Erkan's field diary

Turkey in fresh Iraq air strikes

Turkey launches fresh air strikes against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, the Turkish military says.

Hunting the Rebels of PKK: Turkey Again Bombards Iraq - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

Iraq Kurds warn Turkey on raids

The leader of Iraq's northern Kurdish region condemns Turkish air strikes, saying innocents have died.

Chatham House | The Kurdish Policy Imperative

By M.A.M

Mavi Boncuk
The Kurdish Policy Imperative
Gareth Stansfield, Robert Lowe and Hashem Ahmadzadeh, December 2007
Download Paper here

Kurds have struggled for decades to mobilize and gain international attention. Now, for the first time, some Kurdish interests are converging with the regional designs of prominent members of the international community.

Chatham House The Kurdish Policy Imperative - New Paper Now, for the first time, some Kurdish interests are converging with the regional designs of prominent members of the international community. Kurdish political demands remain limited, but there has been a notable strengthening of Kurdish self-perception and aspirations at a mass level. The intricate web of relationships between Kurds and regional states means that the future of the Middle East is closely tied to Kurdish futures.

From the Archive - CIA - THE KURDISH PROBLEM IN PERSPECTIVE [EST PUB DATE: AUGUST 1979]

A new chapter in Turkey-US relations?

Aside from the tensions caused by the Cyprus question, Turkey and the US generally had a close relationship throughout the Cold War.

Kurds see the reality: US can't give up Turks

Do Westerners understand the Kemalists?

Last week Orhan Kemal Cengiz, a Turkish Daily News columnist, published an article claiming that “Western Kemalists do not understand Turkey!”

Counterterrorism Blog Turkey's Carrot & Stick Approach to the PKK This isn’t the end, but it is the beginning of the end - the diehard generation now ruling the PKK has had no alternate existence and has no possibility of an alternate existence in the future except to be hunted until captured or killed.

Turkey claims many deaths in strike on Kurdish Iraq - International Herald Tribune

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Editorial: Lessons in Turkey’s action in northern Iraq

A new dawn for Turkish-Arab relations by HAMADEH FARANEH

In Turkey, when you ask someone “Are you Muslim?” he answers, “Alhamdulillah” (thanks be to God), in the sense that being a Muslim is a blessing that he possesses and has won.

U.S., Turkey Bond Over Iraq Raids | Newsweek International | Newsweek.com

For Turkey and U.S., a Delicate Issue of Cooperation in Combating Militant Kurds - New York Times

Press Roundup

A father kisses his daughter in celebration at the end of the Eid al-Adha prayer. Today marks the beginning of the Muslim feast of Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays in the Muslim calendar, which will last four days.

Le boomerang kurde

Les Echos, 20 décembre 2007, p. 16

Jacques Hubert-Rodier *

Quatre-vingt-cinq ans après la fin de l’Empire ottoman, la « question kurde » ressurgit au centre des préoccupations du Moyen-Orient, créant des tensions entre les Etats-Unis et leur allié turc, et menaçant d’ouvrir un nouveau front au nord de l’Irak.

The beginning of the end

By MUSTAFA ÜNAL, ZAMAN

Sunday's operation into northern Iraq was no surprise to us because Turkey has entered a new era in the fight against terrorism.

What have we gained from the operation?

By İSMAİL KÜÇÜKKAYA, AKŞAM

We should not consider the operation launched against PKK bases in the Kandil Mountains last Sunday only as a "sublime and exciting military operation" but also as a reflection of a multi-dimensional strategy on the battlefield.

Boundaries of US support

By SAMİ KOHEN, MİLLİYET

There is no doubt that the US chose to support Turkey in Sunday's aerial operation into northern Iraq to protect its own strategic interests.

Plan for the day after tomorrow

By MUHARREM SARIKAYA, SABAH

This time Turkey should not waste the opportunity to root out outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) members after its military success, being careful not to repeat the missteps it took in 1999, when PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan was captured.

Right time for Turkey to rock the boat

Turkey's first large-scale military operation targeting outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq, preceded by diplomatic efforts, has boosted hopes about an eventual solution to Turkey's Kurdish problem on which many believe PKK terrorism thrives.

Turkey's Terror Problem Is Ours - Middle East Forum

Observations on 2007 (1)

İlter TÜRKMEN

Turkish Press Scanner

Taraf Historic monasteries destroyed by treasure huntersTreasure hunters are targeting Assyrian monasteries and churches in Şırnak and Mardin provinces as Assyrians have migrated abroad due to terror events in southeastern Anatolia, the daily Taraf reported yesterday. “The project to develop cultural heritage as part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project Region (GAP),” organized by Midyat Assyrian Culture Association (MSCA) with European Union funds, seeks to locate and preserve vulnerable cultural artifacts for future generations.“There is no place left in our houses of worship that is not dug out and destroyed. A history which is the common heritage of the world is disappearing,” said Y

Press Roundup

Thousands of Turks who traveled to their hometowns from cities to spend the Eid al-Adha holiday with their loved ones began to return home on Sunday, the last day of the four-day break.