Left In Lowell

Dear god.

Turkish officials signaled Tuesday they are prepared to send the army into northern Iraq if U.S. and Iraqi forces do not take steps to combat Turkish Kurdish guerrillas there - a move that could put Turkey on a collision course with the United States.

So does it seem now that the probable breakup of Iraq is pure fiction?

Diplomats and experts cautioned the increasingly aggressive Turkish statements were likely aimed at calming public anger and pressing the U.S. and Iraq to act against the Turkish Kurdish guerrillas. But they also said Turkish politicians and military officers could act if nothing is done.

We can’t even stabilize Baghdad. We’ve stayed out of the Kurdish north primarily because they’re somewhat independent and self-governing. Iraqi and US troops have the will and the numbers to even consider bringing more forces into the north where the Kurds live? (Nevermind whether or not it’s necessary. I have some issues with Turkey’s policy against Kurds.)

Don’t believe we’ve lost in Iraq? Read this heartbreaking first person account of life in Baghdad.

[Article via AMERICAblog. Iraq blog via BMG.]

Remnents of the fallout from the campaign to Save the City Manager still adorn cars and some shop windows around the city. My very immature friends from out of town just love the “I’m For Cox” bumper stickers. It causes them no end of giggles. I must admit, the juvenile part of my brain composes amusing rebuttals for this ill-thought-out, unfortunate phrase that have nothing to do with its original intent.

Consider this your open thread while I attend to some client deadlines. Keep it clean!