Iraqi Kurdish Leader Sees Turkish Invasion as Declaration of War

Leader of the Regional Iraqi Kurdistan government, Massoud Barzani, sees a Turkish invasion as a declaration of war. He believes that all the talk about PKK is just an excuse to reign in the Kurdish moves to acquire Kirkuk, a traditional Kurdish area acquired by Saddam forcibly because of it's rich reserves of oil.
Hürriyet

The leader of the regional northern Iraq Kurdish government, Massoud Barzani, commented this weekend that any move by Turkish forces with respect to northern Iraqi land would be considered a declaration of war.


Speaking to the British The Times newspaper sources in Erbil, Barzani noted "Ankara, which is using its problems with the PKK to justify itself, wants actually to blockade the Iraqi Kurds, who are themselves becoming more prosperous and more independent every day."


Barzani was very blunt in his interview with The Times, asserting: "Whether Turkey invades or occupies, either way it means war. If our people, our land, or our interests are attacked, there are no limits left. When that happens, it means everything has been attacked."


Barzani implied in his words this weekend that Ankara might have other reasons behind its stance on the PKK, noting that PKK terror was not a new factor for Turkey. He said "I am about ready to believe that the PKK is just an excuse. Turkey's stance towards the Kurdish region, and its direct and indirect threats towards the region, make me think this. The real target is the Kurdistan region, otherwise why would we even want to get involved in a struggle between Turkey and the PKK?"

Informed Comment reports that Turkish helicopter gunships have fired into Iraq. He also notes that Turkey is attempting an embargo against the financial interests of firms connected to Kurdistan leader Massoud Barzani. If true, this would seem to confirm Barzani's perception that the Turkish interest in Iraq goes well beyond the PKK.

Indian NDTV is reporting Tuesday morning that Turkish Cobra helicopter gunships have fired into Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) positions inside northern Iraq. The action comes after following on an engagement in the border region on the Turkish side that began on Monday and went late into the night. AP does not mention the strikes inside Iraq, but NDTV apparently has a reporter in the area. If the Indian account is true, it is a step up in the building Turkish-Kurdish confrontation.


Turkey is also squeezing Iraqi Kurdistan economically, putting embargoes on firms connected to Kurdistan leader Massoud Barzani.