Mr. Speaker. following the gulf war. the world was faced with a refugee crisis when Iraqi Kurds. fearing their fate at the hands of a defeated dictator. fled to the borders of Iran and Turkey. As a response. the allies established a security zone in northern Iraq and encouraged Kurds to return to their homes. The United States. with international cooperation. organized a relief effort which became known as Operation Provide Comfort. In order to facilitate this operation. the Turkish Government agreed to station United States military forces in southern Turkey. This decision was heroic. given the possibility of Iraqi retaliation.