Turkish troops enter northern Iraq

Turkish ground troops invade northern Iraq

Turkey launched a massive cross-border ground offensive against Kurdistan's Worker's Party (PKK) guerillas yesterday at 7pm local time (17:00 GMT).  Turkish warplanes and artillery bombed suspected rebel targets before ground troops stormed across the border. According to Turkish broadcaster NTV, nearly 10,000 soldiers entered the autonomous Kurdish north of Iraq. The goals of the operation are vague though Ankara accuses the PKK of launching attacks in southeast Turkey. Turkey claims its right under international law to protect and secure its territorial integrity as legal justification to enter northern Iraq. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyiar Zebari was unaware of the recent Turkish advance though recent reports suggest the Turkish President Abdullah Gal gave early warning to his Iraqi counterpart, Jalal Talabani. In the meantime, Kurdish Peshmerga forces have been placed on high alert.Keep up to date with the latest developments and sharpest perspectives in a world of strife and struggle.

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The ToD verdict:Not since the US led invasion in 2003 has Turkey officially entered Iraq with ground troops. The PKK are short listed as a terrorist group by most western countries. An estimated 40,000 people have died since the PKK launched its guerilla war in 1984. Indeed, the US has provided strategic information and intelligence services to Turkey and was aware of Turkey's decision yesterday to enter the territory. Turkey maintains it will only target what it estimates are 3,000 PKK rebels in northern Iraq and claims to respect Iraqi national sovereignty.

The largely autonomous Kurdish region represents some semblance of stability within Iraq. Regardless of Turkish military reassurances that the invasion will be short, there remains a distinct possibility of further regional wide disruption as Kurdistan becomes more isolated. Foud Hussein, a spokesman for the semi-autonomous region, told the Guardian newspaper that Kurdish Iraqi forces are on high alert for any Turkish incursion. The Iraqi government has insisted on using diplomacy to settle the dispute but relations between Kurdish leaders and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shia led government have deteriorated. It is also unlikely that Ankara's most recent efforts will eradicate two decades of PKK rebellion and the separatist quest for an independent Kurdish state.


EU terrorist blacklist unjust

The EU terrorist blacklist came under sharp criticism from EU deputies and members of a European Parliament civil liberties organization after a report by the Council of Europe cited gross inadequacies in the list's composition. EU states have blacklisted organizations without providing sufficient evidence. While the report did not contest the existence of the list, it did criticize the procedures and lack of transparency that could make it counterproductive. Anyone or any organization that is placed on the list will have their assets frozen and their movements severely restricted throughout Europe. Once on the list, it is nearly impossible to be removed, regardless of innocence. To prevent further victimization, the European Parliament has agreed to set up an independent body to supervise how EU member states decide who gets on the list.


UK admits complicity with US extraordinary renditions

For the past several years the British government has been denying allegations of its involvement in the CIA's extraordinary renditions. But in a sudden turn of events, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband admitted complicity with the CIA's secret flights program and apologized to the House of Commons. Two CIA flights holding suspected terrorists landed for refueling in the British Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia in 2002 before taking off for Guantanamo Bay. Miliband claims the US had failed to inform the government until recently. In The Independent newspaper, Shami Chakrabarti of the UK human rights watchdog Liberty faults the government's excuse of ignorance as a means to justify years of denial.

Morocco thwarts terrorist group

The Associated Press reports Morocco has successfully dismantled a terrorist network allegedly linked to al-Qaida. Thirty-two people were arrested throughout the country. The terrorist network was apparently planning to assassinate members of the Moroccan cabinet, army, and figures within the country's Jewish community.

LRA peace talks fail

The struggling Lord's Resistance Army's (LRA) fresh demands for cash and ministerial positions within Uganda's government ended in a walk out. The rebels are also demanding the International Criminal Court indictments be dropped before any conclusive peace settlement is reached. Joseph Kony, the cult-like leader of the LRA, is facing 33 counts of human rights violations by the ICC. A Kampala ultimatum gives the LRA until February 29th to reach a settlement or face the possibility of war.