DIPLOMACY

Friends Again

U.S. support for Turkey's raids against rebel Kurds have improved relations between Washington and Ankara. Can the entente last?

By Sami Kohen and Owen Matthews | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Dec 21, 2007 | Updated: 2:47  p.m. ET Dec 21, 2007

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: aysenur @ 03/31/2008 10:47:36 AM

    http://www.ozgurgundem.org/haber.asp?haberid=49576

    http://www.ozgurgundem.org/haber.asp?haberid=49576
    This is a minor example of how Kurds are treated in turkey. Please watch the video. This was never released on the Turkish media, obviously because it will damage the manipulative system on it???s living dead people!!!

  • Posted By: bahadir777 @ 03/02/2008 2:59:28 AM

    Pkk's main target has been the entire populations of all the villages which resisted it and the underlying infrastructure in southeastern Turkey. Indeed, the PKK indiscriminately murders and degrades the living conditions of the very people it claims to represent: the Kurds.

  • Posted By: buraktan2003 @ 01/09/2008 10:53:56 AM

    aysenur senin amuan goysun tanr??verdi

  • Posted By: erdalca @ 12/30/2007 5:45:35 AM

    PKK is a Terrorist Organization They attack anybody... Turkey is a safeheaven for Kurds... Avarage Kurd dosent have problem with Turks... They are like brothers... Aysenur you need to separate PKK from the Regular Kurds,,,, remember my grandmother is Kurdish so I m half Kurdish... Thankyou..

  • Posted By: erdalca @ 12/30/2007 5:37:51 AM

    Hello Aysenur, PKK is a terrorist org. that deals with drug, arms and poising westeren world as well as Turkey... You need to check your dictionary for the meaning of peace. They will kill anybody including 2 months old babys. Just dont stand in their way Just remember Turkey had few Kurdish Presidents and Prime ministers

  • Posted By: webdude @ 12/22/2007 11:06:06 AM

    The hypocrisy of the Turkish leadership is astounding. They have made the Kurdish region of Turkey a wasteland of destroyed villages and displaced people and one wonders why the Kurds fight for freedom. If one looks at the history of the area there should have been a free Kurdistan in the area of southeast Turkey and northern Iraq after the fall of the Ottoman Empire during WWI but the allies caved in to Ataturk 's nationalist Turkish army and cut a deal to allow the new Turkish republic to control this area. All the ideals that Woodrow Wilson fought for were thrown out the window to placate power politics and business interests. The US alliance with Turkey means we support a semi-fascist state that has carried out genocide against minorities in Turkey and aggression against neighbors like Cyprus by the 1974 invasion. The US is engaged in wishful thinking if they believe that the Turks are true allies. They will use us to get what they want and that is the extent of the relationship.

    • Posted By: Rikmik @ 12/22/2007 12:32:10 PM

      The ignorance of your knowledge of history in this reason is astounding. Do you really think that your last sentence doesn't apply to the USA! As far as Cyprus is concerned, it is a Turkish island leased to the British, who have not given it up. The aggression was in defense of the murderous Greeks. The allies for your information were trying to seize land that did not belong to them. Well done the Turks for payback for the harm that the PKK terrorists have inflicted over the years.

      • Posted By: aysenur @ 12/24/2007 8:10:09 PM

        what a typical answer and how pathetic (Rikmik), you are bound to be a nationalist, a threat! its those with your mentality that make peace impossible, PKK is a result of Kurds denial. Get over it! open your eyes, a country can consist of more than one nation. learn to share, its much more rewarding, believe me.

      • Posted By: webdude @ 12/22/2007 1:19:07 PM

        Rikmik you are the one who is ignorant of history. Cyprus is 82% Greek and just because the Turks occupied it does not make it their land. The British propped up the dying Ottoman Empire and received Cyprus in 1878 which was then declared a colony after 1914. The Turks renounced any claims to Cyprus in the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Your statement that either Turks or British have not given up Cyprus is false. Cyprus became independent in 1960. The Turkish terrorists (TMT) killed their own people to facilitate Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus. It is all documented and even Denktask admitted it. Anatolia was once all Christian also and the Turks forced all the Greeks and Armenians into exile or murdered them in order to create a nation. The despicable actions of the Turks towards their fellow human beings is a disgrace to mankind.

  • Posted By: kurdish @ 12/24/2007 12:07:01 PM

    just as a note for the writer, Abdulah gol is the presedent and
    Erdogan is the prime minister

  • Posted By: JonnyP @ 12/23/2007 10:58:02 AM

    HOW STRANGE IT IS THAT ALL THE COMMENTS ASSUME THESE ATTACKS ARE ON TO THE KURDS WHO LIVE IN THE REGION PEACEFULLY BUT NOT TO THE TERRORISTS WHO ARE BASED ON THE SAFE HAVENS OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND ATTACK TO TURKEY FROM THEIR BASE. IT IS LIKE OSAMA HAVING A BASE IN CANADA AND MEXICO GETTING HELP FROM THE RADICAL MUSLIMS LIVING IN THE REGION AND MOUNTING THEIR TERRORIST ATTACKS TO US SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. I WONDER IF THOSE WHO SEE THESE CAMP GROUND CLEANING AIR STRICKES AS RACE CLEANING WOULD THINK THE SAME WHEN IT HAPPENED TO THEM. I WONDER IF US ARMY WOULD JUST SIT AND WAIT FOR CANADA AND MEXICO TO TAKE MEASURES FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND DO NOTHING. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU LABEL A COUNTRY. DON'T JUST READ A MEDIA WHO HAS HIS OWN AGENDA BUT READ NEWS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT COVERS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.

  • Posted By: JonnyP @ 12/23/2007 10:57:14 AM

    HOW STRANGE IT IS THAT ALL THE COMMENTS ASSUME THESE ATTACKS ARE ON TO THE KURDS WHO LIVE IN THE REGION PEACEFULLY BUT NOT TO THE TERRORISTS WHO ARE BASED ON THE SAFE HAVENS OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND ATTACK TO TURKEY FROM THEIR BASE. IT IS LIKE OSAMA HAVING A BASE IN CANADA AND MEXICO GETTING HELP FROM THE RADICAL MUSLIMS LIVING IN THE REGION AND MOUNTING THEIR TERRORIST ATTACKS TO US SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. I WONDER IF THOSE WHO SEE THESE CAMP GROUND CLEANING AIR STRICKES AS RACE CLEANING WOULD THINK THE SAME WHEN IT HAPPENED TO THEM. I WONDER IF US ARMY WOULD JUST SIT AND WAIT FOR CANADA AND MEXICO TO TAKE MEASURES FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND DO NOTHING. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU LABEL A COUNTRY. DON'T JUST READ A MEDIA WHO HAS HIS OWN AGENDA BUT READ NEWS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT COVERS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. THANKS.

  • Posted By: JonnyP @ 12/23/2007 10:53:24 AM

    HOW STRANGE IT IS THAT ALL THE COMMENTS ASSUME THESE ATTACKS ARE ON TO THE KURDS WHO LIVE IN THE REGION PEACEFULLY BUT NOT TO THE TERRORISTS WHO ARE BASED ON THE SAFE HAVENS OF NORTHERN IRAQ AND ATTACK TO TURKEY FROM THEIR BASE. IT IS LIKE OSAMA HAVING A BASE IN CANADA AND MEXICO GETTING HELP FROM THE RADICAL MUSLIMS LIVING IN THE REGION AND MOUNTING THEIR TERRORIST ATTACKS TO US SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS. I WONDER IF THOSE WHO SEE THESE CAMP GROUND CLEANING AIR STRICKES AS RACE CLEANING WOULD THINK THE SAME WHEN IT HAPPENED TO THEM. I WONDER IF US ARMY WOULD JUST SIT AND WAIT FOR CANADA AND MEXICO TO TAKE MEASURES FOR MANY MANY YEARS AND DO NOTHING. THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU LABEL A COUNTRY. DON'T JUST READ A MEDIA WHO HAS HIS OWN AGENDA BUT READ NEWS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THAT COVERS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. THANKS.

  • Posted By: nawawimohamad @ 12/22/2007 9:43:42 PM

    Is Turkey a sovereign nation or what? Why Turkey has to get the greenlight from the US before any action? Why must Turkey get the blessing from the US before it can act? The only conclusion one can make is that the US is controlling the whole region and the current leaders are only the US deputies. So blame the US for what is happening in then region. But the US will only provide the lip service because everything is going on as planned - the US do not want peace and stability in the region where it (US) has no role to play (during peace time), the US has purposely maintained the instability, conflict and turmoil all to its (US) advantage even if millions of human lives (including US soldiers)have to be sacrificed. The rest of the world leaders have nothing to say because they too are the US deputies, except for Castro, Chevez , Ahmadinejad and Putin. So there is no point really in persuing the matter (Turkey raids Kurds in Iraq region and the middle east conflict). For decades we have been reading about the never ending matter and it is a total waste of time. By the way what happened to Annapolis???????

    • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/22/2007 10:31:41 PM

      WELL PUT AS WE DO SEE PROFIT FUELS THIS WAR IN THAT REGION GREED GREED FROM A GOOD CHRISTAIN BOY. SO TO SAY TONS IS A WASTE ILL JUST SAY GOOD POINT YOUR RIGHT WE ARE GOOD AT GENOCIDE ASK THE TRIBES, OH YA THERE ALL GONE NO BLOODLINE LEFT! SOUNDS FAMILIAR!

  • Posted By: pinkpanther87413 @ 12/22/2007 4:40:46 PM

    Well we supplied Hussain the Serin gas used to attempt to genocidaly remove the Kurds from exsistence!
    Clinton in 96 sent 3 Destroyers to the gulf and wiped out 3 of the five remaining bases Hussain had cause he was once again encroching the green zone to kill kurds left alive from his last attempt and said "Get your tail back to Bagdad" he did! TODAY WE ARE HELPING GENOCIDALY REMOVE A RACE OF PEOPLE FROM THIS PLANET CAUSE WE HAVE TO APEASE TURKEY-WHAT ELSE IS NEW WITH AMERICANS?? THE GOP NEVER LOOKED THE OTHER WAY. WHEN THE SERIN WORKED ALL OUR BUSH SR. DID WAS SIT BACK AND SAY "MMM IT WORKS"!!! THEY HELPED HUSSAIN DO HIS DIRTY WORK! WHY DO YOU THINK HUSSAIN WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK AT HIS TRIAL??? JUST TO IMPLICATE THIS COUNTRY FOR ITS ASSTISANCE IN THE GENOCIDE OF HIS OWN PEOPLE!! PALESTENIANS,KURDS, THEY ONLY RACES THERE WITHOUT A COUNTRY, AND THE ONLY DELIVERY SYSTEM THEY HAVE HAS TWO LEGS! WHILE OTHERS SEND IN THE APACHES AND SIDEWINDERS AND TANKS, AND GET UPSET WHEN A SUCIDE BOMBER TAKES OUT 5 WOUNDS 20, AND THE RETALIATION IS 4 HELIOS AND 15 SIDEWINDERS, PICK A HOOD ANY HOOD AS LONG AS ITS PALISTENIAN AND GAZA, AND CALL IT EVEN-NOT! I THOUGHT THE USA WAS THE FIGHTER FOR THE UNDERDOG, NOT THE CONQUER. EVEN AFTER MY SERVICE, I SEE I WAS AND AM WRONG WE KILL WHO WE ARE TOLD TO SHOOT. WHOS ASS WE MUST KISS TO KEEP OUR INVASION OF IRAQ RUNNING-TURKEY!

  • Posted By: Pushdaree @ 12/22/2007 1:39:32 PM

    The American government during Ford administration looked other way while Iraqi government carried out campaign of terror against the Kurdish population and thousand of civilians were either imprisoned or killed and it seems the history is repeating itself except now we have Turks killing Kurds while another Republican administration looking the other way. Shame on Bush administration! Shame!

  • Posted By: Pushdaree @ 12/22/2007 12:13:33 PM

    The American government during Ford administration looked other way while Iraqi government carried out campaign of terror against the Kurdish population and thousand of civilians were either imprisoned or killed and it seems the history is repeating itself except now we have Turks killing Kurds while another Republican administration looking the other way. Shame on Bush administration! Shame!

  • Posted By: Pushdaree @ 12/22/2007 12:12:49 PM

    The American government during Ford administration looked other way while Iraqi government carried out campaign of terror against the Kurdish population and thousand of civilians were either imprisoned or killed and it seems the history is repeating itself except now we have Turks killing Kurds while another Republican administration looking the other way. Shame on Bush administration! Shame!

  • Posted By: SAQIB @ 12/22/2007 11:44:08 AM

    Wonderfully deluged by the EU promises and American support Turkish leadres are once again making the historic mistake by attacking the Kursds.The Kurdish leaders are in this position to get srtong help from America.Moreover the Kurds are the partners of the governing alliance in Iraq.Any minor mistake on the part of Turkey even with the ostensible consent of America may change the direction of hot and cold war towards Turkey.Turks have always been yearning for the membership of EU that has been denied so far, may be a weak point of TURKEY.Their any step even urged by the EU or America may send them to the wall.A great conciousness and diplomatically wise strategy would be useful for them.

  • Posted By: webdude @ 12/22/2007 11:07:29 AM

    The hypocrisy of the Turkish leadership is astounding. They have made the Kurdish region of Turkey a wasteland of destroyed villages and displaced people and one wonders why the Kurds fight for freedom. If one looks at the history of the area there should have been a free Kurdistan in the area of southeast Turkey and northern Iraq after the fall of the Ottoman Empire during WWI but the allies caved in to Ataturk 's nationalist Turkish army and cut a deal to allow the new Turkish republic to control this area. All the ideals that Woodrow Wilson fought for were thrown out the window to placate power politics and business interests. The US alliance with Turkey means we support a semi-fascist state that has carried out genocide against minorities in Turkey and aggression against neighbors like Cyprus by the 1974 invasion. The US is engaged in wishful thinking if they believe that the Turks are true allies. They will use us to get what they want and that is the extent of the relationship.

  • Posted By: ABDULCANBAZ @ 12/22/2007 10:54:48 AM

    I wait in great apprehension that this Barzani and his cohorts(PKK) and the rest of the Peshmerge Toons army will force us,the Turks go in deeper into the Iraq territory where eventually there will be an inavitable clash between the Turkish and the American forces. At present, Mr Bush seems to be on the side of the Turks, but it is not really very convincing. He can do an about face any time when it suits him. This latest development is a real powder cake and needs very carefull handling! We could easily start a real war among us if we are not careful. Perhaps some recalcitrant so called leaders should leave the stage or made to leave one way or the other. I am of course talking about the Kurds!

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse