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Originally Posted by host
Turkey was much happier with the Kurdish situation when Saddam was firmly in control of northern Iraq, than they are now.
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I'm not sure that's entirely true. Hussein's campaign of genocide against the Kurds forced at least 1 million refugees into Turkey (following the Halabja massacre and then the Gulf War) causing a humanitarian, social and economic catastrophe for Turkey. Also of relevance is the fact that, as a member of NATO, Turkey enjoys the combined protection of all NATO members, under Article 4:
"The Parties will consult together whenever, in the opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened"
Another counterbalance to Turkey's situation with the Kurds is that the benefits of future memembership in the EU would make Turkey more willing to accomodate the notion of some kind of independent Kurdistan in Iraq.