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| Iraq | |
| U.S. Using Turkey Base for Troop Changes | |
| 2004-01-12 | |
| The American military has begun using an air base in southern Turkey for a massive rotation of troops in and out of Iraq, a U.S. official told The Associated Press on Sunday, in a sign of improved U.S.-Turkish relations. This makes good sense. Turkish permission to use its Incirlik air base marks a sharp contrast to last year, when the country - opposed to the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein - refused to allow U.S. troops on its territory for the war against its southern neighbor. It also comes as NATO ally Turkey is increasingly eager to win favor with the United States amid concerns over Iraqi Kurdish demands for greater autonomy in oil-rich northern Iraq. Turkey, and neighbors Syria and Iran, fear Iraqi Kurds might eventually push for independence and bring instability to their borders. Guess the bombings in Istanbul woke the Turks up. They aren’t going to get in the EU, the French screwed them, and al-Q will try to kill them anyway.
Sure, talk away. The use of Incirlik helps the United States as it deals with the largest movement of troops in decades. In a sign of Incirlik’s continued significance, the U.S. military recently started using the base to transport soldiers out of Iraq and "a large number" of troops were expected to pass through the base in the coming months. Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Friday there was "nothing new" at the base but said Incirlik "has been used and will be used, because the transportation of certain soldiers is more secure through Incirlik." U.S. forces had based some 50 warplanes at Incirlik after the 1991 Gulf War to patrol a no-fly zone over northern Iraq. But the U.S. withdrew its forces last year as tension escalated between Washington and Ankara. Since we found better uses for them elsewhere. Since the Iraq war’s end, Turkey has again agreed to open Incirlik and other sites to the U.S.-led coalition for logistical support as part of efforts to improve ties with Washington. The 1,400 U.S. soldiers at Incirlik - half as many as before the war - have been supporting the Iraq operation with tankers to fuel aircraft in Iraq and by delivering supplies to Iraq. The base has also occasionally sent U.S. troops to help support the Iraq mission, he added. During a visit to Ankara last month, U.S. Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman said the U.S. military wanted to continue using Incirlik as it realigns American troops and bases to better respond to new threats such as terrorism. The realignment is likely to close or scale down many of the permanent bases set up in Germany and other NATO nations to face the Soviet threat. Only works if we and the Turks again see eye-to-eye on everything. Bet Bush and Erdogan have an interesting conversation. | |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 Hmm...it's great and all...but I don't trust Er'dogman. The EU doesn't invite him to their parties, so now he's all kissy, kissy with us. He'll drop us like a hot potato(e) the first chance he gets. Tell me again why we care if the Kurds get independence? If ErDogman wants to be our friend, let him sit up and beg for the crumbs we throw him. No offense to Turks in general...Yippy is an Islamist, and if they aren't careful - he'll screw them just as easily as he previously screwed us. |
| Posted by: B 2004-1-12 12:45:56 PM |
| #2 turkey has worked with the us and jews for decades... |
| Posted by: Dan 2004-1-12 10:46:14 AM |
| #1 They're working w/the Joooos and w/US. At least someone over there is somewhat serious. |
| Posted by: Anonymous2U 2004-1-12 2:42:26 AM |