The PKK, Turkey, Iraq,and the U.S. are all fighting for the same area in the 'relatively peaceful' north. Why? to prevent the other three gain a tactical advantage over the others U.S. officials fear this could 'destabilize' one of the few areas that has not been destabilized by the invasion. They are concerned about the fact that they do not have the capacity to order Turkey and the PKK to act is a manner that is likely to assist the U.S. achieve their objectives. The Iraqi government is now beginning to realize that U.S. interests are not those of the Iraqi people. If they were, more Iraqi civilians would be alive today, as opposed to being co-lateral damage.