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Europe
Powell flies to Turkey in bid to repair relations
2003-04-02
COLIN POWELL, the US Secretary of State, arrived in Turkey last night to salvage Washington’s relationship with Ankara before heading to Europe on a similar diplomatic repair mission. After weeks of criticism that Turkey has screwed the pooch America has failed properly to engage its allies and win their support for war in Iraq, General Powell will try to restore badly strained ties with Turkey, a former close ally for the past half-century. The US Secretary of State has been condemned for failing to consult America’s friends face to face and engage in the sort of shuttle diplomacy conducted by the first Bush Administration before the Gulf War in 1991.
We have ambassadors for that.
British sources said that the most important element of the tour was that he would be talking to his French, German and other European weasels counterparts after weeks of frosty silence. Their strong criticism of the Bush Administration’s policy has caused deep splits in the transatlantic alliance. Franco-American ties are so bad that President Bush has not spoken to President Chirac of France for eight weeks.
"Karl!"
"Yes, Mr. President."
"Has the tech support person checked out the line for the personal telephone Mr. Chirac uses to reach me?"
"Yes, Mr. President, apparently it's still down."
"Good."
"Shall I file that work order now?"
"Not yet, Karl, I rather enjoy the peace and quiet."
America’s closest allies — Britain, Spain, Italy and Denmark — want Washington to try to repair the rift with France and Germany and help to reunify the European Union.
"And all the King's horses, and all the King's men ..."
Although General Powell will be in Turkey for only one day, his arrival has been interpreted as a gesture of reconciliation. “Powell’s visit will be a turning point in overcoming the deadlock in US-Turkish relations,” the Turkish daily Radikal said.
"Marvin, take notes."
"Yes, Mr. Secretary."
Diplomats in Ankara doubted that the Secretary of State would attempt to win any concrete concessions from the Turks, who last month refused to allow US forces to go through the country to open a second front in northern Iraq. As a result, the newly elected Government, headed by the Justice and Development Party, forfeited as much as £20 billion in US loans.
"Marvin, you have the papers on that aid package we offered before?"
"Right here, Mr. Secretary."
"Make sure our friends in Ankara never see them again."
"In the shredder, Mr. Secretary."
Turkey even threatened to send troops into Kurdish areas of northern Iraq. It eventually backed down and 1,000 US paratroopers landed in the area at the weekend to pacify the region. More US forces are expected to arrive by air. “There are bruises on both sides, but there is no need for long-term damage to the relationship if it is handled properly,” one Western diplomat in Ankara said. “The Turks are very keen to have relations back where they were before.”
"Marvin, you have the dinner menu planned with the Turkish Foreign Minister."
"Yes, Mr. Secretary, vin d'crow, highly seasoned."
"Make sure we serve it cold, Marvin."
"It will be properly chilled, Mr. Secretary."
General Powell will stop off in Belgrade after Ankara, before going to Brussels to meet foreign ministers from the hapless EU, Nato and Russia tomorrow.
"Do you have my talking points on the matter of EU participation in Iraq after liberation day, Marvin?"
"Here, Mr. Secretary."
"And the proper translations of the phrase 'drop dead'?"
"In French, German, Russian, and Belgian, Mr. Secretary."
"Make sure the Polish and Bulgarian ministers receive their invitations to the Iraq Reconstruction Conference, Marvin."
"Engraved and ready, sir."
A spokesman for the Greek Government, which holds the EU presidency, said: “We are not opposed to these meetings, but it would have been good if Powell had taken such initiatives before the start of the war even though they would not have done any good even so.”
"Marvin, do we have anything for the Greeks?"
"Nothing, Mr. Secretary."
"Excellent. You've done well, Marvin."
"Thank you, sir."
Posted by:Steve White

#13  "WE have to repair the rift? Yeah, let's get right on that..."

tu3031, where's your team spirit? I'm sure we can dig up enough dirt in France to paper over SOMETHING... hehehehehehhehe
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-04-02 12:40:36  

#12  One of the complaints was that Powell wasn't globe-trotting enough.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-04-02 11:14:21  

#11  Hey Murat, better check your news. Who blinked first?
Posted by: Steve   2003-04-02 09:47:52  

#10  Murat, they shot first because the last time they didn't, they got blown up.
Posted by: Mike N.   2003-04-02 09:35:28  

#9  Where can I get a Marvin?
Posted by: Hermetic   2003-04-02 09:12:11  

#8  WE have to repair the rift? Yeah, let's get right on that...
Posted by: tu3031   2003-04-02 08:54:01  

#7   >next time better.
"Better luck next time."
If your going to be flippant get it right.
Posted by: Domingo   2003-04-02 08:28:42  

#6  Funny guys these Americans, they do everything reversed. At checkpoints they first shoot and then ask to stop, evenso in politics, you are itsy bitsy too late dear Powell, next time better.
Posted by: Murat   2003-04-02 08:09:14  

#5  It would be instructive to remind the Cheese eaters that if it weren't for the cemeteries full of white crosses scattered across their country they'd be speaking German. I just hope Team Bush has enough sense to realize France has done nothing to demostrate any change of heart.
Posted by: Doug De Bono   2003-04-02 07:03:37  

#4  "America’s closest allies — Britain, Spain, Italy and Denmark — want Washington to try to repair the rift with France and Germany and help to reunify the European Union."


Okay, let me get this strait. ONCE AGAIN, America is supposed to get involved in Europe, to fix Europe's problems, only later to be blamed for interventionism in Europe's internal affairs?

Posted by: Ptah   2003-04-02 07:02:57  

#3  You can tell by the smile on Powell's face that he's only in Turkey to rub it in. Schweeeeeeet.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-04-02 06:57:30  

#2  hehe France for Iraq ? sounds like a winner to me bulldog :P
Posted by: Biggus   2003-04-02 04:13:25  

#1  "America’s closest allies — Britain, Spain, Italy and Denmark — want Washington to try to repair the rift with France and Germany and help to reunify the European Union."

If anything, this farce has exposed the divisions within Europe that make further integration practically impossible. Common foreign policy? Don't make me laugh. It's become obvious a geographical proximity doesn't necessarily indicate shared values and outlook. Time for the French to integrate themselves into the Arab league for a while. Maybe we could do an exchange - France for Iraq - for a few years.
Posted by: Bulldog   2003-04-02 03:43:19  

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