Article

2003-01-21 Axis of Evil

These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 21, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The government has started to make a direct bargaining with the U.S. Treasury about the losses that Turkish economy would suffer in case of an operation against Iraq. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''about this issue, we are bargaining not with the IMF and the World Bank but with the U.S. Treasury Department.'' Meanwhile, State Minister Ali Babacan said he had been holding telephone conversations about the Iraq issue for a few times a week with the U.S. Secretary of Treasury. He said, ''what kind of a package would be prepared for the Iraq issue with the U.S. Treasury will be given shape according to talks. Important progress was recorded. Maybe it would be a donation or a specific amount of loan.''
"Small bills, non-sequential, leave it under the park bench"
A strict bargaining was made on the number of U.S. soldiers to be deployed in Turkey with U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers who spent 18 hours in Ankara. The United States decreased the number of soldiers to 15 thousand while Ankara insisted on a number below 10 thousand. Ankara gave the message of ''decrease your demands to reasonable levels.'' During Myers' 18-hour stay in Ankara, two important files were brought onto the agenda. Ankara maintained its insistence that the number of U.S. soldiers to be deployed in Turkey should not exceed 10 thousand while it gave the message that it would bring the decision on other demands to the parliament after the U.N. resolution on January 27.
Not more than 10 thousand in Turkey, is that total or at one time? How about we fly in 9000, then after they are across the border, we bring in 9000 more? That work for you?
Babekir Bedirhan, the military commander of Bahdinan region that is controlled by Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Massoud Barzani in Northern Iraq, said that the number of Turkish soldiers in the region was exaggerated. Bedirhan said, ''the number of Turkish soldiers deployed in Amadiye town, Bamerni Airport, Sersing and Sirye regions that are 30 kilometers from the border was almost five hundred. This number has currently increased a little. Turkey exists here for its security.'' Turkish-CNN team and DHA correspondent entered Northern Iraq and televised existence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq. Here are the Turkish troops in four bases in Northern Iraq:
''BAMERNI: 15 tanks, 15 armored vehicles; KANIMASI: 15 tanks, 15 armored vehicles, 150 soldiers; AMADIYE: 2 tanks, 2 armored vehicles; SIHRIYE: 2 tanks, 2 armored vehicles''.
Of course, that's the ones they were allowed to report on.
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers who came to Ankara after visiting Incirlik base met with General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok at dinner two days ago. Ozkok gave Myers who stressed importance of northern front and repeated demands for support of Turkey the message that ''decrease your demands to reasonable level.'' At the meeting, the report that U.N. weapon inspectors will present on January 26 and determination of existence of chemical and biological weapons in Iraq were discussed. Within this scope, Myers stressed importance of Turkey and northern front in operation to overthrow Saddam Hussein and repeated their demands. Ozkok gave him the message that ''decrease your demands to reasonable level. A new list of demands should be negotiated.'' Myers was told that use of all of the bases and ports where site-survey by U.S. experts was allowed was impossible and that only Diyarbakir, Batman and Incirlik bases might suffice such an operation. It was mentioned that the demand for number of U.S. soldiers to be deployed in Turkey was decreased from 120 thousand to 25 thousand in the meetings but Myers was told that even this number was unacceptable for Turkish public opinion. Holding a press conference prior to his departure from Ankara, Myers said that there was not a lack of cooperation between Turkey and the United States.
They seem pretty firm on this point. Seen the same report from a lot of sources.
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Myers defended that they concentrated mass of weapons and troops in the region in order to assist the U.N. activities and settle peace. Myers said they were patiently waiting for support decision of Ankara, adding, ''cooperation will continue.'' Meanwhile, the General Staff gave Myers the message that, ''we cannot meet all of your military demands. You should better decrease your demands.'' At the meetings, it was adopted that Turkey and the United States would cooperate with the aim to have the NATO take a decision on an operation against Iraq.
NATO is supposed to have agreed to protect Turkey from an Iraqi counter-attack.
French Ambassador in Ankara Bernard Garcia said that a military operation against Iraq could come onto the agenda as the last alternative only after all solution efforts through political ways were exhausted. Garcia said they did not think it right for the United States to give the start for military preparations in Turkey before completion of U.N. weapon inspectors' report. Noting that there was not a condition like Turkey's contribution to an operation against Iraq for IMF support, Garcia said defended that influence of Europe within the IMF was two-fold of the influence of the United States. Stressing that war hampered reforms, Garcia said that war might slow down Turkey's integration with the EU.
Is that a threat? After you said no to Turkey last time they were up for membership in the EU, I don't think you have much leverage.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul sent a letter to U.S. President George Bush and stressed that the government was determined to continue the economic program without disruption. Gul also said improvement of bilateral relations with the United States would accelerate this process.
"Is the check in the mail, George?"
Foreign ministers of Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria are expected to come together prior to a meeting that Turkey plans to host to seek peaceful ways to solve Iraq issue with participation of heads of state and government of these five countries. Foreign ministers of Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria would come together with Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis on January 23 or 24. However, bargainings are under way between Ankara and Arab countires on place of this summit meeting. Foreign Minister Yakis said that talks on ''whether or not the meeting in question would be held in Turkey or Damascus'' were continuing with sister countries. Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said that Ankara summit would be held in level of heads of state and government while Damascus meeting would be held in level of foreign ministers. Diplomatic sources said foreign ministers would prepare philosophical infrastructure of the initiative and that the meeting of heads of state and government would be built on that infrastructure.
OK, they have not yet decided on where the meetings will take place, and there are two meetings. Glad they cleared that up.

Posted by Steve 2003-01-21 12:11 pm|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Europe offers harrassment over IMF membership and continued footdragging on entrance to the EU, the US can offer Turkish entrance into NAFTA, the removal of a wannabe nuclear psycho on their southern border and some control over the resolution of the Kurd issue in Iraq.

Let me see, what would I choose, give me a moment.

Posted by attaturk 2003-01-21 12:43:40|| 2003-01-21 12:43:40|| Front Page Top

#2 The EU is playing Turkey for a fish. They do not want the Turks in the EU, but Turkey is useful to them as a great wedge to drive in Bush's war plans. Turkey has political problems with its populace. I'm sure that there are political agitators keeping this kettle simmering, trying to make it boil over. Also Turkey has its own designs on land, keeping Kurds at bay, etc. I'm not an expert on Turkey, but how much do we need them...what should be the extent of the interaction? In short, how much of yours and my $ do we have to shell out to get the results we need from renting Turkey? Some places are a bottomless money pit, like PakLand. In my engineering designs, it's cost/benefit ratio. Some ideas, please.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-01-21 14:38:49|| 2003-01-21 14:38:49|| Front Page Top

#3 I may be wrong on this, but I'm about ready to tell the Turks to stuff it. We're supposed to be ALLIES. I don't recall Tony Blair asking for financial guarantees, and I don't recall the Aussies negotiating over what they'll do and for how much.

If I were the American ambassador to Turkey (and somehow I never made the short list for that job) I'd remind the Turks that:
1) we have a long memory
2) they depend on us for their security in lots of other ways
3) the Arabs don't like 'em, not since that Ottoman Empire thing
4) we're not setting up shop in Turkey permanently, we just want to pass through, and
5) remember Article V of the NATO treaty?

I'd offer to compensate them for the costs they bear in letting us pass through, and I'd offer them some portion of the Mosul oil to compensate them for their economic problems with the war. After that, they're either friends or not, and we'll remember whatever they decide.

We may need a northern front, but we don't need one this badly.

Posted by Steve White 2003-01-21 18:26:12|| 2003-01-21 18:26:12|| Front Page Top

#4 Rather than make any demands which this Government dislikes, we should simply make certain our Kurdish Allies are very well armed, and, with Special Forces help, very well trained. These Turkish Politicians can sit home and discover the danger of pricing their assistance above their worth. They need to learn the difference between holding someone up for a building permit and dealing with American Friends.

Posted by edwardvt 2003-01-21 21:03:12|| 2003-01-21 21:03:12|| Front Page Top

#5 Hello all, whatâs the fury about? Who says that Turkey should follow always US interests? Does the US ever think even a tiny second to place other ones interest in front of their own interests. I donât want to complain but the mess papa Bush created landed on our plate, and not yours! If Bush wants to play the lord of the ring after the two towers incident in NY, thatâs his business, but donât create more mess to be left unsolved once again afterward. Greetings from Istanboel.

Posted by Murat 2003-01-22 01:56:04|| 2003-01-22 01:56:04|| Front Page Top

#6 Careful Steve, Always remember this may be just distraction, and not for our benefit. Any apparent and public infighting on our side might, not always, but might, be a ruse to distract or fool Sammy. Are the Turks our friends is impossible to for us tell at this stage from the public reports. We don't know what is really going on. Only Gul, Oskok and our guys at the Pentagon really know

Posted by Ben 2003-01-22 03:26:54|| 2003-01-22 03:26:54|| Front Page Top

#7 Murat has a point, but the US does indeed consider the interests of others. Probably about as much as Turkey considers the interest of others in its affairs. He's also got a point about the aftermath of this war. Turkey has been an EXCELLENT friend of the U.S. and this time we do need to make sure that Turkey doesn't suffer inordinately and that it gets as much benefit out of this war as we get.

I think a deal will be worked out. I also do not think that the northern front is going to be very important. We'll work with the Turks. I have a very warm spot in my heart for them. After 9/11 a group working at my company's Istanbul office went out of their way to offer condolences. I won't forget that, nor their help in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Posted by R. McLeod 2003-01-22 03:54:00|| 2003-01-22 03:54:00|| Front Page Top

#8 Thank you R. McLeod, Turkey has indeed extraordinary friendly ties with the US. The problem is that many in the US cannot or do not comprehend fully what the US actions create to Turkey. You have to understand that Turkey neighbours Iraq (and Iran). Even agreed that these two are not the most favourable neighbours to have, they are a geographical fact. People have no idea what kind of havoc the past US policies have done to the Turkish economy (embargo against Iraq and Iran). One must only try to imagine what would happen with the US economy if there would be an embargo against Canada and Mexico.

I think the northern front is essential, Iraq counts 22mln people, to occupy such a land you need a variety of bases for logistics. I am thinking also that a deal will be worked out the US has just to pay a little more attention to their allies. While beating up the bad guy she should take care of not injuring their friends also.

Posted by Murat 2003-01-22 04:56:03|| 2003-01-22 04:56:03|| Front Page Top

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