Well, this is terrific news. Turkey has withdrawn its troops from northern Iraq - they've been there hunting down and killing Kurdish rebels from the PKK and while Turkey says that opinions and pressure from other countries did not influence their decision, that is bull shit. But either way, it is great that nothing "happened" during this offensive. I think the Iraqis showed great restraint, quite frankly.
But the bottom line is that there HAD to have been influence that came down on Turkey to pull out - Turkey has been drooling over this kind of offensive for years and years and if no pressure had come down on them, they would have stayed in Iraq for 10 years.
Turkey is claiming they killed 240 PKK rebels in the operation although Turkey isn't saying anything about the dozens of their troops that I suspect they lost.
Here's the full story.
But the bottom line is that there HAD to have been influence that came down on Turkey to pull out - Turkey has been drooling over this kind of offensive for years and years and if no pressure had come down on them, they would have stayed in Iraq for 10 years.
Turkey is claiming they killed 240 PKK rebels in the operation although Turkey isn't saying anything about the dozens of their troops that I suspect they lost.
Here's the full story.
Turkish Troops Pull Out of Iraq
CUKURCA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's military said Friday it has ended a ground offensive against Kurdish rebels in Iraq, but said that foreign influence didn't play a role in its decision.
The move came a day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Turkish leaders during a visit in Ankara that they should end the offensive as soon as possible. In Washington, President Bush made a similar point Thursday, saying Turkey needed to move quickly and get out.
Turkey launched the incursion into northern Iraq more than a week ago against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a group fighting for the autonomy of predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey. The rebels have carried out attacks in Turkey from bases in Kurdish Iraq.
"Without a doubt, it is impossible to render the entire terrorist organization ineffective with an operation in only one region. However, it is shown to the group that Iraq's north is not a safe area for terrorists," the military said.
The Turkish military said that 300 rebels were detected in Iraq's Zap region, and 240 of them were killed in the operation.
Iraqi authorities have said they do not support the PKK but objected to Turkey's military action.
The PKK took up arms against Turkey in 1984. The fighting has killed up to 40,000 people.
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