ARGUMENT IN DAVOS OVER ISRAEL'S ATTACK ON PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS

Why is it that only Israel and the United States continue to maintain that the attack against the Palestinians in Gaza several weeks ago was justified?

Today Turkish prime minister Erdogan walked out of a conference after arguing with Shimon Perez over Israel's attack in Gaza. Many people believe that the attack was unjustified, disproportionate and aimed at Palestinians civilians and civilian infrastructure. More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed, including about 400 children under the age of 16.

Reports the BBC:

"Turkey's prime minister has stormed off the stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos after a heated debate on Gaza with Israel's president.

"Recep Tayyip Erdogan clashed with Shimon Peres, whose voice had risen as he made an impassioned defence of Israel's actions, jabbing his finger.

"Mr Erdogan said Mr Peres had spoken so loudly to conceal his "guilt"."

TURKEY - CEASE SENDING WARPLANES TO ATTACK KURDS IN IRAQ

The BBC reports that Turkey has again conducted bombing raids over Iraqi Kurdistan. We are certain to hear from Turkish authorities of so many Kurdish "terrorists" killed as a result.

Turkey needs to stop these attacks. Nothing good ever comes from dropping bombs on suspected insurgents. Instead the real victims are innocent civilians and villagers who happen to be the unintended targets for this war crime.

I have many times condemned attacks and bombing raids carried out by the U.S. I have called upon the US Air Force to cease bombing Iraqi enclaves and towns. I have deplored U.S. airplanes killing scores of Afghan civilians and children.

Bombing and killing from the air is never a solution. This applies to Turkey as well as to the U.S. Airplanes dropping bombs will only cause more hatred and killing. Turkey needs to mothball its fighters and bombers and seek a diplomatic peaceful solution to its problem with the Kurds.

BARZANI, HEAD OF IRAQI KURDS, DISSES CONDI AND REFUSES TO MEET WITH HER

The BBC is reporting on its web site that Massoud Barzani, leader of the Iraqi Kurds, has refused to meet with Condoleeza Rice because of the support of the U.S. for the Turkish raids inside Iraq against Kurdish militants.

Reports the BBC:

"Iraq's Kurdish leader has refused to meet the US secretary of state because of US tolerance of recent Turkish raids into Iraq, Kurdish officials say.


"Kurdish regional President Massoud Barzani had been scheduled to meet Condoleezza Rice in Baghdad.


"Kurdish officials said it was "unacceptable" the US had "authorised Turkey to bomb our villages" on Sunday. "


The refusal of Barzani to meet with Rice just adds to the perception that the Bush/Rice foreign policy is bankrupt and inept. Both of these state actors seem to be conducting U.S. foreign policy without any forethought or planning. It's like, "Let's do this, let's do that," without foreseeing the possible negative consequences. No thought is given to the outcome of their actions. In foreign policy, Bush and Rice are both ingenues. How either one got to the position of power they now hold will remain an enigma, because on their merits both are incompetent.

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."

TURKEY PREPARED TO INVADE IRAQ TO FIGHT PKK

Turkey has prepared detailed plans for the invasion of Iraq to go after the PKK, Kurdish guerrillas who it claims are crossing the border and attacking Turkish installations and villages, according to a story by Michael Howard in today's The Guardian.

"Turkey has prepared a blueprint for the invasion of northern Iraq and will take action if US or Iraqi forces fail to dislodge the guerrillas of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) from their mountain strongholds across the border, Turkey's foreign minister Abdullah Gul has warned."

Turkey's Foreign Minister has warned that Turkey will take action if the Iraqi government of Maliki and/or the U.S. occupation forces don't crack down on the PKK.

"The military plans have been worked out in the finest detail. The government knows these plans and agrees with them," Mr Gul told Turkey's Radikal newspaper. "If neither the Iraqi government nor the US occupying forces can do this [crush the PKK], we will take our own decision and implement it," Mr Gul said.

"The foreign minister's uncharacteristically hawkish remarks were seen as a response to pressure from Turkey's generals, who have deployed some 20,000-30,000 troops along the borders with Iraq, and who are itching to move against the rebels they say are slipping across the border to stage attacks inside Turkey."

Writes Michael Howard:

"The PKK, which has had a presence in the remote border areas of Iraq since the 1980s, has about 2,000-3,000 guerrillas on Iraqi soil. Their camps are dotted along the densely wooded ravines and in some of the regions' many caves high up in the limestone peaks. They remain out of reach of Iraq's Kurdish authorities, who fought unsuccessfully alongside Turkey in the 1990s to oust them from their bases.


"Authorities in Ankara say the PKK, which declared a unilateral ceasefire last year, are behind recent bombings in the cities of Ankara, Izmir and Diyarbakir, as well as attacks on Turkish security forces in the mostly Kurdish south-east."