Turkey buries fifteen soldiers killed in Friday's deadly pkk attack

[OTTOMAN]

Turkey buries fifteen soldiers killed in Friday's deadly PKK attack

Turkey began burying the 15 soldiers killed in Friday’s bloody attack by outlawed PKK separatists as country’s civilian and military leaders vowed to step up efforts to end terror. Tens of thousands of people gathered around the country to attend the funerals and protest terror. (UPDATED)


The flag-draped coffins of the killed soldiers were carried on the shoulders of fellow soldiers and family members amid calls for tougher action against the outlawed terror organization.



The large crowds gathered waved flags and shouted, "Damn the PKK, the martyrs are immortal," ahead of the service.



President Abdullah Gul attended a funeral service held in the western city of Eskisehir, while Erdogan and Foreign Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen participated in ceremonies in the central city of Kirikkale and Mersin province in the south, respectively.



The fighting, the bloodiest this year, prompted calls for Ankara to hit back at the outlawed PKK who use the Kurdish-run autonomous north of Iraq as a springboard for attacks on Turkish targets across the border.



ANKARA'S DECISIVE RESPONSE

After emergency talks in Ankara late Saturday, civilian and military leaders vowed to stamp out the PKK, considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.



"Our struggle against terrorism will be pursued under all conditions and above all other concerns through effective cooperation between state bodies and every measure will be implemented with determination," they said in a statement.



Friday's attack came ahead of a critical voting in the Turkish parliament on a new proposal on to extend for another year a mandate giving its military authorization for cross-border operations against PKK bases in northern Iraq.



Under a one-year parliamentary authorization obtained last October, the army has carried out several air strikes and a week-long ground offensive against PKK targets, using intelligence passed on by NATO ally United States.



Turkey’s General Staff is set to hold a news conference Sunday about the attack and the military’s counter-terrorism operations in southeastern Turkey and in northern Iraq.

Allah-u Teala Günahlarınızı bağışlasın.Allah (c.c) rahmet eylesin

[Каие]

If it was US soldiers killed, or in fact Britain for that matter, they would have invaded Iraqi Kurdistan already. Your patience is magnanimous.

[mrmouth]

If it was US soldiers killed, or in fact Britain for that matter, they would have invaded Iraqi Kurdistan already. Your patience is magnanimous.

Nice dramatics.

Plenty of US servicemen have been killed all over the globe and we haven't invaded. Lebanon, Yemen, etc.

Removed Personal references. ~Pontifex

Lets at least try and think before we type.

[boerekovic]

Nice dramatics.

Plenty of US servicemen have been killed all over the globe and we haven't invaded. Lebanon, Yemen, etc.

I'm beginning to think your just a very young and naive person. Ive never payed much attention to you for any reason, but lately I just come across your comments and cannot help myself.

Lets at least try and think before we type.

Do you know the yearly death toll of Turkish soldiers in that area?
Its not only these 15.
Its 1-2 every few weeks, and in some cases, more, like in this event.
It doesnt even get into the international news.

[Каие]

Nice dramatics.

Plenty of US servicemen have been killed all over the globe and we haven't invaded. Lebanon, Yemen, etc.

I'm beginning to think your just a very young and naive person. Ive never payed much attention to you for any reason, but lately I just come across your comments and cannot help myself.

Lets at least try and think before we type.

Right back at ya...read what I put, then think about the context. You'd realise the Turks were killed in Turkey, not a foreign country. If a foreign army killed our guys in our backyard....I mean take a look at the Afghan war for starters. What was that for? That's right to stop giving Al Qaeda a base to attack us from and take out those who harbour them, the same can be applied in this situation...[Turkish civilians have also bee taken out by the PKK, some 30,000 have died al together] Turkey's equivalent would be to invade Kurdistan and deny them a base to launch operations from, while getting rid of the tribal leaders who harbour them.

So I was entirely justified in my response and comparison.

[Giorgos]

A sad day for the families and friends of the dead.

[Каие]

As a member of NATO, and as this attack happened above the Tropic of Cancer, this should be considered 'an attack on all' thus the beginning of joint NATO hostilities should have begun now...but I guess Turkey does not equal a 'western nation' and the PKK are not terrorists (!)

[Giorgos]

Has Turkey asked for NATO's intervention?

[Каие]

Has Turkey asked for NATO's intervention?

I believe so...but for some reason didn't participate in the invasion of Iraq, they should have done, if it concerns them.

[Erik]

I believe so...but for some reason didn't participate in the invasion of Iraq, they should have done, if it concerns them.

Turkey was against the war when it started.
Just like many other NATO members.
And I think they were absolutely right: the war has brought nothing but trouble both for the Iraqi's and the Turks.

As for NATO assistance: I think that would be difficult because their conflict wit the PKK is mostly an internal affair even though the situation in Iraq has complicated the problem.

[Crimson Scythe]

Has Turkey asked for NATO's intervention?

No, actually. There is some speculation as to why Turkey hasn't done so, but nobody really knows for sure (other than Turkish government officials, of course). Turkey, so far, has only asked the EU for support against the PKK, and more in the law-enforcement sense than the military. Which makes sense because the PKK draws most of its support from Europe, either from Kurds living there or from radical left-wing groups. It makes even more sense because the PKK also finances itself through heroin smuggling (from Asia and the Middle East into Europe).

[Giorgos]

No, actually. There is some speculation as to why Turkey hasn't done so, but nobody really knows for sure (other than Turkish government officials, of course). Turkey, so far, has only asked the EU for support against the PKK, and more in the law-enforcement sense than the military. Which makes sense because the PKK draws most of its support from Europe, either from Kurds living there or from radical left-wing groups. It makes even more sense because the PKK also finances itself through heroin smuggling (from Asia and the Middle East into Europe).

Maybe Turkey simply overplays its hand. And i fear to where this may lead.

[Crimson Scythe]

Maybe Turkey simply overplays its hand. And i fear to where this may lead.

Frankly, I don't think Turkey plays its hand enough for fear of overplaying it. And when Turkey does, she does so because her back is against a wall. Such is unfortunately the nature of Turkish foreign policy. It's reactive, not proactive.

But I'm not too concerned about where the situation is heading. At least as far as Turkey is concerned. The Turkish government isn't treating the situation as merely a military problem anymore, but rather as a political one that needs to be addressed on the social, economic, AND military levels. My real concern is that the Turkish military may begin to cooperate with Iran a little too closely on the issue, thereby alienating itself to the West. Turkey has always been only tolerated by the West (read Europe, here), and not truly accepted as an equal. Closer ties with Iran, I fear, will undo some of the progress made in the last few years.

[dogukan]

IMO America wants to keep good relations with the local Kurdish rulers in Northern Iraq due to it oil rich lands. In fact the only stable land in Iraq is where oil is located....this brings the question-Does America care about the rest?

On some of dead PKK members , some real advanced equiipment were found many times...they even used M-16s. Why? Beucase USA supports Barzani with weapons. And Narzani uses this against Turkey by arming PKK terrorists with what they buy from AMericans. So AMerica supports terror in a way.
AHH politics, never fair.
We've lost enough sons for this unnecassary war.

[Giorgos]

And so have they. What can you do, when inerests are involved, you'll never get a fair outcome. You want safety and stability, they try to get a nation for themselves. They have the oil under their thumbs and so the US supports them, while in the same time keeping you "satisfied" doing you certain favors, if you will, across the board. Lest we forget, you buy serious weaponry from the US...

[attilavolciak07]

The Turks regulary bomb Northern Iraq, they did just a few hours ago in fact. I think they also invaded, attacked the rebels and then pulled out once. I do feel bad about the deaths and I extend the best of luck to their families.

However, talking in terms of the Turkish government. I feel that their demands for Iraqi Kurdistan to assist the Turks are not good. The Turkish are bombing their little area so in my view there is no way they will ever get support from Iraqi Kurdistan.

Also,

Iraq's national government has pledged to cooperate with Turkey. President Jalal Talibani — who is a Kurd — told Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in a phone call Saturday that he condemned Friday's attack. He said the "ugliness" of the attack was increased by the fact that it was staged during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan.

[Thanatos]

Rest in peace, soldiers.

[Faramir D'Andunie]

Sad day for those that these soldiers leave behind (families etc).

Will this circle of violence ever end?

[Каие]

Well the PKK attacks from Iraq, like the Taliban attacks from Pakistan...so if we really really wanted to win the war on terror...

[whhyy]

Well the PKK attacks from Iraq, like the Taliban attacks from Pakistan...so if we really really wanted to win the war on terror...

I think you could be on to something here. :hmmm: