Turkey troops attack Kurds in Iraq today

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkish troops crossed into northern Iraq early Wednesday to chase Kurdish guerrillas who attack Turkey from bases there, three Turkish security officials said.

Turkey's foreign minister denied its troops had entered Iraq. However, the senior security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media, characterized the raid as a "hot pursuit" raid that was limited in scope.

They told The Associated Press it did not constitute the kind of large incursion that Turkish leaders have been discussing in recent weeks.

June 6, 2007 (LPAC)--On June 5, in a surprise move that stunned Iraqi political observers, the red, green, yellow, and white Kurdish flag was raised over the Kurdistan regional parliament in place of the Iraqi flag. The incident is considered an unprecedented event and seen as a step toward Kurdish intent to declare independence, said AKI.

Then on June 6, Turkey, which opposes Kurdish independence, let several thousands of its troops cross into northern Iraq to chase Kurdish guerrillas involved in sabotage activities within Turkey, AP reported. Conflicting reports indicated that the Turkish troops were on a "hot pursuit'' mission, but may have still been in Iraq on Wednesday evening. The Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, Iraqi President Talabani, and White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe all denied having any information on the Turkish incursion; but, several different Turkish military officials told press services that it was underway. In Baghdad, U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said, "We are looking into it, and we are very concerned.''

Again, terrorism is in the eye of the beholder. The turks think the PKK is a terrorist group. Who are we to say they don't have the right to retaliate.