US pulls the rug out from under Turkey

The Times ^ | March 7, 2003 | Roland Watson and Richard Beeston

[MadIvan]

THE US House of Representatives thinks that Pakistani rug-makers are more deserving of American aid than Turkish rug-makers. Without ceremony, Turkey was removed from the list of beneficiaries in a trade Bill before it was passed on Wednesday; an act of legislative sabotage that lifts the lid on the furious horse-trading surrounding the build-up to war with Iraq.

The bazaar economics which lavished up to $500,000 (£312,000) of aid on Pakistan, but denied Turkey a cent, has nothing to do with textiles and everything to do with rounding up both into President Bush’s “coalition of the willing”. Not for nothing has the group been dubbed the “coalition of the billing”.

Pakistan has one of six crucial votes on the UN Security Council that America, Britain and Spain on one side, and France, Russia and Germany on the other, are furiously courting. Pakistan, along with Chile, Mexico, Guinea, Cameroon and Angola, controls the fate of a second resolution.

Turkey is a case on its own, holding the key to the Pentagon’s preferred war plan for a northern front against Iraq. Denying Turkish rug-makers any help is designed as an immediate slap for Ankara’s decision not to allow 60,000 US troops on to its soil, and a warning of more to come if the Turkish parliament does not rethink its stance soon.

It is the Russians, however, who have multibillion-dollar trade agreements with Baghdad, who stand to lose the most. A senior American diplomat in Moscow gave warning that the Kremlin could jeopardise its relations with any future US-installed government in Baghdad if it was seen to stand by Saddam’s regime in its final days.

“The Russians understand that their degree of involvement in post-Saddam arrangements will be significantly influenced by the degree to which they are seen as supporting, or not obstructing, on a resolution to the crisis,” he said. “I think they understand there could be negative consequences of a veto with respect to Russia’s interests (in Iraq).”

Around the rest of the Security Council table, America is wielding a mixture of carrots and sticks as it tries to round up the nine votes it needs for a majority. Chile is waiting for Congress to approve a lucrative free-trade deal with the US that is the result of a decade of negotiation. The decision this spring could hinge on which way it swings on Iraq.

Mexico is pursuing tariff negotiations with the US, while Bulgaria, which is a solid Security Council voice against Iraq, is optimistic about being granted the status of a “market economy”, a decision which would provide a huge boost domestically. Cameroon and Guinea are both eligible for preferential access to US markets through the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, but only if they refrain from engaging in “activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests”.

The message seems to be getting through. Guinea, one of the poorest countries in the world, which is chairman of the Security Council this month, has already signalled that it will bow to Washington’s pressure.

Although the country’s opinions on foreign policy are usually ignored by the rest of the world, there was quiet celebration in London and Washington when the Guinean Cabinet, meeting in the capital, Conakry, insisted that Iraq “conform scrupulously” to its UN obligations.

Angola, the former Marxist state, is also expected to join the Anglo-American position, largely because of its strong trading links with America, which imports most of the country’s offshore oil.

Only Cameroon is thought to favour the position taken by France, its former colonial master. Nevertheless, American and British envoys have recently visited the country and Mr Bush intervened personally on Wednesday by lobbying the country’s leader in a telephone call.

Pakistan, America’s key ally in the war in Afghanistan and the struggle to track down al-Qaeda chiefs, has recently received a loan from the International Monetary Fund, thanks in large part to American support. But it is due to receive a further $305 million in direct US aid later this year, which may never appear if it opposes America at the Security Council.

The fierce diplomatic horse-trading is beginning to take its toll. The Americans also want to demonstrate that going against Washington can provoke unpleasant penalties, and Germany could be hardest hit. Earlier this week the Pentagon announced plans to move thousands of US troops from Germany to Eastern Europe, where support for Washington has been much stronger. Nikolai Svinarov, the Bulgarian Defence Minister, announced after a visit to Washington that his country might provide four or five bases for relocated US troops.

[MadIvan]

Game, set, match, the Allies.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[dirtboy]

Nikolai Svinarov, the Bulgarian Defence Minister, announced after a visit to Washington that his country might provide four or five bases for relocated US troops.

Ain't that sweet. Rewards a new friend, hoses the Germans, provokes an angina attack in any unreformed Stalinists still alive AND gets our troops much closer to the Middle East where we're going to need them in the future. Home run.

[KickRightRudder]

I love it! Now about these African nations who have been badmouthing us..........

[Grampa Dave]

If Putrid vetoes the upcoming resolution, he will put Russia in the same bed with France, Turkey and Germany.

Hopefully, he and the rest of Russia are not that stupid. However, they are either with us or against us.

[Lando Lincoln]

When will they learn?? This is serious - and we know how to play ball!

[EternalVigilance]

These idiots keep right on forgetting how powerful our country and our President really are...at least until they have royally screwed themselves.

Ain't life grand? ;-)

[daviddennis]

I'm sure the leftist press will trumpet this as US unfairness, while ignoring Saddam's equally blatant manipulations of oil trading in favour of its allies, including France.

In terms of blatant manipulations, we're even with Iraq, nothing more.

D

[prairiebreeze]

Another marvelous article. No word in this country about US Representatives removing Turkey from the trade bill---at least none that I've heard on news or read here on FReep.

And while I've heard plenty of speculation about moving German bases, I can't recall actually seeing it in print. However don't quote me on that--I could have missed it.

Nonetheless, there's simply tons of information here.

thanks, Prairie

[livius]

Good! Thanks for the info. We didn't hear about it in the US press.

[Republic of Texas]

It's about freakin' time we played hardball with these countries. Tony Blair, a leftist no less, is carrying all the water overseas, and we need to "convince" some countries that it will be in their best interests to help. Of course, after we win, and the truth about Iraq comes out, both Blair and Bush will be at 80% in their respective polls.

We give billions to the stupid countries of the world that can't figure out that SOCIALISM ALWAYS FAILS, and it's about time those markers come due. (I can't believe I'm actually saying nice things about Tony Blair. These are strange times)

[PoisedWoman]

Down with Turkish rugs! I rolled mine up and put them in storage--can't stand the sight of them one more day.

I also wrote a letter to editor of Turkish newspaper saying that I've always been a supporter of their country, enjoyed my visit, spent thousands of American dollars on merchandise, and recommended that my friends go there. From now on, however, not one more dime will go to Turkey or her products, and I'm telling my friends to stay away. "Americans are the kindest and most generous people in the world -- until we're not."

[CyberAnt]

It's about time we started playing hardball.

[Feiny]

I am not happy that we have to spend so much tax payer money to bribe countries for a vote. But, I do like to read about the punishment for not voting with us. Personally, I think they should pull the resolution & go in anyway.

We don't need their stinkin vote!

[Kudsman]

Tony Blair, a leftist no less.
I can't believe I'm actually saying nice things about Tony Blair.

A leftist with Intelligence reports makes a good conservative. (on foreign affairs anyway).

[MadIvan]

Turkey has some severe problems right now - their economy has been tottering for a while, they can't get into the EU, and now this. Ataturk must be spinning in his grave.

Regards, Ivan

[jiggyboy]

All this talk of "hardball", "pulling the rug out", "penalties", et al, is a bit dramatic. Turkey and the U.S. couldn't come to an agreement, so we stopped trying to make a deal.

The U.S. isn't obligated to be the banker / mentor / buyer / seller / protector of last resort -- it's just that it usually assumes that role by default. This is simply a government pursuing its goals as an entity free to walk away from a bad deal or an undesirable partner/customer.

[FairOpinion]

"Cameroon and Guinea are both eligible for preferential access to US markets through the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, but only if they refrain from engaging in “activities that undermine US national security or foreign policy interests”."

----

Way to go! It's high time that friends get rewarded, and enemies punished, learning that friendship means give and take on both sides.
Bush was right to divide the world in two: there are only two kinds of countries/people: those who are with us, and those who are against us.

Some countries are getting the message, those who aren't, well, it's too bad, for THEM.

[lainie]

Without ceremony, Turkey was removed from the list of beneficiaries in a trade Bill before it was passed on Wednesday

Outstanding.

[Mark17]

Ataturk must be spinning in his grave.

If you want to insult a Turk, just tell him Ataturk was a Greek. I guess these guys are finding out that if they want to dance, they are going to have to pay the piper.