BUSH STARTS SECRET MILITARY OPERATION AGAINST KURDS

Robert Novak has an article in today's The Washington Post in which he writes that George Bush is mounting a clandestine military campaign, this time against Kurdish fighters attacking Turkish army positions from across the border with Iraq. Novak claims that Eric Edelman, former Cheney aide and now undersecretary of defense for policy, briefed selected members of Congress on these secret military operations.

"Turkey has a well-trained, well-equipped army of 250,000 near the border, facing some 4,000 PKK fighters hiding in the mountains of northern Iraq. But significant cross-border operations surely would bring to the PKK's side the military forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government, the best U.S. ally in Iraq. What is Washington to do in the dilemma of two friends battling each other on an unwanted new front in Iraq?

"The surprising answer was given in secret briefings on Capitol Hill last week by Eric S. Edelman, a former aide to Vice President Cheney who is now undersecretary of defense for policy. Edelman, a Foreign Service officer who once was U.S. ambassador to Turkey, revealed to lawmakers plans for a covert operation of U.S. Special Forces to help the Turks neutralize the PKK. They would behead the guerrilla organization by helping Turkey get rid of PKK leaders that they have targeted for years."

This secret operation shows how dangerous Bush and Cheney can be, even in their last 16 months in office. Who thinks these plans through? It would seem that person or group enjoys engaging in risky behavior. The damage that the United States has caused in Iraq would be only the prelude to the conflagration and apocalypse that could erupt should the Kurds band together and enlarge their military raids into full-scale war against Turkey and possibly even against Iran. Even Bob Novak sees the risks:

"Edelman's listeners were stunned. Wasn't this risky? He responded that he was sure of success, adding that the U.S. role could be concealed and always would be denied. Even if all this is true, some of the briefed lawmakers left wondering whether this was a wise policy for handling the beleaguered Kurds, who had been betrayed so often by the U.S. government in years past.

"The plan shows that hard experience has not dissuaded President Bush from attempting difficult ventures employing the use of force. On the contrary, two of the most intrepid supporters of the Iraq intervention -- John McCain and Lindsey Graham-- were surprised by Bush during a recent meeting with him. When they shared their impressions with colleagues, they commented on how unconcerned the president seemed. That may explain his willingness to embark on such a questionable venture against the Kurds."