The Turcoman Factor in the Future of Northern Iraq and Turkey

摘要

The citizens of Turkish descent in Iraq called Turkmen/Turcoman, living in northern Iraq, number more than 2.5-million. Before the United States' intervention in Iraq in 2003, for at least five years, Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, Milli Istihbarat Teskilati (MIT), and the Turkish General Staff, took advantage of Iraqi Pres. Saddam Hussein's weakness in controlling northern Iraq, and the Turks had an active presence in the Turcoman population in that area.