Posted on Jul 25, 2015
Turkey couples IS bombing runs with striking Kurdish targets. Why the change of heart?
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http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2015/07/24/reports-turkish-jets-hit-targets-syria-kurds-iraq/30644763/
It seems from this article that Turkey had more than one agenda when they initiated airstrikes against ISIS. They also decided to attack Kurdish positions in Iraq. Why did they change their stance on attacking ISIS and then attack the Kurds?
It seems from this article that Turkey had more than one agenda when they initiated airstrikes against ISIS. They also decided to attack Kurdish positions in Iraq. Why did they change their stance on attacking ISIS and then attack the Kurds?
RallyPoint
Politics
Airstrikes
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
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The Turks hit ISIS because ISIS attacked the Turkish homeland.
Turkey had not hit ISIS previously (or allowed U.S. strikes on ISIS from Turkish bases) because ISIS was keeping the Kurds pinned down, and Turkey has a sizeable Kurdish insurgency on its hands.
Turkey wants to see Assad toppled, and as long as ISIS was attacking Assad and the Kurds, the Turks were happy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Although Turkey is in NATO, they are no friend of the U.S. They blocked the 4th ID from going into northern Iraq through their territory during our invasion, removing the northern arm of the pincer and allowing the Iraqi forces to disband and form a resistance movement rather than being destroyed when they still had the will to fight main force engagements. This extended the war considerably.
Turkey has now found that its pet viper can bite the hand that feeds it as well as those the Turks want it to bite.
Turkey had not hit ISIS previously (or allowed U.S. strikes on ISIS from Turkish bases) because ISIS was keeping the Kurds pinned down, and Turkey has a sizeable Kurdish insurgency on its hands.
Turkey wants to see Assad toppled, and as long as ISIS was attacking Assad and the Kurds, the Turks were happy. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Although Turkey is in NATO, they are no friend of the U.S. They blocked the 4th ID from going into northern Iraq through their territory during our invasion, removing the northern arm of the pincer and allowing the Iraqi forces to disband and form a resistance movement rather than being destroyed when they still had the will to fight main force engagements. This extended the war considerably.
Turkey has now found that its pet viper can bite the hand that feeds it as well as those the Turks want it to bite.
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SGT Jeremiah B.
Capt Seid Waddell - That's about it. Most of us don't realize the Kurds are a diverse group and a couple of factions have been trying to carve out a bit of Turkey for themselves. Turkey is also the primary reason we haven't armed the Kurds more than we have.
Interestingly though, a lot of that died down once the Kurds got their semi-autonomous region. The PKK was largely happy to just go there and live. You'd think Turkey would be a little more supportive of anything that gets those guys off their backs. I'm a little concerned that Turkey will cut off its nose to spite its face here by pissing off the Kurdish radicals all over again AND weakening the Kurds overall.
Interestingly though, a lot of that died down once the Kurds got their semi-autonomous region. The PKK was largely happy to just go there and live. You'd think Turkey would be a little more supportive of anything that gets those guys off their backs. I'm a little concerned that Turkey will cut off its nose to spite its face here by pissing off the Kurdish radicals all over again AND weakening the Kurds overall.
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Capt Seid Waddell
SGT Jeremiah B., unfortunately, Turkey has more in common with ISIS than with the Kurds; the Kurds tilt toward the West.
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More Middle East coalition, will hopefully bring peace/restoration to the Middle East in due time.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Joe, it is great that they decided to help out their geographic area with the fight against ISIS. The only question I have with it is why attack the only successful ground combat elements. Yes they have had years of problems with the Kurds and them trying to make their own country (Kurdistan). But IMO this is just bad timing to strike them.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SGM Steve Wettstein well said and a profound subject. IMO we need the Kurds to take the fight against ISIS and deter terrorism. Turkey needs to get it right with realistic tactics and techniques.
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