Ha ha. Entertainment is of little value when bullets are flying.

The Turks are interested in only Turks inheriting their country. They are staunch to the principals of Kamal Ataturk. And they are resolute to the idea that Kurds - or anyone else for that matter - will be swiftly dealt with, so that Turkey belongs only to Turks.

You don't have to believe it,like it, or agree with it - but that is just the way it is.

The Kurds who live in Turkey are aware of the situation. The Kurds in Turkey that do not accept it or are willing to fight it - are as good as dead. Turks will not be told what to do, and they will not relent.

There appears to be much 'misinformation posted here! First of all the Turks of Kurdish extraction do not support the bloody separatist old-style Communist PKK gang of murderers. Secondl 'terrorists' are no freedom fighters as the Kurds enjoy all the rights of citizenship in Turkey as everyone else. Some of the biggest money making entertainers as well as countless politicians are of kurdish origin. To set the record straight one would have to ask the question as to any force would be capable of containing a large scale Kurdish uprising as 1/6th of the Turkish population is Kurdish in origin? The PKK is nothing other than a tool and 'instrument' by means of which the 'Imperialist nations' may undermine the fast developing economy of Turkey PERIOD!

"The passing of the resolution on the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy with its annexed Plan of Action by 192 Member States represents a common testament that we, the United Nations, will face terrorism head on and that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes, must be condemned and shall not be tolerated."

Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the 61st session of the General Assembly Launching the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on 19 September 2006

Nurenberg Principles of International Law, formulated and signed by United States of America to prosecute Nazis.

Principle I
Any person who commits an act which constitutes a crime under international law is responsible therefore and liable to punishment.

Principle II
The fact that internal law does not impose a penalty for an act which constitutes a crime under international law does not relieve the person who committed the act from responsibility under international law.

Principle III
The fact that a person who committed an act which constitutes a crime under international law acted as Head of State or responsible government official does not relieve him from responsibility under international law.

Principle IV
The fact that a person acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior does not relieve him from responsibility under international law, provided a moral choice was in fact possible to him.

Principle V
Any person charged with a crime under international law has the right to a fair trial on the facts and law.

Principle VI
The crimes hereinafter set out are punishable as crimes under international law:

(a) Crimes against peace:
(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).
(b) War Crimes:
Violations of the laws or customs of war which include, but are not limited to, murder, ill-treatment or deportation of slave labor or for any other purpose of the civilian population of or in occupied territory; murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or persons on the Seas, killing of hostages, plunder of public or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.
(c) Crimes against humanity:
Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation and other inhumane acts done against any civilian population, or persecutions on political, racial, or religious grounds, when such acts are done or such persecutions are carried on in execution of or in connection with any crime against peace or any war crime.

Principle VII
Complicity in the commission of a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity as set forth in Principle VI is a crime under international law.

Notice that I am not disagreeing with you at all; I admit your facts are close - if not entirely correct. Surprised?

What I think I see here is that the Turks want the Kurds to either go by their rules - or leave Turkey and go to Kurdistan altogether. But for Kurds to pull off terrorist acts or become 'freedom fighters' is equivalent to suicide. It could even become genocide if the Kurds insist upon this course.

Maybe the Kurds need to have their own identity as a country. But if they are going to live in Turkey; they have to submit to Turkish law and rule. And if the Kurds should wish to 'buck the system' - they are suicidal or crazy. Or foolish and have some kind of death wish.

Personally, I wouldn't want to live in Turkey; even though my Mom and Dad did in WWII. My oldest sister was born there. It's a beautiful country to visit - but I do not believe that my values would permit me to take that situation for too long. I mean, I don't think I could adjust to Turkish democracy and traditions.

If you want to get a cinematic perspective of Turkey - I recommend the movie called 'Midnight Express'. It is not too far from the facts.

Of course - Turkey is an Islamic democracy (as hard as it sound to believe) and the US is not going to tell them what to do or how to run their country. The Turks respect the US because we both have this understanding.

It is true that the Kurds are treated as second-class citizens; the Turks are jealous of their own identity. They do not want to relinquish any power to those they see as non-Turks.

It isn't like the US; and though it might seem odd that a country can appear so backwards - it is equally important to understand that the Turkish will is unreleting and extremely strict. They are proud that they have remained as they are - despite centuries of being in the middle of a battlefield of many various wars. It is important to remember this.

If you want to know what you are dealing with - it is essential to understand the central figure of Turkish secular democracy - Kamal Ataturk. To learn well of him is to know and understand what is happening.

Turks traditionally love Americans and support them with all of their strength of will and their blood. One can safely say that they are an Islamic Democracy that sustains its ties to the US. They helped us immensly in WWII, as a matter of fact. Turkey is an enigma to many Islamic nations; they refuse to align themselves and are fiercely independant.

Turks are very fierce fighters; they have been known in history to defeat enemies that seem impossible to defeat. Not only fierce - but relentless, cruel, barbaric, and bloodthirsty. Find out for yourself, research it and you will see.

We have a saying here in the US 'it's my way - or the highway'.
Welcome to Turkey.

Boy....some of you on here have no clue whats going on over there in Iraqi-Kurdistan.

Let's review some "FACTS" here shall we?

1. Turkey does not recognize Kurdish rights.

2. It is ILLEGAL to speak Kurdish in Turkey

3. There are 20 million Kurds living in Turkey

4. You cannot name your kid/children any Kurdish names.

5. 20 million kurds in Turkey, they get 1 HOUR of Kurdish broadcast...A WEEK.

6. Those "30,000" deaths you people speak of that "PKK" appearantly caused to die....were mainly Kurdish people...most of 'em died in Turkish Prison camps, more than 4000 Kurdish villages were burned to the ground.

The Kurdish people tried to get their rights through diplomacy in Turkey, and were tortured.

So tell me, facing all those difficulties, what would you do?

would you take up arms and fight for your rights?

for those who said no, thank god you didn't live in the colonial times because this country would still be under British occupation.

Diplomacy only gets you so far, if the other side is unwilling, you simply fight back and take it.

PKK is not a terrorist group (U.S.A put PKK on it's terrorist list simply because Turkey and United States are close allies).

The fact is...the PKK has no any anti-U.S. policiies, it does not attack U.S. military, it is not against democracy, Turkey has been beheading Kurdish males in Turkey for years, it was only a matter of time for some of 'em to take up Arms and fight back.

USA needs to get it's act together. it needs to tell Turkey to defuse the situation....it's simple.....Turkey needs to give more rights to it's Kurdish citizens.

See, this is a Human Rights crises. Turkey treats it simply as a "terrorsim" problem, but it's not. If Turkey gives it's Kurdish citizens more rights and freedom, none of 'em will grab an AK-47 and head for the mountains.

I think that you are attempting to blame the US when Turkey did this action. It is clear to me that Turkey is saying 'don't try it again - or else somthing worse will happen'.

You know what? I believe they will - too. They are sending a firm message - it would be wise to listen to them.

Don't wait for me to come to their rescue or defense and say that they did it for the motives of the US - you will be waiting a long time if you did. They surely don't need me to stick up for them - either. They will do exactly as they will.

As I said earlier - the Turks can be brutal and vicious. If someone gets in their face, they had be prepared to all of the way - because the Turks will not stop until they are satisfied. Are they satisfied yet?
Good Question...

All these comments are hilarious...Why don't you talk about the 1800 civilians that had to flee their homes while Turkey bombed Kurdish civilians(NOTE: NOT PKK rebels). PKK reports NO casualties.

Why didn't any of you mention that two schools and a hospital were completely turned to dust?(fortunately the aerial attacks were conducted at 01.00, so no kids were there)

I mean, this is information from the Red Cross, should be pretty obvious to report!

Why doesn't anyone mention the 100(HUNDRED!) years of oppression, denial, state-terror and deep, deep hate for everything Kurdish, in other words status as 3rd class animals in a deeply corrupt state called Turkey?

You all have already forgotten that PKK released a bunch of captives, and what does Turkey do when they came back? Arrested them and charged them of "leaving the country without permission"...

What's making you people so blind? Is it your ideology that doesn't allow you to SEE, or is it just plain stupidity?

As Aleksu said, "When will the nations without statehood get some respect?

When will the colonialist powers evolve and leave behind their blood lust and greed?

When will the mega-nations understand that they need a more organic approach towards their view of the world?

When will the occupying armies stop labeling resistance fighters as "terrorists"?

When will humankind put the crimes committed by the colonialist powers into the correct perspective?"

If the PKK were truly stupid enough to do anything to the Turks - then they are truly foolish; not stupid.

Are we all clear of the Turks' history of foreign invaders and the absolute cruelty they will inflict against any foreign invader? Wow; they make Ghengis Khan look like a choir boy!

Look up in history and see when the Turks were part of any multi-national force; the facts will speak for themselves. Better wear rubber pants when you read it.

Note to the Kurds: helping out Iran with guerilla warfare is foolish and will be seen in history as an act of self-destruction. You also need to see that you are 'mucking' in the wrong place! Help yourselves by changing your direction and mind...

Best advice? Forget Turkey; mind your own business before you are anhilliated. You should know better than that!

Dimitri

You must have a cum laude degree in smart "Alecry".

U.S. Duplicity - it works both ways

The U.S.A. overlooked the attacks by the PKK on the Kurds.

And now the U.S.A. is overlooing the attacks on the PKK by the Turks.

Er herm, whose side are we on? Answer: Our side!

This reminds me of the LA riots of several years ago. The U.S.A. broke down the infrastructure in Iraq, and now anyone who wants to, can get in on the looting of Iraq!

==The U.S. applaud is consistent and in conformity to an unbroken strategic rule. Once one identifies an indefatigable irreconcilable deadly foe that threatens ones national interests, one has to pursue and destroy this enemy wherever he happens to be.==

Or, as in the case with Iraq, wherever he DOESN'T happen to be.

In the US even a law does not passes without a sponsor. I wonder who the sponsored Mr. Arkin, and how much money is involved in this sponsorship? I shat wait for Mr. Arkin's answer.

Sovereignty as an absolute legal norm has been throughout our modern period an absolute ILLUSION. In the Age of Terror, it has been transformed into an illusionary FICTION. No nation led by prudent political leaders can allow terrorists who attack it to find a safe haven, support, and replenishment of their armaments across its borders.

The U.S. applaud is consistent and in conformity to an unbroken strategic rule. Once one identifies an indefatigable irreconcilable deadly foe that threatens ones national interests, one has to pursue and destroy this enemy wherever he happens to be. And for contemporary American strategists in the Pentagon it might have a greater strategic meaning. As the incursion into Iraq by Turkey might be a most welcomed DRESS REHEARSAL by the U.S. and a WARNING to its enemy Iran, that it might be FULLY STAGED on Iran's soil.

This Kurds are worst than American black people!!! You give them more right ... they kill more people, not working, not to pay taxes, not like to live developed world. Turks bring them service built schools they buried it down kill the teachers, build them hospital, attack and burned the hospital kill the doctors and rape the nurse. They been doing this upraising and terrorism even before Modern Turkey has formed by ATATURK.

I Think enough is enough to say the Kurds, you don't like your right in Turkey then move to better country you like come to Europe, USA, Canada, Iraq. Iran where you think they may give you free right, no tax, no work, no school, all you have to do just fight against to government and be a terrorist.

Good luck you all Kurds

Turning the other cheek in the middle east will result in having both sides of your throat slit. For Rice to back the Arabs in Kirkuk ignores the fact that there will be, and already is an defacto independent Kurdistan. Turkey is using gentile persuasion to prompt Kurdistan to get its house in order. If the Kurds won't fix it Turkey will.

I see that calling turks or Turkey fascists or other extreme attributes is fashionable among West's self righteous "Air Conditioned Liberals". It is also an insult to Turkish Kurds to try defend their right by protecting and admiring an internationally known terrorist organization such as PKK.Kurds whether in Turkey or Iraq, deserve better.

America should be ashamed of herself. Kurdish sympathy and support has so far been almost unconditional, but if americans keeps supporting the biggest and sworn enemy of the kurds, it has to be ready for a shift in our love and support toward them.
Turkey is notoriously a faschist country, litterly faschist.
Where is decency,rule of international law and, trust and friendship. I hope these values as they are embedded in american society, they can remind something to the Bush administration. PKK is an excuse, everybody knows that, it's the turkish hatred toward any kurdish political, cultural gain anywhere in the world, particularly in the region.
Whenever america needs kurds again i am afraid it would be too late to regain their trust and friendships.
After all, we know from the hearth that turks are not relaible allies even. I hope america will not mistaken. America's support is untenable and is inexcusable.

I don't understand on what basis this article calls Iraq a sovereign country. A country that cannot run itself without the US army, that cannot control its borders and that cannot stop providing a safe heaven for the terrorists who are killing civilians and soldiers of a neighboring country, and the article suggests that country is sovereign.

Turks have every right to bomb the terrorists and whoever is supporting them in that region (including the Kurdish regional authority). The rest is just rhetoric, and playing with words (like the entire western media calling PKK "rebels" even though they are just a bunch of blood thirsty terrorists.

I don't understand on what basis this article calls Iraq a sovereign country. A country that cannot run itself without the US army, that cannot control its borders and that cannot stop providing a safe heaven for the terrorists who are killing civilians and soldiers of a neighboring country, and the article suggests that country is sovereign.

Turks have every right to bomb the terrorists and whoever is supporting them in that region (including the Kurdish regional authority). The rest is just rhetoric, and playing with words (like the entire western media calling PKK "rebels" even though they are just a bunch of blood thirsty terrorists.

I have just read all the comments as being Turk that living in Turkey and see nearly all the cities of Kurdish population on eastern Turkey. Firstly what I want to say is that PKK never fights for the rights of Kurds, that is to say it ever kills Kurds by terror attacks. 15 Kurds were killed by bombimng in Hakkari (very small city of Turkey on the border of Iraq)last mounth. Think that a group of people always attack innocent populations by bombing cars, cafes, restaurants even hospitals, schools, train stations and so on( just as 11th september attacks in U.S), What would you do to stop that, if your neighbour that you've helped its economic development for years protects terrorists that attack you? what would you do? For instance imagine that Mexico guards a very large group of terrorist that attack to U.S everyday, what would happen then? secondly Kurdish problem in Turkey is more different and complex then everybody knows. It firstly appeared in 1980s, and to understand it you should read and get Turkey's near history of 1980s. Only then will you find that how PKK was firstly organized as a unique security for Kurds and how it changed to a treat even to them. I also advise you, Mr. Arkin, and some of the commentators to read some books about the history and military history of Turkey and diplomatic relations of Turkey with Iraq, U.S and the others. Only then you could get the truths. By the way no civil has been killed intentionally neither in that operation or the previous one. Our sole doctrine is ' peace at home peace in the world' as K. ATATURK ( founder of modern Turkey) claimed after 'The Independence War of Turkey' and Turkey would be never at war with any country until they directly or indirectly attack to us.

Let me get this straight. The United States could go in and attack a sovereign nation thousands of miles away with no provocation whatsoever. Turkey, however, bordering that same nation, whose troops and civilians have killed by the PKK for years, have had to beg and plead with the United States to defend itself. One "international law" for the Western World and Israel, another for everyone else.

==Let's answer this and decide if Turkey has right to make a crossborder attack.==

Well, if our actions are any example, if we have a right to a "cross-globe" attack, on a wrong target to boot, then what Turkey has done isn't so bad...

This is another reason we should not have become involved in Iraq, and we should leave as soon as possible. We cannot solve these ancient disputes or stop the violence that results from them. If the Kurds want to fight for their independence, they must be willing to accept the consequences of their action. We need to stay out of these endless conflicts.

Let's imagine as we are Americans having been attacked by a group of terrorists who are so-called seperatists and even dont hesitate to kill our military forces snd civilians,would we expect to our country in this situation.Moreover this goes through many years.Let's answer this and decide if Turkey has right to make a crossborder attack.

With regard to the 1:38 PM posting by Dario:
If it is indeed time for the Kurdish people to "to ally themselves with anti US forces of Middleseast (sic) like iran and Syria" as you suggest, then perhaps it is time for Turkey, Iran and Syria to ally themselves and divvy up the so-called Kurdistan Regional Government amongst themselves. After all, the PKK has also conducted raids and acts of terrorism against Iran as well.

I hope the Kurdish people in northern Iraq do not subscribe to your views and choose to live in peace with their neighbors instead of being irridentists. It is all about the choices we make, and the Kurdish people have a very important one to make.

Mike Sloan u got it wrong...before 15 years Kurds killed and denied in Turkey..they were called mountain turks and killed in 1000s..PKK was born to defend this people and succeded to force Turkey to recognise Kurds..so PKK is a result not a cause ..the cause is a Turkish governments facist policy against Kurds..this operation only increases Kurdish populations support to PKK and seen iraqi Kurdish civilian death on TV makes them hate turkey more.

welldone Barzani..Kurdish president Talabani should come home too..Kurdish peshmarga who are in baghdad to help american to stablise the city should come home and fight against Turkey..and leave the US TROOPS in their own

Turkey is now terrorising Kurdish people in and outside Turkey,,if US allow itself to goto iraq and afganistan to fight against terrorism nothing should stop Kurds to fight against turkey. PKK is fight against Turkish army because it occupy Kurdish region of Turkey and opress people but Turkish army kill Kurds to reenforce occupation. if I was a Kurd I would be on PKK side

It is time for Kurdish people to question their friendship with US..IT IS TIME to ally themselves with anti US forces of Middleseast like iran and Syria. after all US Giving green light to Turks to terrorise Kurds...it is time FOR Kurds to tell Bush u either with us or against us.

Turkey went to Iraqi Kurdistan to destablise the region and cause economic slow down so that Iraqi Kurdistan remain poor and would not inspire Kurds from Turkey whom been subjected to poverty and opression by Turkish facist regime. Turkey have not faught against PKK in iraq but bombed schools, and civilian houses and killed two civilian women and caused damages to their houses and created some 2000 refugees. history proved neither Turkey not Kurdistan government of Iraq can control these mountains.

Were I Turkey, I'd be very wary of the sort of U.S. aid that was previously offered Saddam.

I am missing the point of this article. The reason Turks conducted cross-border attack and then scale back is not to threat Iraq's territorial integrity but to fill a vacuum of power resulting from Iraqi Kurd's unwillingness to deal with PKK and even provide sanctuary. Should Iraq so called sovereign government has taken steps to prevent PKK cross-border attacks in Turkey, I doubt Turks would be bombing Iraq. This writer is ideologically blinded. What other option Turkey had left but to use military power to protect their country from PKK which is a terrorist organization.
Can we get serious here?

Mr. Arkin claims the rule of law has taken a hit by Turkey's bombing of PKK sites in Iraq. I would remind him that the law justifies use of deadly force for self defense in the face of imminent danger to one's life.

Over the past 15 years, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of over 30,000 civilians and soldiers in Turkey according to Western press estimates. Through July of this year alone, they killed over 50 innocent civilians in Turkey including children. Yet the Washington Post even today refers to the PKK as "separatists", and other Western media refer to them as "guerillas", "militants" or even as "freedom fighters"; anything but calling them what they are, terrorists with the blood of thousands of innocent people on their hands.

Given the fact that the Iraqi central government by its own admission cannot stop PKK's cross-border incursions into Turkey and the US armed forces in Iraq are insufficient to do so, Turkey has every right under international law to defend its people by destroying the attackers if the sovereign nation they reside in does not.

It is important to remember that Turkey has been calling on the US, the Iraqi government as well as the regional Kurdish authority in Northern Iraq to take stance against PKK terrorists numerous times. The regional Kurdish authority in Northern Iraq has repeatedly said that it has no control over the camps in mountains where PKK terrorists are hiding and launching attacks to kill Turkish civilians and military forces. If Iraq is the sovereign country as it is argued by the author, how could it say that it has no control over its own borders, which has been repeatedly stated by Barzani and Talabani? It is absurd to think that a country (Turkey) should not take such situation into its own hands and protect its people. All the stakeholders should stop using PKK as a gambling chip and treat it no different from any other terrorist organization in the world. Turkish people will never forget or forgive anybody who makes up excuses and chooses inaction against the PKK terrorists.

Another pseudo-coaltion partner...?

Now let me get this right, the U.S.A. is scaling back, and all of the sudden Turkey has begun airstrikes to the north - with the blessings of the United States Government, not the Iraqi government.

Er herm. So much for a free and democratic Iraq.

Here we go again!

I'ts great to see the surge working and the war winding down! We can soon bring all the troups home and let iraq have all their oil money with which to rebuild. RIGHT!

I am a loyal American but I oppose everything about America.

The PKK has been responsible for many attacks on Turkish cities and citizens, and they are operating from within Iraq's borders. If anything, the incursions by the Turkish military resemble the US operations in Afghanistan, a sovereign country from which attacks were launched against US interests, and not the US invasion of Iraq. Turkey's actions make things very difficult for the Bush Administration, as supporting their military operations in Iraq destabilizes one of the few relatively stable regions in Iraq, whereas challenging their operations undermines the administration's justification for the Iraq invasion.