.I think it is the time for Turkey to accept that there is another nation on earth called Kurds and open their eyes to the facts. It is time for them to give the Kurds in Turkey their rights and also to invite the Kurdish federal government in Iraq and sit down with them and try to solve the issues.
Since the Kurdish part of Iraq been living in peace. The Turkish governments are trying to find every possibility to destabilize the region. Well we are Kurds and we are proud who we are, we will never be Turks. We will defend our selves against any aggression and may this will unite us against our enemy. Time of Genocides and destructions finished and it is the time of Talk and accepting the others.

Ameer Ali, London, Uk

The Nestorian Christians who also live in this area of northern Iraq also need to be considered. In 1915 the Turks used the Kurds to massacre them. The legacy of suspicion between Nestorians and Kurds is also a factor in all this.

Roger Pearse, Ipswich,

This article has no doubt been approved by the White House and PKK leaders before being published! Isn't this article condoning the US invasion of Iraq and the Kurd attacks in various Turkish territories? And in the same breadth it suggests Turkish "adventurism" would be wrong, should they choose to attack PKK strongholds inside the Iraqi border, when, if such action was taken, would be no different. Perhaps the only difference would in fact be that the Turkish army would not be be looking for imaginary WMDs as an excuse to invade. And the risks involved? Would that be damaging Turkey's relationships with the EU and the US, who are now officially accusing Turkey of genocide of Armenians? Let's hope the author of this article will try to be lass bias next time.

Umit, London, UK

Well - we are looking at it with a flawed understanding:

For the "national sovereignty" of Iraq to be violated, it needs to exist in the first place. Iraqi police cannot even ensure the most basic security in its capital. "Iraq" doesn't exist as an ordinary "country" for its "borders" to be violated, if Turkey chases PKK terrorists.

PKK has a very weird mix of Marxist-Leninist and ethnic-nationalist ideology, and has been extremely ruthless againsy dealing with Kurds who dared speak against it, as well as the Turks. They have a collective schizophrenia panned with a "desperados" attitude. They lay mines and assasinate both soldiers and civilians.

No democratic claims can be made at the barrel of a gun: then it becomes an armed struggle. It is false that PKK is fighting for democratic rights: one can only fight for physical supremacy when guns are involved.

Baris Tarim, Caen, France

The murders of 15 soldiers in an ambush and 12 civilians who were shot dead in a caravan last week by the PKK terrorist group have elevated the already high anger level in the Turkish community. First of all, I am appalled to see the use of the word "Kurdish rebel", instead of "Kurdish terrorist". These acts have been carried out by "terrorists". The Turkish government has avoided a military action into Iraq until these last two critical events. Turkey needs urgently to take action against terrorism, and Western powers should not show double standards against terrorism. American made weapons have indirectly been delivered to the hands of PKK, and the flow of PKK terrorists into Turkey has not stopped. This is not a "Kurdish issue". This is a PKK-terrorism related issue that threatens the citizens of Turkey. By the way, most of the civilians who were shot dead were of Kurdish decent, as well as one of the 20 year old soldiers who was buried in Diyarbakir in the Southeast region.

Can K., Istanbul, Turkey

"Turkish adventurism in Iraq would be an unmitigated disaster?

Sort of like American adventurism in Iraq "is" an unmitigated disaster?

I mean, why can't the Turks learn from American experience? Rather than imitate it?

Apparently Americans are allowed to do it: Invade other countries on false pretences: Where are those weapons of mass destruction, anyway? . . . but nobody else can . . .

The blatant hypocrisy of this article is appalling . . . .

Brian Engler, Vancouver, B.C. , Canada

Noted ... not a solitary word on the national claims of the Kurds to a homeland.

This has nothing at all to do with terrorism and verything to do with denying the Kurds a viable state which would be a magnet for Kurdish aspirations in the region.

For years, the western powers have conspired with Turkey as part of the grander geopolitcal struggle with the USSR and for hegemony over the middle east. The Kurds have not fared well at all in this. They have been shafterd in Iraq, Iran and also Turkey. The west should hang its collective head in shame.

Fran Barlow, Sydney, Australia

So it's perfectly acceptable for America and the UK to go after terrorists where ever they hide, but not Turkey? Israel can strike Lebanon and Syria for the sake of national security and the pursuit of an enemy, but not Turkey?
Why the double standard? Are the lives of Turks just as valuable? If this is how the big boys play the game shouldn't Turkey be allowed to join the club? If Turkey is to become a stable democratic state shouldn't it follow the example set forth by the global leaders?? Preemptive (and responsive) strikes, invasion and occupation are all tactics successfully used by NATO (which Turkey is a member) and others. Why should Turkey not be allowed to respond in a similar manner. It may cause problems for the US and may strain alliances, but Turkey would simply be emulating some of the more successful and powerful nations.

TIm Martin, Fukuoka, Japan

"Ankara had claimed a right to pursue suspected terrorists wherever they fled, but legitimising armed raids across international borders would be an incendiary recipe. It is no more justified for Turkey in Iraq than for Russia in Georgia, where Moscow has courted international opprobrium with cross-border attacks against Chechen terrorists"

So what has the USA done in Afghanistan and Iraq?

A R Taylor, Hamilton, Ontario