Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Turkey drops Iraq troops plan (Won't send peace keeping troops to Iraq)
BBC ^

Posted on 11/07/2003 11:36:25 AM PST by Happy2BMe

Turkey drops Iraq troops plan
Anti-American rally in Istanbul
There were angry protests in Turkey against a troop deployment
Turkey has decided not to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq, government officials have said.

It follows fierce opposition from the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council and public opinion in Turkey.

Last month, the Turkish parliament approved a deployment motion, after the United States, a fellow Nato member, requested more foreign troops.

The Turkish foreign ministry said Turkey would still play a key role in Iraq's post-war reconstruction.

US talks

A Turkish foreign ministry statement said Turkey made its decision after talks between Turkish Foreign Minster Abdullah Gul and US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"We said from the beginning that we were not too eager anyway," said Mr Gul.

"We had said we would send if our contribution would be of use. We saw that this is not the situation. That's why we took this decision."

The official Anatolia news agency said the Turkish military had stopped preparing for the deployment.

When asked if Turkey was still sending troops, a US Government official told the Associated Press news agency: "At this point, it appears 'no'."

Iraqi fears

The BBC's Nick Thorpe in Istanbul says the deployment of Turkish troops was firmly opposed by the Iraqi Governing Council, on the grounds that Turkey, as a neighbouring country, could not be trusted to become militarily involved.

He says fears were expressed that this might tempt other neighbours, like Iran and Syria to intervene.

The prospect of a 10,000-strong Turkish peacekeeping contingent has been strongly opposed by Arab nationalists in Iraq, who recall Turkish rule under the Ottoman Empire as a time of repression, and by Iraqi Kurds.

Turkish troops retain a number of bases in northern Iraq, from where they have launched raids against Kurdish rebels regarded in Ankara as a destabilising influence on Turkey's Kurds.



TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allies; iraq; peackeepers; troops; turkey; turkishtroops
Let's see now. Wouldn't allow us to stage our attack on Iraq (costing American lives).

Sided with France and Germany.

Anybody surprised here?

1 posted on 11/07/2003 11:36:26 AM PST by Happy2BMe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SJackson; MeeknMing; dennisw; Howlin; Sabretooth; JohnHuang2
Tureky says "Up Your's America!" again ping!
2 posted on 11/07/2003 11:37:51 AM PST by Happy2BMe (Nurture terrorism in a neighborhood near you - donate to your local community mosque.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
Putting the Turks in was a horrible idea, opposed by the Kurds and by the Governing council.
3 posted on 11/07/2003 11:39:48 AM PST by WarrenGamaliel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
There is too much distrust between the countries for Turkey to send troops.I am relieved,really.
4 posted on 11/07/2003 11:40:26 AM PST by MEG33
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: WarrenGamaliel
"Putting the Turks in was a horrible idea, opposed by the Kurds and by the Governing council."

In that light (and only in that light), I would tend to agree.

Now, about being able to use those bases in Turkey . .

5 posted on 11/07/2003 11:41:25 AM PST by Happy2BMe (Nurture terrorism in a neighborhood near you - donate to your local community mosque.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe; Sidebar Moderator
Also: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1016845/posts
6 posted on 11/07/2003 11:45:20 AM PST by GraniteStateConservative ("We happy because when we switch on the TV you never see Saddam Hussein. That's a big happy.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: Happy2BMe
Get Stuffed, Turkey!
8 posted on 11/07/2003 11:47:43 AM PST by StolarStorm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
I'm glad to hear this. Turks in Iraq was a bad idea from the start.
9 posted on 11/07/2003 12:17:06 PM PST by Britton J Wingfield (TANSTAAFL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
Maybe the Turks would like to return Ionia--and Constantinople--to Greece...
10 posted on 11/07/2003 12:34:51 PM PST by Savage Beast (The meaning of the California Revolution: The socioeconomic fabric is not indestructable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
"turkey fried in grease!" Hopefully, the US has not and will not give any taxpayer funded aid to these islamic turkeys?????
11 posted on 11/07/2003 12:44:00 PM PST by lilylangtree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe

12 posted on 11/07/2003 2:09:47 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (Check out the Texas Chicken D 'RATS!: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/keyword/Redistricting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson