U.S. officials head to Turkey over genocide dispute

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

MOSCOW/ANKARA (Reuters) - Two top U.S. officials flew to Ankara on Saturday after a worsening of ties between the NATO allies and fears Turkey will launch a military incursion into northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels, diplomats said.

Relations between the two countries have been strained by a U.S. congressional resolution branding as genocide massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915. Some analysts believe the vote could weaken Washington's "restraining" influence on Turkey and make an incursion more likely in coming weeks.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Dan Fried and U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Eric Edelman will make the trip from Moscow where they have been accompanying Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, said a U.S. official who spoke on condition he not be named.

The two are likely to hear sharp criticism from the Turkish government, which this week recalled its ambassador to the United States to Ankara for consultations and said U.S.-Turkish relations were in danger because of the resolution.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071013/ts_nm/turkey_iraq_dc;_ylt=AlUyVqhnvfsrQrUpuPEQyO5Z.3QA

[ejbr]

1. Stupid move fellow Dems in Congress!

You were supposed to end the war, not start another one!!

[TwilightGardener]

2. First of all, it was a bipartisan resolution. Second, this proves that

Turkey is not really our ally--they're looking for an excuse to wreck the long-standing relationship and go into northern Iraq. That said, I think the timing of this was kinda stupid.

[ejbr]

3. A bipartisan resolution that Pelosi was determined to

bring to the floor for a vote, regardless of the consequences to American troops. If only she could do this with impeachment. And I think our Congress should spend time confronting our own demons (Native American genocide, slavery, etc.) before going after another country's. That being said, yes the Turks are most certainly an ambivalent partner and genocide was comitted by them in 1915.

[Flabbergasted]

4. I doubt Turkey has any real interest to invade Iraq.

They are likely not to accomplish anything that will make them safer.

[Xerxes]

6. They are dealing with Kurdish terrorists

using Iraq as a safe haven, and our justifiably mad at us for letting it happen. And invasion of northern Iraq would not be smart on the Turks part, but would not be unwarranted.

[Flabbergasted]

7. It's precisely the propaganda fodder that the PKK needs to justify their cause.

[Xerxes]

8. Yet they are attacking Turkey now

without any Turkish incursion into northern Iraq. So from a Turkish perspective, an added justification for the PKK to attack them doesn't make any difference as they already are attacking Turkey.

[Flabbergasted]

5. Condi should get her ass over there.

This is potentially disasterous.