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November 10, 2007
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Turkish Military Attempts to Gain a Sacrificial Lamb
Kurdishaspect.com - By Martin Zehr
In the Turkish press it is being reported that there remains a considerable division between the Turkish military and the Bush administration. The article in the New Anatolian by Evren Deger reports: "The military said the U.S. will undergo a test of sincerity as the Armed Forces watches if and how Washington will fulfill its promises made at the summit. Deputy Chief of Staff General Ergin Saygun also attended the summit.
The promises made in Washington and the decisions taken between Turkey and the United States are being evaluated at the General Staff Headquarters.
The military leaders want to see first and for all sincerity from the Americans on intelligence sharing. Military sources say the Americans have shared instant intelligence information only with the Israelis until now and this has been on an occasional basis. So they say the intelligence the U.S. has promised to provide will be vital in the coming days. The quality of the intelligence to be given to Turkey will show the sincerity of Washington, they stress. They said such instant intelligence should allow the Turkish forces to utilize the information for operational purposes.
They also feel the hand over of PKK leaders within the framework of intelligence sharing would help to show the sincerity of the U.S."
Given the sensitivity of the Turkish-U.S. negotiations at a time when the Turkish Army is massed at the Iraqi border and their unequivocal statement that THEY are the sole force in determining the when and where of an invasion of the Kurdish Autonomous Region in northern Iraq. This presents a scenario that seeks to utilize the American presence in the region for its own geo-political advantage. This demand is considerably less than the Turkish government has presented to the world and appears to be inconsistent with Turkish military objectives.
The article further elaborates: "The military listed the following points as tests for American sincerity:- The hand over of about for to five PKK terrorist leaders who were on the wanted list given to the Americans in the past.
- Severing the logistic links of the PKK. The military wants the Americans to provide a detailed explanation on how the U.S. arms used by PKK found their way to the terrorist organization.
- Measures to be taken to prevent the PKK from running a narcotics smuggling ring.
-The closure of all the political entities and so-called NGOs that have links with the PKK in northern Iraq."
This response by the Turkish military is an effort that presents the US-Turkish alliance with a minimum of expectations on the part of the Turkish military. It cannot be said to be a victory of any sort for the PKK or the Kurdish nation. It does represent a retreat from prior positions, if these demands are, in fact, the response of the Turkish military. It is, in its essence, an effort to divide Kurdish forces and proposes that the US act as an active agent in the repression of Kurdish national liberation forces. It was already previously reported by Robert Novak that US intelligence agencies have been actively working with the Turkish military to assassinate PKK leaders. It might also be considered that it was the expressed position of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces and NOT that of the Chief of Staff, Gen. Yasar Buyukanit. Iranian press reports from PRESS TV indicate that the Chief of Staff's position is: "A short time after our units are given an assignment they will be able to carry it out. That is the point at which we are. We are now waiting for the directive that will come from the government,' newspaper Miliyet website quoted Buyukanit as saying." Clearly, he is sending a different message for the purpose of obscuring accountability and intention of the Turkish military. It is possible that the Turkish military has blinked regarding the invasion of southern Kurdistan, but this may be an illusion that they wish to transmit to the peshmerga and the PKK.
Nowhere is there an expressed recognition of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) or of the Kirkuk referendum. Nowhere is there any statement and an expressed acceptance of the KRG role in any negotiations. Likewise, there is no recognition of the political demands of the PKK on behalf of Kurds within Turkey. A statement by the Turkish government that recognizes the KRG is the critical element that is needed for the KRG to accept the intentions of the Turkish military to not invade. Handing over the leaders desired by the Turkish military without the withdrawal of Turkish troops from the border is a clear sacrifice of Kurdish fighters in return for nothing. There is no reason to act presuming the honor of the Turkish military for they have made NO committments. Neither are the PKK fighters deserving of such a meaningless sacrifice by the Kurdish nation. I do not presume to speak on its behalf, but as an American I have seen our government make such agreements in the past without any consideration of the costs to people. Victories are only won through real concessions and not empty promises.
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About the author :
Martin Zehr is an American political writer whose article on the Kirkuk Referendum has been printed by the Kurdish Regional Government,
PUK , Kurdishmedia.com, and Conservative Voice He is a Contributing Writer to Kurdish Aspect where his articles have appeared on line and in print.
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