I can't watch anymore, I have a headache...

[Eumenides]

I truly feel like a kid in a calculus class who didn't pass algebra. There is so much I don't understand. I keep watching, and I have a great deal of trouble coming to logical conclusions. In the case of war, I am driven first and foremost by my emotions. Every report of casualty makes me sick. I don't understand some of what's going on, and it makes me feel stupid, because I've watched, read, and listened to a great deal of information.

Can someone please explain to me, without being rude, the situation involving Turkey? I keep hearing that they want to go into Kurdish controlled Iraq (sorry if that's not accurate, it was the understanding I came to, and may be incorrect), and that The United States is insistent that they don't. But I don't understand why they want to and why the US doesn't want them to. I know it probably sounds dumb, and maybe I should already know. But I don't. And it's driving me nuts.

Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I'm still stuck on Saddam thinking it was the "Lake Geneva Convention" at the old Playboy mansion.

 

[curious2c]

As is typical in wars...One country wants what another has. In this case, Turkey wants more territory, and what comes with it. If they have a presence then they have a 'claim' similar to Germany after WW2. The Russians claimed the east, the Allied forces claimed the west.

Oone more reason to hate war and what it does.

 

[Annabelllee2003]

my God. Don't even consider you may sound dumb. Not after so much of what I have seen here.

Please. You are a breath of fresh air.

The problem is that there are so many conflicting opinions you will hear in this forum it still may be harder to get a really good answer.

Read what is posted, do research and then it may not be so confusing.

It's a confusing issue. You aren't the only one. I figure I slept through most of my calculus.

 

[Eumenides]

Thanks guys. I guess I'm waiting for the Cliff's Notes of Operation Iraqui Freedom. Or War for Dummies. *sigh*

 

[Bobmi357]

The turks are afraid that the Kurds will attempt to form their own country. There is a sizeable and significant kurdish minority in Turkey and they recently concluded a 13+yr war which resulted in the deaths of over 30,000 people.

Turkey is concerned that a Kurdish state would re-ignite the kurds in turkey to rebellion once again.

The US is pissed off with turkey's lack of support and concerned that Turkey, by moving additional troops into Northern Iraq, could be setting up to attack the kurds in Northern Iraq, or making a play for the northern Iraqi oil fields. In either case, the US would be forced to make a decision of which is more important, support Turkey, an american ally, or support the Kurds who are actively supporting the US with nearly 100,000 fighters in Northern Iraq.

Does this help?

 

[Eumenides]

Yes, thank you.

 

[Rhys]

the cliffs notes: Kurds and Why?

 

[Annabelllee2003]

the cliffs notes: Kurds and Why?

 

[sexy-girl]

i cried watching it last night

its confusing scary and makes me feel helpless

nobody completely understands it all because its war and lots of people are dying and theres never a way to understand why that should be happening

 

[p_p_man]

I keep hearing that they want to go into Kurdish controlled Iraq (sorry if that's not accurate, it was the understanding I came to, and may be incorrect), and that The United States is insistent that they don't. But I don't understand why they want to and why the US doesn't want them to. I know it probably sounds dumb, and maybe I should already know. But I don't. And it's driving me nuts.

Thanks.

Briefly the Turks have a massive Kurdish population of their own which they have persecuted for years. Using methods just as severe as Saddam Hussein.

The Iraqi Kurds in the North of Iraq have been under the protection of the US/UK no-fly zone patrols.

The Turks have always been worried that their Kurds and the Iraqi Kurds will eventually join forces causing massive problems for the Turks.

All Kurds have hated the Turks going way back to the Otterman Empire.

If Turkey enters Northern Iraq, that is march into Kurdish territory, the Kurds there will see this as a threat to their autonomy and independence.

The US have said that it would be 'regretable' if this happened but many people think that the US has done a deal with the Turks allowing them to march into Iraqi (Kurdish) territory in return for Turkey allowing the US aircraft to overfly their air-space.

That's is a simplified answer to your question. Their are side issues but this is the main thrust of the problem.

ppman