[Umit]

Double standards applied over terrorism: Tolon

One of Turkey’s most senior military commanders has accused other countries of having a double standard when it came to terrorists targeting Turkey.

General Hursit Tolon, the commander of the Turkish First Army, on Sunday criticised those counties (UK and US) who had spoken out against the suggestion Turkey could stage a cross border military action into northern Iraq to strike at Kurdish terrorist based in the region.

There was also a double standard applied to Turkey by some other countries when it came to terrorism, the General said. "Those who spill their blood are terrorists those who hurt our lives are militia," he said. "Do you see international justice, equality before law and double standards?"

resource: http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/334306.asp

I dont want to put a comment while everything is clear. But i dont think the world is ready to fight with terrorism...

[Shannon]

Umit i have to say i completely agree with him about the double standards!!! Its true, i mean in the news in Europe they are not even calling PKK terrorists, they are calling then Kurdish rebels!!! Im so annoyed about that! If it was a European Member State or USA, they would be saying, terrorist immediately!

[PeiramatoZwo]

Sorry but u are unfair... have u ever spoken to any Kurds ? Have u asked them if they want to be turkish citizens ? If they want to speak their language ? (actually i have...) Why do u think they took the guns and started killing people and attacking the military and the police... it's a revolution... and it's going on for decades now. They want an independant state, or an autonomy at least. That's why in Europe they don't call them terrorists (allthough PKK is in the short list of the terrorist groups of NATO).

[Shannon]

Originally Posted by PeiramatoZwo

Sorry but u are unfair... have u ever spoken to any Kurds ? Have u asked them if they want to be turkish citizens ? If they want to speak their language ? (actually i have...) Why do u think they took the guns and started killing people and attacking the military and the police... it's a revolution... and it's going on for decades now. They want an independant state, or an autonomy at least. That's why in Europe they don't call them terrorists (allthough PKK is in the short list of the terrorist groups of NATO).

I know many Kurds and have a lot of Kurdish friends and my best friend is with a Kurdish guy for 2 years (i would like to point out at the risk of sounding prejudice, that of all the Kurds i know, none support PKK) but at the end of the day the IRA are called terrorists around the world and they were fighting for an Independent Ireland. But they are a recognosed terrorist organisation! I think its naive in this day and time to say its a revolution. Is Northern Ireland a revolution? No, its been a bubbling cauldren for decades. Terrorism is terrorism no matter what country you are in, and im just happy the IRA finally relaised it is not the way to go and will do you no favours. Democracy and peace is the way forward. PKK should learn from this example. They should try to achieve their aims by democratic means only. They are doing themselves no favours otherwise!

[PeiramatoZwo]

I don't disagree with u, when it comes into fighting for ur rights i am in favour of peacefull solution. But u know the dogma "one country - one nation" that is applied in Turkey. But it's not a matter of simple terrorism, i think it has gone beyond that, thousands of Kurds have been sent away from Anatolia, if it wasn't the EU the kurds wouldn't have gained the rights they have today (i think the laws changed during the last year).Also PKK had a period when it avoided the use of weapons, and asked for talks with the turkish government, did they start talking ? In my country most of the Kurds are political refugees so u can guess that they support PKK (as ideology at least). I think the big fear of Turkey is that they will create an independant state and they will lose territory by that.


Ps I don't think IRA and PKK have something in common, in generall i think that in North Ireland things were far more democratic.

[Umit]

thousands of Kurds have been sent away from Anatolia

that was because of their safety. PKK were attacking them as well.

Also PKK had a period when it avoided the use of weapons, and asked for talks with the turkish government, did they start talking ?

Do you think they really inactive till 3 oct? Thats a lie. And why Turkish government start talking with terrorists? Do you think Al-Qaeda is different than PKK?

this world is not ready to fight with terrorism.

[ally]

Even having lived with the trouble in N.I for 30yrs I couldnt start to analyse it so Im not even going to attempt it with the turkish/kurdish situation.
My husband is Kurdish but as he says "Im a turkish citizen first and foremost".
What I definitely dont agree with is the PKK killing members of the turkish army. Young men who HAVE to do their military service whether they want to or not. These could be brothers or sons of the people who are killing them!
I agree that the PKK would probably have more success if they took their plight to the "powers that be".

[Umit]

We have no any problem with our Turkish brothers and as i said hundereds times, i have lots of Kurdish friends, i love them all and they are all manful people. But, some countries provoke them to build independent country in Turkey which is imposible. The real aim is the have more power in Middle East.

What if Kurdish people build a country in southern-east of Turkey? They will live in peace? Or they will be a strategic colony of some big countries, like US?

But as i said, this world is not yet ready to fight with terrorism. Unfortunately, Al-Qaeda will be more active in European countries and then new laws will be released for terrorism... after hundreds of deads...

Yesterday, i was talking with my friend who is a history professor in Italy; and he is scaring about Al-Qaeda. Italian government is in red alarm because of intelligence resources. But how come we are not yet ready to fight with terrorism?

[PeiramatoZwo]

What if Kurdish people build a country in southern-east of Turkey? They will live in peace? Or they will be a strategic colony of some big countries, like US?

U are so right about the independant country... if it happens it will be because of the US wanting to gain control over the area, rather than the freedom of the Kurds. The moving of Kurds from their area wasn't a matter of protecting them, but a way to stop the locals from helping the rebels - militants - terrorists.
As far as the attacks, i must admit that the attacks seemd to have stopped, in Greece whenever we learn about an attack is always through turkish media (NTV and CNN Turk), and for that period we hadn't heard anything about it. I strongly disagree about the comparison of al qaeda and the kurds, al qaeda wants to build a big muslim state, and the kurds demand completely different things.

I think that the difference with terrorism is the difference in purpose. Terrorists don't actually have any other purpose than to create chaos and fear, in Europe there were posters made by Kurds (Greece, Italy and Spain, don't about other countries), which told that the amount of money spend on the army in Turkey, is about the same that Turkey has as an income from Turism. That's why they attacked holiday destinations in order to create economical damage, and wouldn't allow the army to maintain so many troops in Anatolia, and conduct large scale attacks against the Kurds.

[Umit]

I strongly disagree about the comparison of al qaeda and the kurds, al qaeda wants to build a big muslim state, and the kurds demand completely different things.

i am strongly disagree too. But i didnt compare Kurdish people vs Al-Qaeda. i compared PKK and Al-Qaeda. They are all terrorists and killing innocent people.

Kurdish people demand actually one thing: better economic conditions.