1. PKK IS AN EXTERNAL THREAT
If some armed elements are organized, trained, equipped, and armed and brought from our borders illegally, and these armed elements conduct armed actions against the legitimate state system, and if all these activities are managed by cadres stationed in the territories of foreign countries, this clearly indicates an asymmetric war with external roots.
Türkiye is a part to an asymmetric (irregular) war within and outside our borders with a terrorist organization based outside our Southeast borders, backed by international forces.
Can there be a difference in the threat assessment between the PKK’s (Kurdistan Workers' Party) asymmetric warfare against Türkiye by its regular armies attacking Türkiye's territories, including the main base, training centers and other facilities of the terrorist organization's leading staff?
Türkiye should demonstrate the fight against the PKK moving from the bases in northern Iraq and the Qandil Mountains, as when it is the target of attacks by the Iraqi regular army.
2. INTERNATIONAL LAW AGAINST CROSS-BORDER THREATS
Under Article two of the United Nations (UN) Agreement, states are committed to peaceful settlement of their conflict. [[i]]
However, since there is no other way to prevent armed attacks on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, internal peace, and general security of the Republic of Türkiye, Türkiye has the right to self-defense using ground, air, and unofficial forces against the presence of the PKK in IRAQ, under the rules of asymmetric warfare and without transcend the areas in which the PKK is concentrated in the Iraqi geography. This right is granted to members of Article 51 of the United Nations Treaty.
International law does not consider terrorist organizations as the sides of a war. Therefore, Türkiye must make both Iraq and the international community believe in its right if it ignores Iraq and considers the leadership of the PKK across the border a party to the war and uses military force against it.
3. LEGAL LEGISLATION REGARDING TÜRKİYE'S SOUTH BORDERS[ii]
It is difficult to say that there is an authority in Iraq that can reach an agreement with Türkiye on the implementation of a cross-border operation.
In Iraq, authority is represented by the Baghdad Government, Regional Kurdish Administration, and the PKK, and above them by the United States, which undertakes Britain and Germany.
As a result, it should be evaluated that the main opposition to the cross-border ground operation to be carried out against the PKK bases within the borders of the Kurdish Regional Government will come from the PKK and the USA, Germany, and Britain.
4. SEPARATIST TERROR AND THE SOLUTION PROCESS:
Türkiye started along with the Tanzimat movement, which was recognized as tribes when joining the Ottoman Empire, where local administrative powers began to be restricted and moved to Central Management and were the scene of the uprising of the Kurdish tribes, which increased with the declaration of the republic and the removal of the deceit and was the party to the asymmetric war imposed by the armed divisive terrorist organization since 14 August 1984.
So, there are two dimensions to the issue.
The first is the Kurdish issue, which is limited by the state's mis practice and fundamental rights and freedoms, and consequently reduced the sense of belonging to the state, as well as the development of the collective emotions of the people of the general region, as the target of divisive propaganda being implemented by the terrorist organization, which is created by the support of foreign forces.
The second is; it is an armed separatist terror organization, under the control of foreign forces and with its roots outside, trying to establish authority over the residents by exploiting problems.
First, the Kurdish issue should be resolved using the political, socio-cultural, economic, judicial power and facilities of the state, by continuing the practice that starts as the "Peace and Brotherhood process" and is being maintained as the "Solution process".
The second, that is Armed Separatist Terrorism, must be solved by cutting off the Organization's contact with the Kurdish community and by using the security forces in accordance with domestic law rules, and by using the Armed Forces in accordance with the concept of asymmetric warfare abroad and in accordance with the laws of war.
5. MEASURES TO BE TAKEN AGAINST EXTERNAL SEPARATIVE TERRORISM
The fight against separatist terrorism requires different measures within and across the country (in terms of the force to be used, the concept and method of use, the parties involved and the law on which it is based, and political factors).
In and out, the power and rules of the asymmetrical war must be applied.
In Asymmetrical War, Psychological Operation is much more important than the struggle of regular armies. The part who uses this opportunity effectively can turn the outcome of the fight in their favor.
Both psychological and asymmetrical operations require accurate instant intelligence. A news gathering network should be established in a way to obtain very detailed and fresh news about the organization's leadership, foreign relations, internal connections, meetings, bases, training centers, weapons and ammunition depots, supporters and their whistle blowers, incomes, supply points and activities. Intelligence to be used in the operation must be provided from national sources.
Fighting against asymmetrical elements can be successful with specially trained internal and external security forces. The amount of our military, gendarme and police special forces must be increased in such a way that the operation to be carried out in and out of the country will succeed.
The planning center, operations and applications in the fight must be the senior center.
The forces to be used, the air and ground vehicles to be allocated, news gathering, and intelligence elements must be given to control of a center to be created in the region. Planning, referral-management, monitoring and control must be done from this center.
- MEASURES TO BE TAKEN WITHIN OUR BORDERS
First, the Kurdish issue must be buried in the pages of history by making the necessary legal arrangements.
Legal regulations that will increase the sense of belonging to the state of our Kurdish citizens, ensure that their ethnic and cultural values are recognized and live, and increase their authority to join the administration must first be passed through the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, TBMM.
By taking the first step by the state, the possibility that the terrorist organization will take the support of the people by exploiting the existing sensitivity must be prevented.
The fight against Armed divisive Terror elements must be carried out with special operations personnel trained in accordance with these rules, by applying the rules of civil law.
- For Solving the Kurdish Problem:
Constitutional amendments related to mother tongue education, constitutional citizenship, and strengthening local governments should be declared as a national policy and made one of the first agenda items of the new parliament.
The political parties must have concrete programs and policies to solve the Kurdish issue and fight separatist terrorism inside and outside our borders, in line with the national foreign policy that is designed for the well-being of the nation and the security and viability of the state considering the wishes and needs of the people of the region.
The Council of Ministers must meet at least once a month in the provinces and districts of the region where there is a security problem.
Psychological Operations are more effective than the use of force in asymmetrical warfare.
The common history, the common homeland, and the Islamic religion to which we belong must form the basis of the propaganda.
Radio and televisions broadcasting Kurdish to the region and across Türkiye must be reproduced by the State, the opinion leaders of the region, the religious leaders, the heads of NGOs of the region must be assigned to the correct news and comments of this publication board.
Clerics who are of the Shafi School of thought and who know the local language should be appointed to the mosques in the area. The Presidency of Religious Affairs should be organized to respond to this sensitivity. In the transition process, religious men raised in the surrounding schools must be employed.
Representatives of the central administration and the directors of the security forces in the region must be proficient in the local language.
In addition to the plan for each military operation, including the smallest operations, the actions that will be applied in the smallest details possible, including the relationship and messages that each security officer will face with the criminal or innocent person in the operation, should be included in the psychological operations plans.
The judges, prosecutors, and judicial law enforcement forces of local courts must be reinforced in terms of number and technical means, to ensure that the cases of citizens applying to the judiciary are settled in several sessions.
Educational mobilization should be carried out in the region and in sensitive provinces, the employment of experienced teachers and administrators who are well-versed in the regional language should be provided in educational institutions in the region with encouraging opportunities, and the school attendance rate of children and young people in education age should be increased to 100%.
- Fighting Armed Terrorism Within the Border
The highest possible levels of the security forces should be moved to the operational centers to be created in the region.
To ensure public safety, law enforcement in the region must be reinforced by personnel and technical equipment.
Police and gendarme special forces and asymmetric warfare rules must be carried out.
Unauthorized and uncontrolled transitions into and out of the country must be prevented. Border forces must provide control between PKK bases near our borders and between our borders with mines and fire in the paths of infiltration and approach.
Public order law must be applied without compromise.
In the fight against terrorism, the "principle of safety and then the principle of public security" should be applied. The initiative should be in the security forces.
b) MEASURES TO BE TAKEN BEYOND BORDER
Power Will Be Used:
Fighting asymmetrical forces requires specially trained forces and special operations.
Qualifications of Turkish Armed Forces special operations personnel:
The special groups of Turkish Special Forces, consisting of officers and non-commissioned officers, have the skills to compete in all respects with their precedents in the developed countries of the world.
After 8-10 years of intensive training along with military schools and non-commissioned officer schools, special operations personnel can obtain their qualifications.
They can operate in all weather, terrain, and climatic conditions.
They can maintain their lives in the field for a long time.
They can use any land, air, and sea vehicle with a license.
They can perform missions after traveling long distances on foot with their equipment.
They are in high condition, have superior physical strength, are well-versed in close combat techniques, can use all kinds of weapons effectively, and have sniper qualifications.
When used as a team or as a team, in cases of sudden emergencies in relation to the task they were sent to, they can make quick case judgments and make healthy decisions and apply them.
Knowing the techniques and tactics of the asymmetric forces (Guerrilla, Underground, Assistant), they can master defense operations against ambush and ambush, RAID and against RAID, destruction and salvation from destruction, sabotage and against sabotage.
They can infiltrate their targets by land, air (transported or dropped by helicopter and/or parachute), sea and underwater.
When used as a team, in addition to being good fighters, they are like a war machine who can perform the role of a health element with first aid and medical intervention, they can perform the task of the signal element with encrypted radio communication with the higher authorities, they can perform the tasks of the fortification element by preparing and neutralizing the materials of destruction and they can perform the maintenance and repair of all kinds Weapons, tools, equipment and the task of the air communication element with the possibility of directing warplanes to the target.
Need for Special Operations Personnel
First, by changing the concept of defense starting from our borders against external threats, we need to adopt the concept of identifying the threat from the source and neutralizing it outside our borders, and our strategic defense plans should be revised accordingly, and develop our military strength to achieve our strategic goals.
Türkiye should increase the number of special teams consisting of officers and non-commissioned officers to 1000 in a planned manner, considering its area of influence (border neighbors, primarily the southern and eastern borders) and its area of interest (all Islamic countries, primarily the countries it can reach unhindered through the seas). The number of special operations groups should be determined by practical needs and multiplied by three. During 1/3 of the force is on duty, the second third of the force is occupied with training and must be prepared for the task, and the third is on vacation and at rest.
It should be ensured that Special Operations personnel learn the Arabic and Kurdish language.
Structuring the Cross-Border of the Separatist Terrorist Organization
The separatist terrorist organization is located between the Uludere District of Şırnak and the Şemdinli District of Hakkari, 10-20 km from the Türkiye-Iraq Border, South of, within the borders of the "Kurdish Northern Iraq Regional Administration" with the land of forty thousand km2, from west to east in the areas of Haftanin, Metine, Zap, Gare, Basyan, Avaşin, Hinere, Hakurk and 90 km of the Turkish-Iraqi border in the Şemdinli region, there are training centers, supply depots, headquarters, and administrative units in about 30 settlement units that support the organization in the south of the Qandil Mountain Region. [[iii]]
There are approximately 10,000 private security personnel of USA private security companies in Iraq, and 400 professional USA soldiers advising the central Iraqi government after the emergence of ISIS, a new USA base has been established in Erbil, and several USA, British, German and Israeli special forces are located as trainers and advisors in PKK bases in northern Iraq, ISIS attacked Erbil and Kobani with USA approval in order to return the PKK to a path whose leaders had been out of USA control.
The PYD (Democratic Union Party), which was held in Syria, should also be considered as the PKK’s Syrian branch, and the construction of Afrin, Kobani and Haseke-Kamışlı cantons in Syria should be included in the scope of the fight against the PKK.
Operation Against the Separatist Terrorist Organization in Northern Iraq
By using the right of "Legitimate Defense" arising from international agreements, a covert offensive operation should be carried out with special forces under the principles of asymmetric warfare against the bases of the Terrorist Organization.
The aim of the operation; It should be to destroy the PKK presence in Northern Iraq that threatens Türkiye, together with all its support and means.
Operation Base and Command Control Center:
The "Special Forces Command" should be transferred to the base areas to be established in zero and safe areas near our southern border, reinforced with ground and air fire support vehicles, armed helicopters, target detection and intelligence elements, and fighter and transport aircraft assigned to its control. The command location and operations center must be established in the exponent region.
Across the border, the temporary bases that could be established should be fully used, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the Iraqi central government, the Kurdish regional government, and Iraqi Turkmen, particularly around Qandil, in areas that could receive air supply and support and facilitate the achievement of targets.
The objectives of cross-border operations, in order of priority; Organization leaders should be identified as Organization headquarters, weapons depots, ammunition depots, communication systems, supply points, vehicles, supply routes, training staff, training centers, members of the armed organization and organization members supporting the terrorist organization, and classified according to the priority order, the required force requirement for each must be deduced. In addition to attacking targets to be neutralized, special teams must be allocated for the operations of the discovery and intelligence provision and the management and impact of air bombings.
From the planning center, at the smallest unit with the possibility of individual movement, at the “Special Operations Team” level, the targets, the date and time of dispatch, the infiltration route, the infiltration route, the equipment, the land, and air fire support vehicle allocation, the time of the attack on the target, the desired effects on the target, the time of withdrawal at the end of the task, by specifying contact information and co-ordination guidelines with the top and neighboring units, all teams should be carried out at each stage simultaneously attacking the same species of targets at different distances.
APPLICATION
Observance of confidentiality should precede all activities.
The referral and administration should be decentralized. This means that special operations teams or elements allocated to each goal must be shipped and managed by their commanders under the planning from the center
All the special operations teams that can be used in the first level should be allocated to the targets in sufficient numbers in accordance with the determined priority order, they should be infiltrated by being transported from the land, by helicopter and/or by parachuting from the helicopter and by parachute, and their attacks should be carried out simultaneously. Once they have completed their mission, they must be allowed to return to their main base. The time to be present beyond the borders of each stage must be limited to the mission being performed. Like a guided missile that attaches its target, each team must focus on its mission and return to its main base when the mission is over.
Until all detected targets are completely neutralized, the covert offensive operation of the echelons consisting of the maximum number of special teams should be continued as often as possible and at unspecified time intervals.
RESULT
Ground operations in Northern Iraq with limited target and duration were carried out in 1984, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2008, 2011 by the Turkish Armed Forces with regular troops of the Land Forces and the definite result could not be reached.
There was no serious objection from the countries that dominate the region to the limited operations.
It is not possible to reach a definite result only by the internal struggle against armed separatist terrorism without accepting the Kurdish issue, without attempting a rooted solution, without taking measures to dry out the external centers.
For a Rooted Solution
Within the framework of a long-term strategic plan to be prepared;
First:
Legal regulations that will increase the sense of belonging to the state of our Kurdish citizens, ensure that their ethnic and cultural values are recognized and live, and increase their authority to join the administration must first be passed through the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, TBMM.
At the same time, beyond the Border:
Until the presence of PKK with all its support and means, which threatens Türkiye in Northern Iraq is eliminated, a covert offensive operation in accordance with the principles of asymmetric warfare should be carried out with special forces on the bases of the Terrorist Organization by using the right of "Legitimate Defense" arising from international agreements.
Within the Border:
The fight against Armed divisive Terror elements must be carried out with special operations personnel trained in accordance with these rules, by applying the rules of civil law. September 8, 2015.
Adnan Tanrıverdi
Retired Brigadier General, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASSAM and Honorary President of ASDER
[[i]] http://www.ombudsman.gov.tr/contents/files/35501-Birlesmis-Milletler-Antlasmasi.pdf
The Türkiye-Iraq border was determined by the Ankara Treaty dated June 5, 1926.[1]
After the signing of the Lausanne Peace Treaty, the negotiations with England for almost three years, and the decision of the Court of Justice of the League of Nations, as a result of the three chapters of the Ankara Agreement, which was signed between Türkiye, the UK and Iraq, the "Second chapter", which regulates the "Good Neighborhood Relations Between Türkiye and Iraq", articles 9, 10 and 11 allowed the parties to track and redeem armed gangs within a 75-kilometer radius on either side of the border, and to guarantee the delivery of criminals to each other. Under the Treaty, the second chapter was in effect for 10 years from the date of the signature, i.e., until 1936.
After the Second World War, the "Friendship and Good Neighborhood Treaty " was signed between Türkiye and Iraq on March 29, 1946. [2] Article 25 of Protocol No. 6 to the Treaty, which regulates the borders between the two states, put the second chapter of the Ankara Treaty signed in 1926 back into effect. This treaty also gives the two governments the right to follow-up and measure in sections of 75 km on both sides of the border by alerting each other.
Türkiye and Iraq signed another “Security Protocol” on 15 October 1984. In accordance with this protocol, Turkish forces provided the opportunity to enter 5 kilometers from the Iraqi border without permission from the Iraqi authorities. This protocol was extended by the parties every year until 1988.
On August 2, 1990, after the unjust invasion of Kuwait, the coalition forces formed by the United States, Britain, and France expelled Iraq from Kuwait from January 17 to February 28, 1991, during this war, the Shiites in southern Iraq revolted, and The Kurds in the north, the Iraqi government suppressed these uprisings, the Kurds in the north turned to the Turkish border and 500,000 people took refuge in Türkiye, and the UN Security Council took action at Türkiye's request and with the decision dated April 5, 1991, and numbered 688, "Safe Zone" has been declared. With this decision, Iraq's military force was prohibited from moving to the north of the 36th parallel and to the south of the 32nd parallel. They took the north of the 36th parallel under their control through the Combined Task Force-Hammer Power, formed by Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Spain, and Italy, led by the USA, England, and France. With the start of the Second Gulf War, on March 21, 2003, the Hammer Power, which was the executor of the UN Security Council resolution 688 in Northern Iraq, left Türkiye.
Iraq was occupied by the United States and the UK, which launched the second Gulf War on 20 March 2003, and the occupation continued until 15 December 2011.
The Iraqi Constitution of 8 December 2005 recognized Iraq as a federal state and Kurdistan Region and its existing organs as a federal region. [3] the constitutional center has prevented the government from entering the Iraqi Armed Forces in the "Regional Kurdish Administration" Region. The formation of an armed militia outside the Armed Forces is also prevented.
[[iii]]http://www.haberturk.com/gundem/haber/1109037-pkk-kuzey-iraktaki-daglarda-bu-yontemle-saklaniyor
[1] http://www.devletarsivleri.gov.tr/yayin/osmanli/musul/1b_b14.htm
[2] http://www.ttk.gov.tr/templates/resimler/File/ktpbelge/belge01.pdf
[3] http://www.orsam.org.tr/tr/anasayfa.aspx
