Four Turkish soldiers killed in Kurd rebel clash - Turkey / Iraq border

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L09486533.htm

Four Turkish soldiers killed in Kurd rebel clash
09 Dec 2005 11:02:12 GMT

Source: Reuters

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Kurdish rebels killed four Turkish soldiers in a clash overnight in a mountainous area on the Iraqi border, security officials said on Friday.

F-16 warplanes took off from the main southeastern city of Diyarbakir and bombed the Gabbar mountain area in Sirnak province where the clash began on Thursday evening, they said.

Clashes were continuing and helicopters landed troops in the mountain to support an operation in pursuit of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants.

A security official said the operation was designed to wipe out the rebel presence in the mountains as they prepared to hole up for the winter.

foray by the Kurds?

Kurdistan, oh Kurdistan...they do not give one shit what anyone else wants, they want their homeland, and damn if they aren't gonna go all out this time to get it. They've been screwed before, and they are not gonna be screwed again.

This could get very ugly--the Kurds do not have anything resembling an air force, and airpower could come into play if they get too successful. We can only hope it isn't OUR guys in the cockpits dropping bombs on those folks as proxies for our Turkish allies if they get too 'liberation' minded...

I don't think this administration would hesitate to do it again if the need arises.

Don

They have NO reason to trust us. And likely they don't. They are smart sonsabitches, though, they will smile and use us so long as we are useful, but the minute we get in their way, they aren't gonna be caught unawares.

Fascinating people and culture. Smart as whips, strong as oxen, and physically attractive as a group, too--a lot of them are quite tall with gray eyes.

They won't give up, IMO. They'll NEVER give up.