Turks Favor Invasion

A new poll shows that 81% of Turks favor invading northern Iraq, up from 46% in July.

' The number of people saying Turkey should conduct a cross-border military operation against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) stood at 81 percent, up sharply from 46 percent in the last poll in July.'

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The Reuters article continues,

' Despite U.S. offers of help for NATO ally Turkey in fighting the PKK, the poll showed the number of Turks with a negative view of the United States had risen to 86 percent from 49 percent in November 2003 after the U.S. invasion of Iraq. '

Reuters adds:

' he survey showed support for Turkey's European Union membership bid had fallen to 51 percent from 52 percent in July, with 40 percent now opposed to joining. A few years ago, support for EU membership was above 70 percent.

Turks with higher education were most opposed to joining the bloc. '

In other news, the Sadrists oppose allowing Baath officials back into the government from their exile.