EU sides with Turkey after Kurdish guerrilla ambush but cautions Ankara against entering Iraq

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: AP

BRUSSELS, Belgium: The European Commission sided with Turkey Monday after the latest ambush by Kurdish guerrillas but cautioned Ankara against sending troops into Iraq in pursuit of rebels of the Kurdish PKK organization.

The EU appeal came as dozens of Turkish military vehicles headed toward the Iraqi border on Monday and protesters demanded tough action against Kurdish rebels. A rebel ambush killed 12 Turkish soldiers on Sunday, pushing Turkey closer to a possible attack on guerrilla bases in northern Iraq.

"The European Commission expresses its solidarity with Turkey in the fight against terrorism, which is a common challenge for the EU and Turkey," EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said in a brief statement issued in Brussels.

Rehn, the EU's point man in relations with EU membership candidate Turkey, said the EU understands Turkey "faces continual cross-border attacks from the PKK, which is on the EU list of terrorist organizations, (and) understands Turkey's need to protect its citizens."

Read more: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/22/europe/EU-GEN-EU-Turkey.php

[Selatius]

1. If I were a nation like Germany or France, I'd be hard pressed to...

get involved in a potentially massive war in the Middle East. There have been enough world wars already. No need to make it a third time in less than 100 years.

[Tempest]

2. The PKK is playing a dangerous game

They probably feel they can attack and Turkey will bow to international pressure not to invade Iraq.

A lot of innocent Kurds are going to become casualties if they continue their arrogance.

[Hawkowl]

3. True

The EU can probably buy Turkey's restraint by promising on admitting them to the EU. That would be sufficient to prevent them from invading Iraq.