Opinions | Columnists
A question of sovereignty
Turkey's intention is to destabilise Iraqi Kurdistan and humiliate its leadership.
- By Mohammad Akef Jamal, Special to Gulf News
- Published: 00:36 March 5, 2008
The Turkish parliament overwhelmingly authorised cross-border military attacks in northern Iraq against Kurdish separatist rebels last October. Lawmakers voted 507 to 19 to give Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, permission to order strategic strikes against, or large-scale invasion of, parts of Iraqi Kurdistan.
Before the vote, Turkish guns and helicopters were shelling the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) strongholds. The information about PKK rebels' whereabouts was supplied by US intelligence sources. This military campaign affected civilians, mostly farmers and shepherds, who were forced to leave their homes. The shelling destroyed many of their homes.
The United Nations condemned the offensive and the Iraqi government demanded the Turkish army pull out its forces - contrary to the Turkish government's allegations that the offensive was in coordination with the Iraqi government. As a result, Iran backed up its border forces, and oil prices jumped to $ 100 per barrel.
The Turkish invasion was the first of its kind since the 2003 US occupation of Iraq. It was carried out with the US logistical and intelligence support. So what are the goals of Turkey and the US behind this offensive?
After Israel, Turkey is the country closest to the US in the Middle East. It is also a Nato member and a host to several US bases. Both the US and Turkey consider the PKK a terrorist organisation. The US also does not want to anger Turkey on the issue of Kurds, which Turkey perceives as a matter threatening its national security. US policy in Iraq is affected by the Iraqi political blocs and their policy's impact on US interests.
Most important player
America is aware of the fallout between the Kurdish alliance and the Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC), which it considers the most important political player in Iraq today. The US also faces pressure from the Arabs on the Kurdish gains in Iraq.
Turkey on the other hand is not pleased with the Iraqi Kurds' achievements. It is concerned about the political future of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, which is on its its southern border, where PKK rebels are active.
Erdogan's Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party was not keen on the military solution. It postponed the military decision against the PKK for two months. In its view, any military act will strengthen the Turkish military establishment along with its secular allies.
Turkey had important targets to achieve from its military action. There is also a message to be delivered. First, Turkey aims at eradicating the PKK bases in Iraqi Kurdistan. It also wants to destabilise the Iraqi Kurdistan region, and destroy its infrastructure. Turkey also wants to ignore the existence of Kurdish establishments in northern Iraq.
Another Turkish target is to embarrass the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq, by showing it to be weak and incapable of protecting its borders.
Turkey also wanted to flex its muscles as a country which is interested in Kirkuk. The offensive was also meant as a message to the current Iraqi government, that treaties and pacts with the former Iraqi regime still stand. And lastly, it wants the US to understand that it will have its say, when it comes to issues regarding Iraq.
On top of the list of the Iraqi government must be both the Algeria agreement over Shatt Al Arab, and the Turkish incursions in the northern Iraq.
Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.
Share this article
Popular in Opinions
-
Opinions
Speak Your Mind: World hunger
Who is responsible for world hunger? Are there any solution?
Opinion Editor's choice
-
Parochialism versus India
The idea of India gets defeated if people are governed by domicile considerations
-
Between crime and insanity
Major Hassan's actions debase the universal parlance of the very faith that he professed to embrace so ardently
-
Its time for Karzai to show his mettle
He may have fallen out of favour, but for now there are no other leadership options
