If Turkey and the US locked horns militarily…
What would NATO do?
What would the Middle East do?
Would other mostly Muslim nations come to Turkey’s defense?
NATO didn’t leave a lot of room for this possibility. Basically, if a NATO nation is attacked all of NATO will respond.
The ‘thing’ about Turkey is they’re a) in the area b) Pretty powerful as nations go c) Very nationalistic d) Muslim e) (Alas) They don’t like Kurds.
Before long, a very large component of the US Army 4th ID will be sitting in North Iraq - close to Syria, Iran and Turkey.
Regarding the NATO question, there is a precedent for that situation.
Check out the invasion of Cyprus, Britain found it pretty uncomfortable sitting between two of their NATO allies.
Cyprus is regarded as a disputed territory - and of course it is. The Greeks hate the Turks and the Turks do not love the Greeks.
The Mediterranean has many disputed territories.
Peace in our time.
We can planly see why it would have been nice to have troops coming into Iraq from the north, but in the end it is best that didn’t happen.
Why do they hate the Kurds, anyway? Readers Digest version, if possible.
Kurdish Military Forces Capture Kirkuk
Entry Into Oil-Rich City Heightens Tensions With Turkey
By Thomas W. Lippman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 10, 2003; 10:59 AM
I guess we might find out sooner than later.