As we look at Turkey's Ultra-Islamic President wading into World Affairs on behalf of Iran and other fanatics, the question has to be asked... How much longer can we stand back and watch our "supposed" ally acting against our interests, while it slaughters its Kurdish Minority?

America has pussy-footed around the subject, only allowing the Iraqui Kurds to set up a semi-autonomous region, not a nation, in deference to our joint "ally", whilst turning a blind eye to its human rights abuses. Iraqui Kurdistan is however, more than capable of supporting itself as a Country, and as a basis for the building of a "Greater Kurdistan", which would entail regaining territory from Syria, Iran & Turkey, due to its massive oil wealth.

The trouble is, while ever Turkey remains our erstwhile "ally", the United States will not provide the Kurds with Heavy weapons, advanced Armored vehicles and the like. So the "model state" that is Iraqui Kurdistan, has to sit there and endure the continued massacres of it's people just over the border, repeated incursions and threatened incursions, from Turkey.

We have seen the gradual movement of Turkey from the secular State of Kemal Ataturk, to an altogether different entity under Prime Minister Erdogan (and President Gul), who seem determined to move Turkey into the Fundamentalist Moslem camp, against the wishes of large segments of the population.

So what can be done? If Turkey's repeated human rights abuses (on a massive scale) are obvious enough to preclude its entry to the European Union, how can it remain a member of NATO, particularly when it refuses to allow its "allies" to overfly its territory?

It is time to discard this alliance (a relic of the Cold War), and to support the Kurdish People's legitimate grievances. If the US will not supply the necessary heavy weapons, advanced armored vehicles, etc. that are necessary for the Kurdish people to protect themselves from the depredations of their oppressors, then there are others in the region that quite probably would be willing (particularly in light of this weeks events & posturing) to do so...

Custard,it is all about the divide and conquer strategy.Isarel pushed for the invasion of Iraq so the USA obliged.It was always about the oil.Israel through the finance and banking system control the USA and thus by default Australia.The USA/Israel coalition have played off Sunnis against Shites and Kurds off against everyone else.While the Turks are not liked throughout the Middle East,two wrongs do not make a right.

There were no weapons of mass destruction.1.4 million Iraqis have died and countless more injured/maimed for life, all to feed the share market and put fuel in your tank.

This is particularly vile coming from an Israel supporter. Does hypocrisy mean anything to you Custard?

<< ...a basis for the building of a "Greater Kurdistan", which would entail regaining territory from Syria, Iran & Turkey, due to its massive oil wealth. >>

Yeah, that sounds like a really great idea - right up there with the retrospectively idiotic establishment of Israel following World War 2. Custard seems to be some kind of military type, so I suppose he'd welcome World War 3.

Let me be the first to assure him that he's very much in the minority in that respect.

How is it vile? Israel does not support the PKK (Israel dislikes all fundamentalist moslem groups on general principles), but Iraqi Kurdistan, that is an entirely different issue.

Iraqi Kurdistan is rich in petrodollars, but it lives under the continued threat of invasion by its northern neighbor, which has not only threatened incursion, but actually invaded their territory on at least one occasion.

Insofar as hypocrisy, Turkey has chosen a different road than the one it has been on for years. That is the prerogative of a free country, however, Israel has the same prerogative as do the Western Nations that have supported Turkey up until now.

The Incilik Airbase is no longer that strategically important, especially given that Iraqi Kurdistan has already built 2 large military airfields (suprising given they have no airforce?), which are capable of standing in for Incilik.

As to those who have the gall to go on about Israel's human rights violations - even if they were ALL true, they'd pale into insignificance compared to that of Turkey (which ranks up with Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia & Maoist China).

Also understand, the Kurds are split into two major ethnic groups, the Iraqi Kurds have long been assisted, albeit in a small way, by Israel

As to being vile - I suspect Israel would have armed the Kurds in N.Iraq if it were (1) Possible; and (2) unlikely to affect regional alliances (ie. NATO/Turkey).

With those two issues dealt with... The issue gets very interesting, on the basis of the truism that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend", Kurdistan is the best possible friend Israel could have, given that they are at odds with Iran, Iraq, Turkey and also at times Syria.

Anyway, given certain peoples desire to ensure human rights violations are stopped, why is this topic odious? What is happening to the Kurds daily in Turkey, is horrendous.