US Policy in Kurdistan Encouraging Stronger Relations between Iran and Turkey?

American policy in Iraq in in recent months have been about containing Iran and fighting al Qaeda . In recent days al Qaeda has been on the defensive. Its policy in containing Iran has been weakening due to its failure in mitigating Kurdish based terrorism. The Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) is terrorist group fighting for independence in neighboring Turkey. There has been a recent spate of attacks in Turkey requiring the Turkish goverment to take decisive action. The PKK has a lot of support in Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey has threatened to invade it to chase after the PKK. Iran which also has a restive Kurdish minority has also been attacked by Kurdish groups, PJAK, is the most important group. The Iranian government has already admitted shelling Iraqi Kurdistan along its borders. The US for the most part has been, pretty despondent over the issue. The US has been telling Turkey that the PKK would be dealt with but have failed to do so at this point and the PKK has been stepping up its attacks. At a time of confrontation between the US and Iran, the US needs to play a constructive role in fighting the PKK to prevent the convergence of interests between Ankara and Tehran. Unfortunately this has not happened. The issue over Armenia in Congress also is not helping Turkish American relations but that is a separate issue. Turkey and Iran share a lot of common interests that will prevent our Nato ally from isolating them.

In regards to Iranian Kurdish Separatists and PJAK who are based in Iraq, the US needs to use them as proxies against Iran. An Iranian invasion in Kurdistan could be perfect way to have someone to fight them. Turkish involvement would jeopardize this option. The US with Kurdish help need to silence the PKK before Turkey and Iran take matters in their own hands. Turkey's role in the Middle East could become an obstacle to our policies in the region if we do not listen to their concerns seriously. See Debka and crossfire war.com for more information.