October 25, 2007
Department of Delicious Ironies
Bob Gates, speaking to reporters after NATO meetings in The Netherlands, in an attempt to further dissuade Ankara from a large-scale incursion into northern Iraq:
"Without good intelligence, sending large numbers of troops across the border or dropping bombs doesn't seem to make much sense to me."
This applied "for anybody" considering such action, he added. [emphasis added]
Pity Mr. Gates wasn't around in March of '03 dispensing such wisdom!
Posted by Gregory at October 25, 2007 02:22 PM
Seems like a pretty lukewarm statement. What if the Turks believe that their intelligence is good?
I think the comments might have been directed at Cheney and his circle as much as at the Turks.
Did the Cheney Administration have Bob Gates under lock and key at Gitmo prior to and during the first couple of years of Operation: Iraqi Quagmire?
Personally, I tend to look kindly on Mr. Gates and think he did a fine job of running the most bizarre organization, the Central Intelligence Agency, almost 20 years ago. Also, I believe that Mr. Gates has brought a great deal of common sense and political infighting skills to the White House. Without Bob Gates, Cheney and his attack dog, Addington, would already have us attacking Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
Just have to file this Gates's quote under the statements recently offered by General Ricardo Sanchez. About four years too late, guys.
actually, it makes a great deal of sense if you are willing to kill lots of people to send the PKK (and the Kurdish leaders who harbor them) a message -- "don't f&ck with us"
I mean, that is pretty much how Turkey handled its own Kurdish problem....and Turkey is probably disinclined to mess with success, as it were.
My guess is that Turkey is going to basically take the position that everything in Iraq within 10 miles (or so) of the border is a no mans land -- that any humans found there will be considered hostile, and dealt with accordingly.
