Turkey's rhetorical guns trained on northern Iraq
Turkeys top general has slammed northern Iraqi officials for harboring terrorists and said deputies from the pro-Kurdish party should go join the terrorist group, remarks that led the partys leader to call for his resignation.
Iraq now has a central government. The central government has responsibilities. They should not harbor terrorists on their own soil, Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ said in an interview published Tuesday.
The general added that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, has a safe haven in northern Iraq, where he said there has been an absence of authority for 26 years.
Northern Iraq is a safe haven for the terrorist organization. Theres also logistical support. How are [PKK members] getting their food? Theyre getting it from that area, Başbuğ said.
In his interview late Monday with Uğur Dündar on private Star TV, the top general also had harsh words for the countrys pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, saying that its deputies should go up into the mountains and join the PKK.
Talking to deputies as if he can give them orders is overstepping boundaries. This is not a military post, and we are not your soldiers, BDP leader Selahattin Demirtaş said at his parliamentary group meeting Tuesday. [Başbuğ] must either retire, or the prime minister should dismiss him from his post.
Saying that the top general is in a position that requires him to bring the terrorists down from the mountains, Demirtaş said: Instead of giving us orders, you should explain yourself to the public. Why cant you protect these young people?
Attacks by the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, have claimed the lives of 22 soldiers and two civilians in Turkey over the past three weeks.
Saying that Başbuğ is responsible for any deputies that come to harm, Demirtaş said: He has clearly targeted us. We invite prosecutors to do their jobs. The party leader added that BDP deputies attend funerals of PKK members out of feelings of humanity and conscience, and claimed that the alleged terrorists who died were tortured.
Negative effect on relations with US, northern Iraq
How many casualties has Turkey seen in the past two months? This hurts all of us, Başbuğ said in his interview with Star TV. The existence of the PKK in northern Iraq will have a negative effect on Turkish-Iraqi relations. In a way, it will have a negative effect on Turkish-American relations too.
Despite the lack of support from northern Iraq, the top general, whose tenure ends Aug. 30, indicated that Turkey would continue to struggle against terror on its own. Saying that the decades-long efforts to fight terrorism had left the country at a point where words end, Başbuğ acknowledged that Turkey is going through a sensitive period but assured the public that preventive measures had also gained importance.
When asked why Turkey had not been able to annihilate the PKK, Başbuğ responded: Weve neutralized 30,000 terrorists in 26 years, with an additional 10,000 surrendering or wounded. The [PKK] has approximately 6,000 members in the mountains; 30,000 divided by six equals 5,000. Mathematically, security forces have finished off the terrorist organization five times in 26 years.
Internal division within the PKK
The PKK is a lucky organization, the top general said when asked how the outlawed group had managed to survive for so long. Right as they get to their breaking point, unfortunately certain cyclical situations work in their favor.
Public perception plays a key role, Başbuğ said. Whenever terror decreased or diminished in Turkey, we perceived this as an end to terror and the [outlawed] organization, he said. When in reality, the terrorists continued their existence in the mountains; only the number of their activities declined.
Disputes between leaders and members have been observed within the PKK, according to Başbuğ. One group wants to continue violent acts of terror while the other group wants to continue the so-called cease-fire, he said.
Terrorist organizations have to show that they are powerful, the top general added, saying that members or supporters of the PKK want to see their opinions debated. So by being included in these discussions, youre actually serving terror.
Başbuğ chose not to comment on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğans comments regarding the subcontracting of the PKK, but said the organization is believed to have subcontracted at certain periods in the past.
Commenting on the Action Plan for the Fight against Fundamentalism, a document detailing anti-government plans allegedly prepared by Col. Dursun Çiçek, Başbuğ said the documents were provided to a newspaper by the police.
Asked if his term was planned as a period of military coup, the top general said: This is a huge slander against me. I most certainly reject this.
Turkeys top general has slammed northern Iraqi officials for harboring terrorists and said deputies from the pro-Kurdish party should go join the terrorist group, remarks that led the partys leader to call for his resignation.
Iraq now has a central government. The central government has responsibilities. They should not harbor terrorists on their own soil, Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ said in an interview published Tuesday.
The general added that the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, has a safe haven in northern Iraq, where he said there has been an absence of authority for 26 years.
Northern Iraq is a safe haven for the terrorist organization. Theres also logistical support. How are [PKK members] getting their food? Theyre getting it from that area, Başbuğ said.
In his interview late Monday with Uğur Dündar on private Star TV, the top general also had harsh words for the countrys pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party, or BDP, saying that its deputies should go up into the mountains and join the PKK.
Talking to deputies as if he can give them orders is overstepping boundaries. This is not a military post, and we are not your soldiers, BDP leader Selahattin Demirtaş said at his parliamentary group meeting Tuesday. [Başbuğ] must either retire, or the prime minister should dismiss him from his post.
Saying that the top general is in a position that requires him to bring the terrorists down from the mountains, Demirtaş said: Instead of giving us orders, you should explain yourself to the public. Why cant you protect these young people?
Attacks by the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, have claimed the lives of 22 soldiers and two civilians in Turkey over the past three weeks.
Saying that Başbuğ is responsible for any deputies that come to harm, Demirtaş said: He has clearly targeted us. We invite prosecutors to do their jobs. The party leader added that BDP deputies attend funerals of PKK members out of feelings of humanity and conscience, and claimed that the alleged terrorists who died were tortured.
Negative effect on relations with US, northern Iraq
How many casualties has Turkey seen in the past two months? This hurts all of us, Başbuğ said in his interview with Star TV. The existence of the PKK in northern Iraq will have a negative effect on Turkish-Iraqi relations. In a way, it will have a negative effect on Turkish-American relations too.
Despite the lack of support from northern Iraq, the top general, whose tenure ends Aug. 30, indicated that Turkey would continue to struggle against terror on its own. Saying that the decades-long efforts to fight terrorism had left the country at a point where words end, Başbuğ acknowledged that Turkey is going through a sensitive period but assured the public that preventive measures had also gained importance.
When asked why Turkey had not been able to annihilate the PKK, Başbuğ responded: Weve neutralized 30,000 terrorists in 26 years, with an additional 10,000 surrendering or wounded. The [PKK] has approximately 6,000 members in the mountains; 30,000 divided by six equals 5,000. Mathematically, security forces have finished off the terrorist organization five times in 26 years.
Internal division within the PKK
The PKK is a lucky organization, the top general said when asked how the outlawed group had managed to survive for so long. Right as they get to their breaking point, unfortunately certain cyclical situations work in their favor.
Public perception plays a key role, Başbuğ said. Whenever terror decreased or diminished in Turkey, we perceived this as an end to terror and the [outlawed] organization, he said. When in reality, the terrorists continued their existence in the mountains; only the number of their activities declined.
Disputes between leaders and members have been observed within the PKK, according to Başbuğ. One group wants to continue violent acts of terror while the other group wants to continue the so-called cease-fire, he said.
Terrorist organizations have to show that they are powerful, the top general added, saying that members or supporters of the PKK want to see their opinions debated. So by being included in these discussions, youre actually serving terror.
Başbuğ chose not to comment on Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğans comments regarding the subcontracting of the PKK, but said the organization is believed to have subcontracted at certain periods in the past.
Commenting on the Action Plan for the Fight against Fundamentalism, a document detailing anti-government plans allegedly prepared by Col. Dursun Çiçek, Başbuğ said the documents were provided to a newspaper by the police.
Asked if his term was planned as a period of military coup, the top general said: This is a huge slander against me. I most certainly reject this.
And not to forget more Attack Helicopters.
