TURKISH PRE-EMPTIVE STRIKES ON NORTHERN IRAQ AND THE BUSH DOCTRINE

Abstract

85 year-old-history of the Republic of Turkey, terrorism has been the most sanguinary combat since the war of independence. In the period of twenty years, the vital problem is a nightmare that it emerged from southeast Anatolia and spread gradually other regions. The south-eastern question is a considerable threat against the territorial integrity in Turkey. During this stressful term, Turkey has been made twenty five massive military operations up to now against separatist movement which caused more than 37.000 citizens killed. Indeed, what is special to these operations? In fact, it is resorted to use of military force against another sovereign state’s -Iraq- territorial integrity. Turkey has been used of force in northern Iraq in order to destroy terrorist groups. Last operation occurred three months ago via Turkish air forces and finally ended with eight-day aggression from land last month. In the light of these developments, therefore, current arguments escalate in the international agenda. Has Turkey violated to international law? These aggressions infringed upon Iraq’s territorial integrity or not! I would like to dwell on current international terrorism and the use of force issue in this article. I also try to debate these impressive questions; does it possible to overwhelm terrorism merely with a military victory? Does the military defeat mean that the authorities will start to genuine approach for reconciliation about Kurdish question and will this allow Turkey to reform its friendly relations with Iraq?