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| Iraq |
| Turkey Delays Opening Airspace Again |
| 2003-03-21 |
| Turkish airspace remains closed Friday to U.S. and British warplanes, as Turkish and U.S. officials work to resolve Ankara's demand that its troops be allowed to enter northern Iraq. Negotiations have entered a second day in Ankara, after the two sides held talks through the night in the Turkish capital without reaching an agreement. Turkey says it needs a military presence in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq to prevent a possible influx of refugees into southeastern Turkey. But the United States is firmly opposed, fearing conflict between Turkish troops and Iraqi Kurd forces and a disruption to the U.S. campaign against Saddam Hussein. They are still demanding to be allowed to go in and put a lid on the Kurds. We're saying no. Ankara is also asking the United States to provide information on the type of planes, their missions and destination ahead of overflights. U.S. officials are reported to consider the degree of detail excessive. There is no need-to-know for them to get this info. The Turkish parliament voted Thursday to allow U.S. overflights, but turned down a U.S. military request to use Turkish bases for refueling and as a launching point for air strikes against Iraq. Ziyal: U.S. Ambassador Does Not Bring Message Which Will End The Problem U.S. Ambassador in Ankara Robert Pearson did not bring any message which will end the problem between Turkey and the United States pertaining to opening of air corridor and entrance of Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq. Diplomatic sources said Pearson did not bring a message which would end the problem during his 10-minute meeting with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Ugur Ziyal. Ankara was waiting for a response from Washington regarded with opening of air corridor and entrance of Turkish soldiers in Northern Iraq. We are holding fast on not letting the Turks in, good. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #7 Unless, like Old Spook says, there is some sort of covert cooperative agreement - its as if the Turks are acting suicidal with delusional assumptions to reclaim their Empire. At some point, they have to realize this will be far more painful for them than it could ever be for us and that those oil wells just aren't worth the cost. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-21 19:40:46 |
| #6 No need to bomb the Turks, just the roads into Iraq. That will slow them down and if they think they were going to take an economic hit, wait till they see that the roads are going to remain closed for month's and their oil stays in Iraq or goes out through Jordan, who know where their bread is buttered and are helping us. |
| Posted by: Anony-mouse 2003-03-21 15:30:07 |
| #5 I can not be the only one who does not find this at all surprising. After a year of working late and constantly coming home with lipstick on the collar, Turkey has moved out, closed the bank accounts and today served us the divorce papers. How much long will these US diplomats continue to insist that, depite it all, they still love us? Jeeze - get a clue. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-21 13:48:43 |
| #4 Hope that deal from the EU is real good. |
| Posted by: Hiryu 2003-03-21 13:41:35 |
| #3 Rich Lowry, [an?] editor of National Review, writes in the Corner that he's had a worrying call from David Pryce-Jones, an NR writer, presumably reporting from Iraq or Turkey. Pryce-Jones says the Turks have crossed border, claiming it's a humanitarian mission, but there are fears that they always intended to occupy N. Iraq. Powell is furious. Lowry stresses that this is just rumor at this point. I bring you only the freshest rumors and scare-mongering today. |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2003-03-21 13:36:06 |
| #2 Turks are allowing overfly. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-21 13:17:11 |
| #1 They want info? All planes, bomb them and everywhere. DUH! |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-21 13:16:29 |