February 21, 2003

Turkey Update Looks like a

Turkey Update

Looks like a "broad agreement" has been reached between Turkey and the U.S. so that the northern front will be fully active. Good news, but I'm still concerned about Kurdish reaction to a large Turkish troop presence and Ankara's potential for mischief under the guise of protecting Turkomens in the area (ie, they stay too long and scuttle creation of a federated Kurdish entity). But the good news is that Mosul and Kirkuk will be off limits to both Turks and Kurds under provisional U.S. control. Hopefully these oil rich areas can then be transferred to the appropriate Iraqi technocrats as the oil sector is resucitated under local leadership with an even playing field provided for the international oil sector players.