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Editorial Commentary
Scott Sullivan :
Bush and Pelosi boost Richardson plan
With their massive escalation in the US confrontation with Turkey, President Bush and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are boosting Bill Richardson’s plan for bringing home the US troops, now.No one doubts that the US has escalated a confrontation with Turkey. The US has actually been in conflict with Turkey ever since Bush took office. While occupying Iraq, the US has steadily and ever more insistently promoted Kurdish independence from Iraq. Bush tolerance of the recent Kurdish-Hunt Oil agreement is a prime example of US support for Kurdish independence.
Moreover, the US has refused to check grandiose Kurdish territorial ambitions against Turkey. Kurdish militants including Kurdish president Barzani (a.k.a., Che Guevara) claim to one-third of Turkey’s territory as part of a Greater Kurdistan. In the wake of the US occupation of Iraq, the PKK moved its camps to northern Iraq and launched military operations against Turkey.
US forces are now protecting PKK camps in northern Iraq from Turkish reprisals. In effect, the US has declared war on Turkey, which has yet to respond to a more hostile US policy.
Against this backdrop, Speaker Pelosi is moving through Congress the Armenia Genocide resolution. In a tremendous provocation to Turkey, the House of Representatives is soon expected to pass the Armenia Genocide resolution.
In short, Bush and Pelosi constitute a self-appointed wrecking crew to demolish US-Turkey relations. However, as noted at the outset, Bush and Pelosi are actually helping Richardson’s troop withdrawal plan by attacking Turkey.
First, Turkey could retaliate by withdrawing support from US operations in Iraq. As a result, Bush would be compelled to withdraw US troops from Iraq. Turkey provides up to 70% of the logistics support for US forces in Iraq.
Second, the US public does not want war with Turkey. If Bush continues to confront Turkey, popular US support will grow for the Richardson Plan of immediate and total withdrawal of US forces.
Third, Kurdish president Barzani is a Che Guevara type, i.e. an excessively ambitious ultra-leftist who is determined to destabilize the region. The more powerful Barzani becomes, due to Bush support, the more the US public will want to withdraw US forces from Iraq. Richardson wins, again.
Scott Sullivan is a former Washington government employee. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.Editor's note: All comments posted and published on Petroleumworld, do not reflect either for or against the opinion expressed in the comment as an endorsement of Petroleumworld. All comments expressed are private comments and do not necessary reflect the view of this website. All comments are posted and published without liability to Petroleumworld.
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Petroleumworld News 10/15/07
Copyright© 2007 Scott Sullivan. All rights reserved.
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