Turkish Iraq relations after Teh Gulf War

Second Gulf Crisis made Turkey review her policy due to the political and security gap that was dominating in North Iraq and new challenges brought up by the crisis involving Turkey. It has created a real crisis for Ankara. A new composition has arisen against Turkey?s aims and goals and that oriented Ankara to follow a multidimensional policy. Moreover, Turkey has followed a policy in Iraq to have America?s complete confidence. Confidence gap raised in North Iraq during military operations carried out by Turkish government against PKK has been exploited by PKK. In order to be more effective against PKK, Turkey?s benefits have necessitated presenting the needed help to Kurdish Parties. (Furthermore, for inviting North Iraq to safeguard the Kurds, Turkey needed to help them in treaties with the west.) Between these two challenges, Turkey does not avoid repeating her view of North Iraq and claims on Musul-Kerkük, her rights about Petroleum and appearing with the role of protector of Turcoman.USA exploiting project against Iraq is a new crisis for Turkey. As for the issue of Turkey?s relations with her strategic partner and her historical friend and neighbour Iraq which she is in close relations with, Turkey has been in a state of hesitation between two magnets. Therefore, she headed for an open and stable position for her own interest. Even in this position, she has tried to realize her aim of protecting the territorial integrity of Iraq. As a result, Turkey has tried several paths to prevent USA?s war against Iraq in order to recover Iraq crisis. What put Turkey into this direction is her worry for a Kurdish State to be established on her south border.Having failed in reaching the goals to overcome Iraq Crisis through several efforts and after dealing with USA management?s insistence in invasion of Iraq and lots of chain discussions and negotiations, declaring the goal of examining a number of possibilities of the operation of Iraq?s invasion, Turkey has refused USA?s demand to open a front all along her borders.122In fact, what forms Turkey?s position in invasion of Iraq is Turkish Nation?s refusal of USA?s whole and detailed policy for the Middle East and Turk?s wish and belief of settling friendship and neighbourhood relations with Iraqi public. As a result, this position has proved how Turkey?s strategic relations with USA doomed to disintegrate. Moreover, Turkey?s position has affected the course of events related to USA military operation to invade Iraq and made USA management look for other initiatives to overcome this situation.Keywords: Iraq, Turkish Iraqi Relaitons, Turkmens in Iraq,