Turkey Leaves Iraq After U.S. Pressure

Incursion Against Kurdish Rebels Ends; Turkey Denies Foreign Influence Prompted Decision

(AP)  Turkey's military said Friday it has ended a ground offensive against Kurdish rebels in Iraq, but said that foreign influence did not play a role in its decision. At least 200 trucks carrying Turkish troops were seen leaving the Iraqi border area and heading into Turkey's interior.

The pullout came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Turkish leaders during a visit in Ankara that they should end the offensive as soon as possible. In Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush made a similar point Thursday, saying Turkey needed to move quickly and get out.

"Both the start and end dates of the operation were decided by us solely based on military reasoning and necessities," the military said in a statement. "Any influence, either foreign or domestic, on this decision by the Turkish Armed Forces is out of the question."

On Feb. 21, Turkey launched the incursion into northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a group fighting for the autonomy of predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey. The rebels have carried out attacks in Turkey from bases in Kurdish areas of northern Iraq.

The military said in a statement that the operation targeted some 300 rebels in Iraq's Zap region, and 240 of them were killed. Turkish losses stood at 27.

"Without a doubt, it is impossible to render the entire terrorist organization ineffective with an operation in only one region. However, it has shown to the group that Iraq's north is not a safe area for terrorists," the military said.

The military said it would not allow northern Iraq to be used as a springboard for attacks against Turkey.

"Terrorist activities in Iraq's north will be observed in the future and no threat against Turkey from this region will be allowed," the military said.

In October, the Turkish parliament authorized the military to strike at the rebels across the border for a year.

"If necessary, the authorization can be used again," CNN-Turk television quoted Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin as saying.

Iraqi authorities have said they do not support the PKK but objected to Turkey's military action.

At least 200 military and civilian trucks ferried weary, unshaven Turkish troops from the border with Iraq and through the Turkish town of Cukurca on Friday, bound for barracks in Turkey's interior. Some soldiers in the trucks gave thumbs-up signs as they returned. Some had camouflage paint on their faces and held machine guns.

PKK spokesman Ahmad Danas confirmed Turkey's withdrawal, and speculated that American pressure had forced Turkey to pull out.

It was the first major, confirmed incursion in Iraq by Turkey in almost a decade. The PKK took up arms against Turkey in 1984. The fighting has killed up to 40,000 people.

[jwind11]

ROFLMAO Yet another bootlicker drinking his Kool Aid. Why don''''t you help the rest of us out here Swastika Breath. Go look up the 935 lies told by the Bush Administration then look at the story just today of how we now can''''t draw down our troops as we were told. Could you give us ANY truth in all this? WHY in this world would anyone call themselves an American, watch all the death and distruction this nation is going through, and BELIEVE people who have NOT ONCE, told you the truth! THEY HAVEN''''T told you the TRUTH ONCE!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

Posted by MCVet at 07:33 AM : Mar 01, 2008

go to your happy place....the meds will kick in soon.

[jwind11]

how do you know this? have you been to Iraq lately....the citizens of Iraq tell you this? Please tell me you are not getting your opinions based on what you see on CNN

Posted by jwind11 at 05:50 PM : Feb 29, 2008





Because every time they conduct a poll of the Iraqi people, they say that they want us to leave, and they think life was better BEFORE the invasion.

Just because you swallow every thing that Bush says, doesn''''t mean that his words are true.

Posted by hungry1968 at 08:09 AM : Mar 01, 2008

CNN watcher......explains alot

[hungry1968]

how do you know this? have you been to Iraq lately....the citizens of Iraq tell you this? Please tell me you are not getting your opinions based on what you see on CNN

Posted by jwind11 at 05:50 PM : Feb 29, 2008





Because every time they conduct a poll of the Iraqi people, they say that they want us to leave, and they think life was better BEFORE the invasion.

Just because you swallow every thing that Bush says, doesn''t mean that his words are true.

[mcvet]

how do you know this? have you been to Iraq lately....the citizens of Iraq tell you this? Please tell me you are not getting your opinions based on what you see on CNN


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jwind11 at 05:50 PM : Feb 29, 2008
+ report abuse

ROFLMAO Yet another bootlicker drinking his Kool Aid. Why don''t you help the rest of us out here Swastika Breath. Go look up the 935 lies told by the Bush Administration then look at the story just today of how we now can''t draw down our troops as we were told. Could you give us ANY truth in all this? WHY in this world would anyone call themselves an American, watch all the death and distruction this nation is going through, and BELIEVE people who have NOT ONCE, told you the truth! THEY HAVEN''T told you the TRUTH ONCE!! SIEG HEIL BUSH!!

[ndjam]

Its about time that these insects left the Kurds alone. The Turks have been slaughtering the Kurds for decades now. Why did the U.S allow them to infiltrate Kurdistan. The U.S protected Kurdistan from Saddam in the 90''s and now they let the insects from Turkey hit them.. What is going on??

[rowdytexan2]

Actually Turkey didn''t give a flying flip about a few Iraqi''s on their border. They have fought back the PPK for years. The Turks are in fact, some of the meanest toughest fighters in the world next to the Israeli''s.

They crossed the border into Iraq because the Neocons and the Idiot Son in Chief wanted to put a little intimidation game on the Iraqi''s. Just to show them what they can do. Fear is the greatest manipulator known to mankind, and these guys are champions at it.

It was just a little more chaos and hatred the Neocons were spreading, and Turkey was willing to help it''s ''allies.''

[donevis-2009]

Internet reports that Turkey has left behind strongholds to deal with the PKK. Main point is that we NEED TO GET OUT OF IRAQ. Our children are dying and our country is going broke over this "WAR". I''d rather pay for our oil. Rapping another country for their''s and having to fight an opposition is crazy!!!
Wake up people. It''s like Alan Greenspan said, "it''s about OIL".

[jwind11]

I really have to take exception with the comment, "We have done more than enough for Iraq". We''''ve upset every single facet of their society while simultaneously destroying their infrastructure. We haven''''t done anything positive for Iraq - it is in total shambles because of our government.

Posted by hungry1968 at 04:54 PM : Feb 29, 2008

how do you know this? have you been to Iraq lately....the citizens of Iraq tell you this? Please tell me you are not getting your opinions based on what you see on CNN

[scottyusa]

We must remember that Turkey is a member of NATO and is one of our allies. At least this one time we needed to get involved because Iraq is still a sticky situation and this would not help at all. Maybe instead of taking sides we convinced Turkey to wait until we are out before they start to take care of old gievances. This is really good news for once. If we are smart we will agree that we had nothing to do with their leaving

[superdem]

The Turks lie just like Bush does, even when they don''t have to. Obviously Bush told them to leave, and they did. But telling the truth makes them look "weak" or like American puppets. Bush denies he allowed the Turks into Iraq, which he did, and he denies that the American military provided targets and assistance to kill Kurds, which they did. Honesty is nowhere to be seen in American foreign policy. The Turks have shown the world that it doesn''t take years and years to leave a country you''ve invaded, it can be done virtually overnight. You just load up the trucks and drive away. In our case we just load up the trucks, drive down to the harbor, line up the ships, and get the hell out of there. Whatever happens after that couldn''t happen to nicer people.

[hungry1968]

Turkey left Iraq due to USA pressure. Now, the USA should leave Iraq exept for small number of troops, (similar to South Korea), and let the Iraqis govern and defend themselves.
We have done more than enough for Iraq. It''''s time for Iraq to stand on their own two feet.

Posted by Benst1 at 10:24 AM : Feb 29, 2008




I''ll agree that the US should leave Iraq, but we should take ALL of our troops out. Anyone left there is going to be a target. Those people hate us, hate our military, hate our political system, hate our freedoms and liberties, etc, etc. We shouldn''t leave anyone in that country, unless you want them to get killed.

I really have to take exception with the comment, "We have done more than enough for Iraq". We''ve upset every single facet of their society while simultaneously destroying their infrastructure. We haven''t done anything positive for Iraq - it is in total shambles because of our government.

[hungry1968]

"Turkey Leaves Iraq After U.S. Pressure"





Would someone please do us ALL a favor and put pressure on Bush to leave Iraq?

[asmauzum]

275 terorist killed in one week. Turkey achieved their targets. It is not logical to stay there (-15 celcius) for a month. We''ve killed and came back. Maybe 2 month later we come again. Regards...

[walt1944-2009]

The Turks have decided to leave northern Iraq, the "almost nation" of "Kurdistan" after having been "asked" to do so by the Great Emperor Nush II.

There are rumors however, that the real reason that the Turks left is because of the sinister threat by the Great Emperor that, NATO ally or not, he would place them on his "TO INVADE" list of countries that the Great Emperor hopes to invade and conquer before he leaves office.

Not that the Turks fear the US military, even though the Great Emperor has sent more Navy ships into the Meditterean, but they fear more the possibility that the Great Emperor Bush II might use his "strike force" of Blackwater USA Rambos to storm the shores of Turkey and and blow away anything and anyone that moves!

So, the Turks have retreated (for now!) until they are able to arrive at a solution on how to deal with any storm trooper Fascist Nazi mercenary army that the Great Emperor Bush could throw at them!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!
sig heil, McCain????

[ourplanet]

Read this funny book about bush.

King George in his La-La Land

[tbweb]

Turkey was smart to leave Iraq, the Iraqis will not always be down and when the Iraqis stand back up, Turkey don''t want the Iraqis coming after them.

[rowdytexan2]

Well, I''ll be! Since Mr. Bush sic''d Turkey on the Iraqi''s in one of his little intimidation tantrums and still doesn''t have his oil contracts, he had to give it up! Too bad!

[lloydbest1]

Good...Now let us follow our own advice.

[demslie]

Oh Darnn, the Democrats are mad. Turkey did what American asked it to do. How could those people do anything that bad old America wanted? The next thing you know, they will not even hate Bush or America the way Democrats do. How horrible.