ANKARA — Iraqi Kurds are intent upon forming their own military.
Western diplomatic sources said Kurds in northern Iraq have been
planning a military force separate from that of the Iraq Army. The sources
said the Kurdish force would be based on Kurdish militias trained and
equipped by the United States.
The Dogan News Agency quoted Massoud Barzani,
regarded as the leader of Kurdistan, as saying the Kurdistan Army would
be authorized to protect northern Iraq, Middle East Newsline reported. The report said the Kurdish leader
has been meeting with representatives from Kurdish groups and militia
commanders following reports of an imminent Turkish invasion to destroy strongholds of
the Kurdish Workers Party.
"Now is the best time to establish a regular army," Barzani said. "The Kurdistan Army that will be
established will not be particular to tribes or individuals. It'll only be a
Kurdish army."
This was the second call by a Kurdish leader for a military
separate from that of the central government in Baghdad. For 20 years,
Barzani has headed the Kurdistan Democratic Party, one of the two groups
that have controlled northern Iraq since 1991.
"We have several times stated that we would not like any power or any
party to use the Kurdistan region as a zone for launching attacks on our
neighbors," Barzani said. "But if any country attacks Kurdistan, we will
defend ourselves."
In early July, Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani also called
for the establishment of a Kurdish military. The prime minister envisioned
the army with advanced weapons and training.
"Due to past injustices, our people have the right to possess a regular
army trained up to the latest military standards," the prime minister said.
Kurdish commanders regard Turkey has the leading threat to Kurdistan,
which would include the oil-rich areas around Kirkuk. Ankara has warned that
an independent Kurdish state would destabilize Iran, Iraq, Syria as well as
Turkey.
"It would be good if we could work on a trilateral effort and get
results [against the PKK]," Prime Minister Recep Erdogan said. "If not, we
will take care of our own problems."
The United States has sought to delay Turkish military plans to destroy
northern Iraqi strongholds of the PKK, said to have been responsible for the
killing of 15 Turkish soldiers and police last week. Last week, U.S.
President George Bush telephoned Erdogan twice in a three-day period to
appeal for restraint.
"I assure you that the United States is working for more effective
measures in dealing with the PKK," U.S. ambassador in Ankara Ross Wilson
said.
