There were reports yesterday that hundreds of Turkish troops had crossed into norther Iraq at the border across from the Turkish city of Cukurca on Wednesday morning.
The Turkish foreign minister denies that any incursion took place though one of the Turkish security officials said it was a "hot pursuit" raid after Kurdish rebels of the PKK Kurdistan Worker's Party, had opened fire from Iraqi soil on Turkish patrols.
The Turkish goverment has threatened a massive incursion if the rebels continue to attack Turkish troops and civilians and then flee back into Iraq for safe haven. The Turkish officials say they are fighting a war on terrorism just as the United States is and they must protect their citizens.
Reaction from our Miltary was that they did not see any indications that this incursion occurred, but they would not be more specific, because of the sensitivity of the information.
United States officials in the region have confirmed that if there was an incursion it would be as a continuation of Turkey's years-long campaign against the Kurdish PKK guerrillas of Kurdistan Workers' Party.
The Turkish invasion scenario is one of those worst case ones that the United States is trying to avoid. The Turkish government opposes any formation of a separate Kurdistan, as the Kurds that reside in southern Turkey would want to join and it is why the rebels fight to try and get their own homeland back.
This is a difficult question, but Turkey has long been a good ally and we need to stand with them for now. However, at some point , there should be a diplomatic settlement to the Kurdish question, but only after they lay down their arms and stop killing civilians.
Please read the story of the Turkish incursion and I also have a link to an excellent article about Turkey, the Kurds and their long struggle to have an independent Kurdistan.
Thanks!
