Turkey Seeks Parliament Mandate for War in Iraq, Syria

War Would Cover 'All Possible Threats,' Including Kurdish Independence

Turkey’s parliament is debating a government-requested mandate allowing the country to get its war involved in Iraq and Syria, and they are seeking an unlimited mandate for “all possible threats.”

That includes not only the prospect of fighting ISIS in both countries, a prospect that looms large, but also mentions the possibility of striking “Kurdish militants” across both countries if they move toward secession, and striking the Assad government as well.

It’s the sort of unlimited, vague mandate for an open-ended war that the Obama Administration would love, if indeed they sought Congressional approval for anything they do these days.

Turkish officials are also presenting the possibility of ISIS advancing on the tomb of Suleyman Shah in northern Syria, which by treaty is considered Turkish soil. The government has promised to defend the mausoleum militarily.

The parliament is expected to approve the mandate, and a vote is expected to take place sometime on Thursday.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.