Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has today described the ongoing military operations against Kurdish forces as the “largest operation in history” with respect to fighting against the Kurdish PKK, saying the attacks will continue both within Turkey and across the borders.
Turkey has been fighting the secessionist PKK off and on for decades, with the most recent conflict launched by Erdogan in the summer of 2015, after he withdrew from a ceasefire to launch a new attack. Fighting against the PKK has chiefly been in southeast Turkey, but also in northern Iraq.
Though it isn’t precisely related, Turkish officials have also linked the military offensive in northern Syria, where they are trading fire with the Kurdish YPG, to this offensive, as Erdogan has repeatedly claimed that the PKK and YPG are basically the same organization.
The PKK’s close ties to Kurdish nationalism, and their status as a terror organization, has often been used by the Erdogan government to target other Kurdish parties, both within Turkey and abroad, by painting them as part of the PKK and by extension terrorists by their very nature.
I am not sure how can one defend armed secessionism. For decades now, the arms and supplies have been coming from “someone” to support the guerrilla forces in the mountains. It was Erdogan that initiated an amnesty program, and it was successful — with hundreds of people coming down from the mountains to their homes. But then, Kurds attacked a military station, killed many. And that was the end of the successful program. It was clearly under the orders from sponsors, as any peace deal with Kurds in Turkey — would have ended a convenient way of interfering in Turkish politics, prolonging the conflict, preventing reconciliation. It will be HELPFUL if the facts are clearer. For example, it was the prime minister, Davutoglu that ordered the attack on Kurds, not Erdogan. At that time, Erdogan was already the President and as such had limited authority. His relationship with Davutoglu was not good, as Davutoglu tended to do things that Erdogan and the majority of his party — were not happy with. Keep in mind that the FIRST DAY after Davutoglu became prime minister for the third time, following the interim government stint — he ordered shooting of Russian plane. He lost the confidence in May, and the new Government was appointed from among Erdogan majority group. Davutoglu’s rule can be characterized as the bloodiest in Turkish history — with the number of terrorist attacks in the country, and the brutal attack on Kurdish civilian areas. Following the change of government in May, Turkey pushed for a range in policy changes. Coup shortly thereafter, just sped up the plans that were already in the pipeline.
It does not appear that Turkey will allow US-sponsored Kurdish state in Syria, and will have to bring the armed secessionism to heel in its own country. It will require now quite a trick to continue supporting militarily Kurds in Turkey — as the relations with US are precarious. So, Turkey will love to be able to throw it to US face, and get all the cooperation in the region to have Kurds accept political solution. In Iraq, in spite of the fact that it is choke full of “advisors’, Barzani Kurds are not exactly with US, and only Iraqi PKK is, That will be enough reason for Turkey and Iraq to join forces to get them squeezed. Barzani and Iraqi forces are already collaborating — and are combing areas around Mosul. US has not been asked exactly to participate — and the nervousness is resulting in getting more US soldiers in Iraq. After all — once Syria gets Raqqa liberated, ISIS will be isolated in Iraq, and the local Sunni tribes ARE NOT SUPPORTING THEM. There was a meeting of their tribal leaders in Baghdad, which indicates that they are ready for Baghdad to take initiative in fighting ISIS.
It will be very interesting what will happen in Iraq — if Barzani Kurds and Iraqi government work together on Mosul, and have already signed the deal on transit of Iraqi oil to Turkey via Kurdish pipeline. Too much cooperation for US taste — send more soldiers please.
Clinton is today talking about the great US-Kurdish fight against ISIS — as if living in an alternate universe. Kurds are for now not in business of fighting ISIS. They need to decide — to stay put and fight Turkey, or to move back to their areas, and consult among all of their various segments — how to prepare for political outcome. And since Turkey will not help them, they can only now turn to Russia to broker on their behalf. US may not be able to be in a position to do much for them. Unless Hillary wins, and all bets are off. She is saying no boots on ground in Syria — but then she would send ships to hit Syria from the sea, just as she did in Libya. She is a gambler — and when gamblers lose, they double down.
What are you? Erdogan’s Minister of Propaganda or something?
P.S. Your comments are too LLLOOONNNNGGGG. It’s tiresome. A sharp propagandist should be able hoodwink in two paragraphs or less. Just saying.
Erdogan is the real caliph, not Baghdadi. Kurds will kill every Jihadi.
Erdogan is insane
Erdogan can bring his war to the Mountains. The Kurds will give him his own private Vietnam. Like all imperialists, the Sultan’s hubris will be his downfall.