What if: The Kurds and Turks start fighting...

[Lancer]

The Turks pour in massive reinforcements and push the Kurds back. Turks make drive for northern oil...Kurds reel back, Turks ruthlessly press on.

Should the US get involved in the fight? On whose side?

This could be the situation that supplants coalition victory with a huge disaster. What form could that disaster take?

Game it out, where might the situation go?

[Sarxis]

It could very well happen. I don't know how the US military is going to react. WWIII?

[Case]

The best strategy would probably to physically put troops between the Turks and the Kurds. I really can't see either side having any desire to start shooting at Americans. However, this would require a very large chunk of the US reserves in the region (which I think is mainly composed of the 101st Air Assault division) and this would greatly slow American war plans.

[Lancer]

Hmm...WWIII or referee.

The US has already told the Turks that since they are not an integrated part of the coalition of the willing, that the US could not "guarantee their safety."

Is that a threat?

[Urban Ranger]

It wouldn't be WWIII, since the Turks don't have any nuclear devices. However, this is going to be a sticky situation, if the Turks refuse to budge. US can't quite strike at the Turks, particularly now that they are both NATO. I don't think the Turks want to make a grab at the oil fields either, they know they will not be able to keep them. So, the best thing the US can do now is to threaten kicking the Turks from NATO if they continue to be offensive.

What will be even more fun is if Iran joins in.

[Sarxis]

1500 Turkish troops move into N. Iraq.

WWIII doesn't necessarily imply nuclear warfare.

[Urban Ranger]

Yeah, but nobody will be on the Turk's side. It will only be a regional war.

[Sarxis]

I wonder what our Greek friends think about all this?

[Urban Ranger]

Rubbing their hands in glee

[Sarxis]

Now MSNBC is saying the Turk troops may or may not be in north Iraq quite yet. But they are on the move!

[Proteus_MST]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Yeah, but nobody will be on the Turk's side. It will only be a regional war.

But I think there will probably also be noone on the side of the Kurds in Iraq (which will be the real loosers of the war)

[chequita guevara]

What do you mean if?

[Az]

Currently, both the Turks and the Kurds deny any entrance of Turkish forces.

[Pekka]

Turkey has no rights what so ever to attack Kurdistan, or Kurds for that matter. They can talk all they want about keeping them in leash, but they are people, not animals!
Turkey better keep their fingers of Kurds and Kurdistan. I say attack 100% if they even start thinking about killing Kurds once again.

[Barley]

Recommended Coalition response if the situation worsens is to place a limited number of air mobile forces (with combat air support) in the gap between the Turks and Kurds with the implication that any further incursion will be a threat against the US.

I think the US should call the Turks bluff. Who cares about the Turks? They are a bunch of loonies, et at Cyprus & murdering our football fans.............