Serious question..... What possible ramifications would Turkey invading Iraq mean for American occupation.?

Question

I am interested in what might happen to our role in the Operation Iraqi Freedom? Do you think we will have to draw our troops back? Do you think we will have to resposition our camp bases? Also, what about Incirlik Air Base in Turkey? Don't we need the base for our equipment? I feel like the only one who is nervous about this. Can some people who are looking into this matter inform me of your views?

I am not looking for dumb answers like "well, we never should have been there in the first place". I just want answers to the matters at hand. And only from people who know what is going on and who truly care about our American Soldiers that are over there. I really appreciate it.

Answer 1

It's really hard to say at this point. I assume we would hold our ground in northern Iraq and repel the Turkish invasion. We are still here to protect Iraq from being invaded by another country because their military is not yet strong enough to do so. I am stationed north of Baghdad and have not heard of any preperations to re-enforce our positions in the north. I think it's a bluff. Only time will tell.



*To those of you who do not think the U.S. can stop the Turks, you have no idea what we are capeable of. They use our military hardware, nobody knows better than us how to take it out. We have held back, we could destroy this regoin without nukes if we were allowed to. If Turkey invades, we will respond. When we fight a uniformed enemy, it is only a matter of weeks before they are destroyed. Fighting soldier to soldier, we will come out on top. The civillians that have made comments about your question know very little about the inner workings of the military. Bush is on his way out, why not go out with a bang?

Answer 2

Honee Be, I've read many of the responses you have gotten. It is very disturbing to read some of this stuff people have written you. Our politicians in Washington aren't doing any of us any favors right now. Seems they are more into parisan BS than for doing what is good for our country. Some of these people that have answered very much under-estimate the American Soldier, Sailor, Airman, or Marine. I have been deployed numerous times throughout my career and been in several hostile environments. I can tell you that there is nothing more dangerous in this world than an afraid young American with a weapon in his hand. Hopefully, these idiots on both sides can work this out. If not, and another war starts, I will try and go back in the service but I fear it would be my last deployment. Such a war as this would trigger much more and I'm afraid will cause much destruction. I will not try and predict a tactical outcome at a local regional level, but there is no way Turkey from a strategic standpoint could ever do much damage to the US on American soil. Where as we could really damage them at home. We should have known that Turkey was not much of a friend when they would not allow us to deploy our Infantry Division through them into Northern Iraq at the beginning of this war and was forced to drop the 173rd there. Hopefully they can work it out, but if not, I hope both sides are willing to face the consequences.

Answer 3

American Soldiers will not engage the Turks as we ARE allies. We will most likely negotiate a status of forces agreement that establishes who can and will be engaged and who can not, and give the Iraqi northerners (who don't want to fight) time to pack up and break camp to be relocated farther south. I do not foresee any re-alignment of US presence in Norther Iraq due to a Turkish invasion. Now as for Incirlik... Our politicians are the only ones who can apologize for that great F*up. There's nothing like pouring salt on a wound of one of our allies. American Service Members and Turks have worked side by side for decades, we respect one another and both military's pray for our prospective governments to put the flames out. But, should the day come... business is business.

Answer 4

First off it would be ignorant to think that we would go to war with Turkey over northern Iraq. The Turkish military has operated in that area since the first gulf war this fact is just not widely known. The fact is that we need Turkey as an ally for the strategic location of our bases there. We will put up a protest when they invade but no military Resistance, after all who do you think gave the Turks there high tech weapons it wasn't the Russians or the Chinese. As to answer my Turkish nationalist who Say's Turkey has a superior military he is wrong I worked with this military for a number of years and I found them to be poorly equipped and under trained and as for the conscripts most of them would rather run than fight. Oh yeah and by the way those nukes you have are ours and under our control. Thanks

Answer 5

I really don't see Turkey doing that. Incirlik is a place we are allowed to take our families, which brings more money to Turkey. They took a hit financially when all non military family members had to leave the country (after 9/11.) But families are allowed again.



It wasn't on the equal listing, but we'd happily take Turkey on the next cycle.

Answer 6

it is merely my historic opinions, but turkey has always been one of america's best friends and now with an invasion into iraq,i can see the iraqi army proper welcoming this along with american forces as a huge build up takes place numbering in the many 100's of thousands, i see an invasion of iran as immenent and that ends our sectarian problem as well, once the turks are inside,all terrorists globally will join the fight head on and the young iranians will help the turks to unseat their finactical leader

Answer 7

If Turkey tries to invade Iraq then that would be a big mistake.



It would place us in a position where we have to consider just how valuable they have been to us as allies. We would also consider everything we have done for them and the nothing they have done for us.



Turkey does not want to place themselves in a position where the US will re-evaluate the alliance our two countries have.

Answer 8

First of all, i am a turkish guy with both american and turkish passport and i know both natioas very well.. just like there are peopel from turkey whom i dont like, there are some in usa too. However, when i compare to the ignorance of americans, it is really incredible.

First of all, incirlik air base is a place for military, not a tourist area.. Turkey do not need the money of a couple of American families who will spend maximum 10 thousand dollar in a month.

Secondly, 15 Turkish soldiers were shot down to death in 2 weeks, Cnn-Turk And Haber-Turk Tv channel has tarted a campaign and more than 120 million dollar was collected as aid to the families of the soldiers , as u can see thats the problem of the whole nation, we are exteremely patriotic people who will defend their country wthout hesitating to sacrifice their lifes. USa cannot nuke turkey, turkey holds chemical and nuclear weapons too, pls stop being such an idiot american. ( I dont mean all americans are idiots, pls dont get me wrong)



Now i will try to answer your question. Incirlik and the Other base in turekey are the most advanced and important bases of USA. I am here in Turkey right now and the government is just closely wtaching following action of USa parlements regarding Genocide Myth of 1915. So shutting down the bases is directly connected to this issue.. it is not about the invasion.

Turkey will have an incursion to North IRaq soon and they will extend their boarders 45 KM deeper inside. The main reason to do is to pass over mountains so there will be open plateaus where terrorist cannot find a spot to get in Turkey.



USa , of course wont like that idea but it has no got another choice. Interests of both nations are in questions and Turks are not bluffing ( just remember 1974 Cyprus invasion of Turkey , Operation Atilla). When Turks entered north iraq, american troops will press the terrorist from south and turkish troops from north and they will eliminate them. if usa troops dont do such things (0.5 % possibility) , turkish and american soldiers will encounter and God knows what happens.

yes u need those bases. if we shut down your those bases , u will loose all your control in iraq , plus your planes wont be able to fly over turkish air space.



you can read here

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/10/turkey.kurds.ap/index.html



U.S. President George W. Bush strongly urged Congress to reject the bill, saying it would do "great harm" to U.S.-Turkish relations. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that 70 percent of U.S. air cargo headed for Iraq goes through Turkish air space. About a third of the fuel used by the U.S. military in Iraq also goes through Turkey.



"Access to airfields and to the roads and so on in Turkey would very much be put at risk if this resolution passes and Turkey reacts as strongly as we believe they will," Gates said.

Answer 9

The Turkish invasion of Iraq would, for one thing be more justified than Iraqi Freedom. They have to deal with Kurdish terrorist all the time.

The insurgents would have to at least consider splitting their forces which could reduce the pressure on US forces.

Answer 10

Bush won't enable anybody to attack "his" oil fields. i'm beneficial Bush has been on the telephone telling Turkeys leaders how they should comprehend yet another u . s . a .'s' sovereignty.