Turkey plans to dispatch tens of thousands of soldiers into northern Iraq if the U.S attacks through the north, senior intelligence and military sources said Tuesday.
The Turkish mission would be aimed at preventing a Kurdish state and stopping a possible flood of refugees, the sources said, according to AP.
U.S. officials have apparently asked for Turkish permission to send tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers through Turkey into Iraq if there is a war.
The daily Hurriyet newspaper reported Tuesday that Turkey is planning to deploy 65,000 to 70,000 troops in northern Iraq if there is a massive U.S. assault from the north.
A senior Turkish intelligence official confirmed that report. He said that Turkey is especially concerned that if Iraq disintegrates, Iraqi Kurds could seize the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk. Control of those cities would make the Kurds a significant regional power.
Meanwhile, Iraqi opposition groups meeting in London have outlined a vision for the future of Iraq if President Saddam Hussein is overthrown. Two documents, agreed after four days of wrangling, set out political principles and structures for a transition period of up to two years.
In addition, representatives established a new committee compromising 65 members which will act as a focal point for opposition contact with the outside world. The committee is significantly bigger than originally planned - a sign of the need to accommodate a large number of diverse opinions. (Albawaba.com)
