Who's next after Iraq ?

Who's next after Iraq? It may prove to be a much longer fight then the US planned on. It seems Turkey is upset with some of the actions the Iraqi Kurds are taking.

Turkish leaders prepare for possible military intervention in northern Iraq

Associated Press

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- Alarmed by an Iraqi Kurdish move into two key northern Iraqi cities, Turkey's leaders on Friday reviewed possible plans to beef up Turkey's military presence in northern Iraq, although Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said there would be no immediate Turkish move.

Turkey has threatened to send forces into northern Iraq if Iraqi Kurds keep control of the cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. Iraqi Kurdish leaders have said they will resist any Turkish military moves and Washington fears that a Turkish intervention could undermine its war efforts in the north by provoking Turkish-Iraqi Kurdish clashes.

"In the light of new developments, we've reviewed the readiness of our troops, both in northern Iraq and along the border, and reinforcement plans," Gul told reporters. "If needed, we have every kind of plan, but for now we are not taking action. Our sensitivities are clear, any step back is out of question."

Turkey has an estimated 5,000 troops in northern Iraq. Tens of thousands of troops reinforced by tanks, self-propelled howitzers and armoured personnel carriers have long been deployed along the border.

Iraqi Kurdish fighters on Friday entered the commercial hub of Mosul, a day after seizing Kirkuk, a key oil-rich city.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell assured Gul on Thursday that U.S. forces will replace the Kurdish fighters in Kirkuk, and invited Turkey to send military observers to monitor the situation.

Private NTV television said three liaison teams, each including five special forces officers already in the region, will serve in Kirkuk, Mosul and at the U.S. headquarters in the area.

Gul said Friday that U.S. forces had taken control of Kirkuk and the Iraqi Kurdish fighters were leaving the city. He said Turkish liaison teams were expected to reach Kirkuk within an hour.

"They will also withdraw from Mosul in the shortest time," he said.

Turkey has repeatedly said it will not accept Iraqi Kurdish control of Kirkuk or Mosul, fearing it could encourage Iraqi Kurds to form their own state. That, Ankara says, could inspire Turkish Kurdish rebels who fought a 15-year war for autonomy in southeastern Turkey.

Gul spoke after a meeting gathering Turkey's top generals, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and senior intelligence officers.

Kirkuk is one of Iraq's leading oil-producing centres and historically has had a large Kurdish population.

Gul cancelled a scheduled visit to Syria on Sunday due to the tense situation in northern Iraq.

Turkish officials also express deep concern over reported looting at title deed and registry offices by Iraqi Kurdish fighters in Kirkuk.

Turkey has long claimed that an ethnic Turkish group, the Turkoman, made up a majority of the city in the past and fears that Kurds could be trying to cover up evidence of the city's ethnic Turkish past.

"Attempts to change the (demographic) structure of those places are unacceptable," Gul said.

Mustafa Ziya, a representative of the Iraqi National Turkoman Front, accused Iraqi Kurdish fighters of looting the title deed and registry offices with the purpose of "wiping out Turkomans."

The US is threating sanctions against Syria. Chrietien says any action against Syria should be taken through the useless body the UN with its genocide promoting head Kofi Annan.

U.S. may seek sanctions on Syria

The Iraqi War is over. The reconstruction now begins. To accomplish this the War on Terror must move into it's 3rd phase: The Syrian War and the Liberation of Lebanon.

Time to Get Serious with Syria

'The Iraqi War is over.'
Oh, absolutely. That's why the foreign invaders are still there. It must be some kind of holiday.
Before one finds fault with the UN and how it deals with countries, here's an idea that may work. Try living in one or more of those countries before comdeming them to war. Try gaining first-hand experience on their ways, culture, beliefs and how they see the world. And by live, I mean living, residing; neither touring not dropping in for an attack. At the very least, talk to a lot, and I mean a lot; not a few, people who are from that country to gain insights.

It's easier to just bomb people we don't agree with.

I prefer to get bombed thanks. Explosions are cool, and you can blow up a car with Drano, but it's a lot more fun if nobody gets hurt and a bevy of beer is consumed.

George Bush's little attempt to take over the world will end badly, these things always do. In the meantime we should hope that it ends quickly. By "hope" I mean, Speak out against this vicious gang of yuppie thugs every chance you get," of course.

Looks to me like Syria is definitely next.

this is from CBC news

U.S. troops stop Iraqi oil to Syria

American forces have shut down an oil pipeline from Iraq to Syria, U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said on Tuesday.

Rumsfeld told reporters at the Pentagon he couldn't confirm the flow of oil between the two countries is stopped, but he said he hoped it had been.

U.S. officials say Syria gets up to 200,000 barrels of oil a day through the pipeline in violation of UN sanctions on exports of Iraqi oil.

Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Bush administration has concerns about Syria's alleged weapons development and support of terrorist organizations, but has not developed a war plan against the country.

"There is no list, there is no war plan," Powell told reporters.

He repeated a warning that Syria should reconsider its past choices and rethink whom it supports now that there's a new environment in the region.

FROM APR 15, 2003: Powell warns Syrians to 'review their behavior'

Washington advised Syria on Monday not to co-operate with members of the former regime of Saddam Hussein, or develop chemical and biological weapons.

Imad Moustapha, Syria's deputy ambassador to the U.S., called the American claims false and unfair. He said the U.S. should look for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in Israel.

looks to me like the "greatest nation on earth :roll:

" still has quite the inferiority complex and needs to bully smaller nations to feel big and powerful and to show the world their true might. :roll:

oh and lets not forget that this war has NOTHING to do with oil..it's all about freeing the iraqi people and to prove it they just stopped another country from getting oil...to have more for themselves?..oh that's right its to punish them for supporting Saddam ...hhmm much like the states did when they put saddam in power :oops:

but we wont talk about that little technicality will we.

I will let you draw your own conclusions where that oil that was supposed to go to Syria is now going..

With the war in Iraq the world seems to have forgotten that there are other more savage conflicts that need to be resolved. Conflicts such as the ones in the Sudan and the Congo.

Eyes on Iraq are blind to Congo's heavier pain

We don't have interests there .

Evidently no country has intrest in the region. I haven't seen any other countries doing anything about it. Maybe France or Germany could resolve that one huh?...Yeah right, It could get to messy. Anyone else want to try it...Canada perhaps?....well?

---interest---
Oops, thats me^^^^ :oops:

Ironmike

Surprise, surprise. Terrorists are in bed with Syria. The Italians say they've found connections with Ansar-al-Islam.

Probe Links Syria With Iraqi Extremists

Additional info on Syria's support for terrorism can be found here
http://www.ict.org.il/

Terrorist groups that Syria supports include
*Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine
*Hamas
*Islamic Jihad
*Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command
*Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine(Splinter faction of the above)
*Hezbollah
*Palestinian Liberation Front
*Abu Nidal Orginization
*Japanese Red Army
*Ansar al Islam
*Kurdish Workers Party
I'll add more as I find them.