Lagniappe

 

 

Scott Sullivan : Hillary’s PKK Crisis

Hillary’s first test is not the Iowa primary in three onth’s time. Her first crisis is today as the crisis in US-Turkish relations intensifies. She must take a clear cut position for or against the PKK terrorist group, which is mounting devastating attacks from camps in northern Iraq against targets in Turkey.

The most recent terrorist attack was on Sunday when the PKK killed thirteen civilians. Turkey has been putting severe pressure, without success, on President Bush to use US forces to halt the PKK’s cross border attacks. Bush has remained passive.

What is worse from Turkey’s point of view, Bush has warned Turkey that the US would not approve of Turkish military operations against the PKK camps. The US has also advised Turkey to settle the issue via a compromise with Kurdish President Barzani, who is in Turkey’s perspective another Che Guevara.

What is even worse, the PKK crisis is emerging just as Speaker Pelosi is advancing through Congress the Armenia Genocide Resolution condemning Turkey for early 20th century war crimes. The House International Relations Committee is likely to pass the Armenia resolution today.

Unfortunately, President Bush is asking Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan to cave in on all three issues – i.e. undertake no military operations against northern Iraq, negotiate with Barzani, and accept House of Representative passage of the Armenia resolution. PM Erdogan cannot retreat.

Hillary’s big problem is that there are two Clinton positions on the PKK. Bill Clinton earlier this year in a press interview advocated what has become Bush policy – US alignment with the PKK. Bill Clinton and President Bush are of one mind that Turkish raids into northern Iraq against PKK camps will not be tolerated.

In other words, the PKK is now under the protection of US forces, even as the US avoids all responsibility for restraining the PKK. In effect, the US has chosen sides against Turkey in its war with the PKK.

In contrast, on the campaign trail Senator Clinton has made clear she believes the US to be under a continuing obligation to deter the PKK from cross border military raids. On today’s Turkish crisis -- the first real test of Hillary’s foreign policy, one likely to define her Iowa campaign at a critical moment -- the lineup is Hillary against Bill and George!

 

Scott Sullivan is a former Washington government employee. Petroleumworld not necessarily share these views. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.

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Petroleumworld News 10/12/07

Copyright© 2007 Scott Sullivan. All rights reserved.

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