel on Iraq:
The rationale for remaining in Iraq (no WMDs, Saddam gone) has been to protect a sovereign nation and prevent genocide.
The Turks, who have been given billions of US taxpayer dollars to stand down, are invading the sovereign nation of Iraq for the purpose of committing genocide.
$$$$-$$-$$-$$-$$-$$-$$-$$-$$-$$$$
What is the NEW reason for spending 275,000,000 US taxpayer dollars every DAY AND losing precious US lives in Iraq ?????????

[pilgrimsway-2009]

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE? Would He CHANGE the way to make it easy for terrorists to get into this country to over throw this country? Would He CHANGE the laws for any of His kind? Would He hang out with those who supported tyranny against this country? Would He impose martial law? Could He start unjust wars for His hidden ideology? Could His decisions CHANGE the course for America? Would He CHANGE your civil liberties? Last of all would He CHANGE your mind that you voted for Him? Believe me when I say there are no one with hidden agenda%u2019s in this world!

If there was a secret radical Muslim in the white house as president what would He CHANGE?

I just hope to all who read my comment on the radical Muslim do not think I am talking about any of the presidential candidates! If you do it just shows your short sightedness!

[pilgrimsway-2009]

An Obama article,

Keyes pointedly stated he was condemning Obama for his support of infanticide. Nevertheless, live birth abortion must be included in the list of procedures Obama condones. Obama responded first to Keyes by saying, as quoted in his July 10, 2006, USA Today op ed:... [W]e live in a pluralistic society, and that I can''''t impose my religious views on another. (so outlawing murder, theft, robbery...is that not based on religious views, too ? What about people who feel differently...pluralism, after all ?)

[asmauzum]

Genociding of Kurdish people? Hahaha, an idiot would believe it. There are millions of kurdish people which are the citizen of Turkish Republic. And they''ve voted to Tayyip Erdo%u011Fan(President) on last election. What are you talking about when saying genocide? Turkish Citizen Kurdish people votes to Erdo%u011Fan to kill their race? Dont be a racist stupid when talking. Think twice before writing. Turkey is now using an international right which NATO and other organizations gave. Turkey didnt start a war based on lies for petrol as Americans doing now. Turkish people is respectful to international agreements and human rights and powerful to stand with its army.

[old300d]

Obama is telling people he will end the war in Iraq.

WWIII has already started over there.

It is starting to look like Obama will be in charge of our country during WWIII.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

FloydZepp,
just thought I take the time for you and Tucker. I do not see why Bush did not just go into Iraq in 2002 and just Bomb Saddam, for reasons of Him kill''in 40000 + individuals. As it stands now He went to war for His own agenda. He just did not cut off the head of the snake. Bush went to war without a purpose. If He did kill the snake in the first place Odi and whatever His brothers name was would of been incapable of taking His Fathers place. So these American being lost and now through accountability of the progress going on after the fact is for something. Since we are now there, not to lose sight of the wrong decision started, we can now emplace a convergence of free will to govern themselves. I know the hurts and disappointments of men losing their lives seems to naught but it was for a cause a good cause! I hope I answered you because believe it or not the whole of America wants answers and they just get the short end of the stick, if you know what I mean!

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,, Just what was the "good cause'' you mentioned ?? -- It''s cost us our national security & 4,000 of our own troops & hundreds of thousands of others ???

America is much less safer, Afaganistan is about to become a failed state (largely due to our presense in Iraq) --- & Iraq is a disaster.

Look at the model thay are using as an example of Iraqi rule under relatively optimal conditions -- Basra:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/world/middleeast/23basra.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&hp&oref=slogin

[sophiewack]

hey Pilgrim!
First off, you''re obviously an ignorant man-so shut up already about the abortion issue! I suppose you''d rather see babies cooking in microwave ovens, or maybe tossed off of bridges?

[pilgrimsway-2009]

j-whitman,

The good cause is that humanity is not suffering from a dictator who is no longer present to eliminate anyone else! To go it a step further less un-empathetic diplomacy is no longer in Iraq! There seems to be stability not to win a war but to win the people. I do not even know how many Iraquians have lost there life''s some unknowingly for the cause and a bit knowingly

[pilgrimsway-2009]

sophiewack,


You are really not understanding the issues at hand. To help you. You Have Obama voicing the new right of infanticide called birth abortion, and then claiming He is a good guy fighting for the ideal of our troops.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

Hello I''''m Anna Nicole Smith I think all of you have heard me. I would vote for Hillary if I had a chance. She at least can handle the job of president because of Her experience. Please Email me with the news that you will do this!
Your friend Anna

[sophiewack]

pilgrim-what in the world does your blathering have to do with this article about Turkey? Or Iraq? I think you''re the one not understanding the "issues" -

[pilgrimsway-2009]

sophiewack,

I apologize I did not mean to insult your intelligence! I probably got started with another person on another blog in Atlanta!

[j-whitman]

pilgrimsway,,,, Don''t get lost in your wacko abortion issue,,,, You don''t know the 1st thing about -

Your party makes tons of money on abortion pills RU-486 ------ It causes abortions way beyond the current 3 trimester period & well into the 8th trimester.

.. Instead of people going to clinics --

Your Pro-Life GOP is selling them over the counter to anyone who looks of age.

[pilgrimsway-2009]

j-whitman,

Come on do you not understand English? That is not my party! You are smarter than this!

[sophiewack]

Adios again! Just reading these comments makes my eyes bleed! No wonder America is in such a sorry state. BTW Pilgrim, don%u2019t flatter yourself, there%u2019s no way you could insult my intelligence!