Posted on 03/25/2005 8:18:53 AM PST by aculeus
Ankara The government is close to making its decision on a Washington proposal to use the southern air base of Incirlik as a cargo hub for U.S. forces operating in the region, said a deputy from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
A decision on the issue will be made very soon. I cannot tell you when exactly since I am not in the government but it will be very soon, Murat Mercan, AKP's deputy chairman told a meeting in Washington, called,
"Can the U.S.-Turkish Relationship be Repaired"
Other attendees of the event, hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, were influential neo-con intellectuals: Former Deputy Secretary of Defense Richard Perle, Robert Pollock, who wrote the Wall Street Journal op-ed painting Turkey as rapidly turning into a hotbed of vicious anti-American attitudes, and Michael Rubin, who recently questioned AKP's links to Islamic capital.
The proposal to use Incirlik, located in the southern city of Adana, as a cargo hub for U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq has been on the table for several months. U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith said during a visit to Ankara in February that Washington was discussing the issue with Turkey with a view to finding an agreement.
Repairing relationship:
Turkish officials have avoided commenting on the U.S. proposal publicly but the government, eager to mend strained ties with Washington, is widely expected to respond favorably.
Private NTV television said the government might officially reply to Washington over the Incirlik proposal in the coming weeks, before the 90th anniversary of an alleged Armenian genocide at the hands of the late Ottoman Empire arrives on April 24.
A powerful Armenian lobby in the U.S. Congress is expected to push for a resolution recognizing the alleged genocide as part of an anniversary campaign. U.S. administrations have opposed such attempts in Congress in the past but observers say this year the George W. Bush administration may not be as willing to prevent such a move as it was in the past, given the growing mistrust of the Turkish government.
A positive response to the U.S. proposal for İncirlik would be part of a charm campaign that the Turkish government is apparently planning to undertake to put ties with the United States back on track, deteriorating over Turkish criticism of U.S. policies in Iraq and U.S. concerns over rising anti-Americanism in Turkey.
Erdogan is planning to visit the United States in late May to attend the graduation ceremony of his daughter and is hoping to meet with President George W. Bush during his stay. The prime minister is also expected to visit Israel.
Mercan said in his American Enterprise Institute speech that Turkish-U.S. ties were not as bad as depicted in both countries media, as both sides had the will to improve the relationship.
"We should focus on the big picture," he said and warned against paying too much attention to radical and extremist comments seen in the media comments of both countries.
Create a base in Northern Iraq under the protection of the Kurds. Stop toadying to the Muslim Turks.
President Bush: Finally, finally recognize the genocide against Christians at the hands of the Turks. Justice delayed is justice denied.
The Turks have squandered attempt after attempt to cooperate in the war on terror. There should be no rewards for non cooperation. The Turks can either self implode in their muslim anger thus foregoing all attempts ot join the EU or they can rethink their positions historically and deal honestly with their past sordidness.
......................Ah,.....Incirlik to then become the World's Largest 'NATO' Forward Base?
Israel,....watch your '6'....
I really hope the USA would not be this stupid.
We put huge money and infrastructure in Turkey, and they back stabbed us and prevented us from using our resources there when we needed them the very most. Turkey's betrayal has cost us untold lives, and set back the situation in Iraq by many months if not years.
Now we are going to expand our facility there, so there is even more we can't use when we most need it? Stupid, stupid, stupid!
We lived there in 1985-1991. It ws a great place to be! It has really changed, from what I hear. So sad. But he Armenian issue is a VERY sore spot in that culture and they will not give an inch in claiming responsibility. It would mean dishonor, to them, and give honor to the Armenians. You have to understand the honor traditions to realize this is a hot potato issue that cannot be resolved by just conning them or forcing them to publicly admit fault. To lose honor would be worse than failing to have a relationship with the US.
You're assuming the Turks haven't been noticing our success in Iraq, Bush's reelection, etc.
You've heard wrong. Things are getting even better and this Erdogan guy doesn't have much time left. He's rapidly losing popularity.
Cut the BS elenil. Get a life.
Update:
he’s still there.u
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