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| Europe | |
| Turkey-Iraq supply line open | |
| 2003-04-05 | |
| More details have been emerging about convoys of military equipment which have been crossing from Turkey into Iraq in the past days, destined for US forces in the region. During talks in Ankara on Wednesday, the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, won Turkish agreement for the supply of food, fuel and medicine across Turkish soil to its troops in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq - but not for weapons. They may not look like a significant contribution to the war effort, but the lines of Turkish-registered trucks driving through dusty border towns contain badly-needed vehicles for the 173rd Airborne Division (sic) of the US Army. According to a statement issued by the Turkish general staff, 204 unarmed Humvee military jeeps are being redeployed to northern Iraq from US bases in Turkey. Sounds like we could use those. According to the statement, the jeeps are unrelated to Colin Powell's visit. But what did emerge from his talks is that fuel, food and medicine for US troops, as well as humanitarian supplies for the civilian population of northern Iraq, will now be allowed to cross through Turkey. Taken together, the supplies will make the opening of a northern front against Iraqi Government forces much more likely. By the same we get the northern front started Baghdad may already have fallen. The convoys also play a symbolic role — showing Turkish readiness to support the coalition war effort, albeit as a non-combatant. Anti-war sentiment in Turkey is still strong and there's now little talk of trying to open a land corridor for troops and weapons. But Turkey, with its big ports, developed infrastructure and fleet of idle trucks, now looks set to help supply both the northern front and the post-war reconstruction of Iraq. Making amends?
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| Posted by:Steve White |