Rumsfeld: Northern Attack on Iraq Would Have Helped Squelch Insurgents

TBO.com AP News ^ | 03-20-05 | Siobhan McDonough

[MamaLucci]

The level of insurgency in postwar Iraq wouldn't be so high if the U.S.-led coalition had been able to invade from the north, through Turkey, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Sunday.

[Free Vulcan]

Why does it seem like that on a weekly basis I am reading some article or another of how the French and others did everything they could to sabotage the war in Iraq, so that we would leave with our tail between our legs and they could go back to selling Saddam billions in weapons and weapons making equipment?

[MamaLucci]

Why does it seem like that on a weekly basis I am reading some article or another of how the French and others did everything they could to sabotage the war in Iraq, so that we would leave with our tail between our legs and they could go back to selling Saddam billions in weapons and weapons making equipment?

Because the truth is slowly, but surely, being revealed.

[MamaLucci]

"You too Mia"

I will definitely second that!

[Androcles]

Turkey PROMISED cooperation, then reneged, if I remember correctly.

Actually, Turkish PM promised his support for the measures but his parliament rebelled, one of the problems in having a parliamentary democracy as an ally.

Many of his own MPs joined the opposition for both votes, just as happened to Tony Blair in Britain. Unlike England however, the PM did not have the oratorical skill to sway them back. But to give him his due he tried hard and lost much political standing through his failure.

[lepton]

As I recall, there was an issue of money brought up at the end.

[Recon Dad]

I heard Rumsfeld make this statement today and I would like to see a discussion as to how profound an effect this had. Our troops rolled up any opposition they encountered. Yes, it would have been nice destroy any northern resistance, but none of these guys wanted to stand and fight. We had more problems with the irregulars then we did with the Republican Guards. I think there is some truth to the fact that we did not prepare well for what followed the war. Tommy Franks as much as said it in his book, but I don't know if you can lay this on Rumsfeld alone.

[M Kehoe]

#20

I know there are ones from before Baghdad fell

Most of us on the board couldn't believe Turkey denied passage. There were many threads. I think my postings would show that I was visibly pi$$ed off, having lived there and befriended Turk 1st Army generals.

5.56mm

[lepton]

We had more problems with the irregulars then we did with the Republican Guards.

And it was these that were not given their chance to charge the Machine Guns, and eliminate themselves from the collection of the civilized. It was during those battles that the nuts were separated from the common civilians. This happened in the south. It didn't happen in the north.

[Androcles]

Yes, money was being bandies about but with good reasons. Even with smuggling galore, Turkey's economy had suffered from supporting American policy re Iraq for the past decade of Iraq more than anyone else (Except possibly Jordan).

As I recall, most of the promised compensation (Both US & other sources) for their support in the first gulf war had been tardy or non-arriving. American offers of $5 billion in aid and $10 billion in loans to cushion the Turkish economy from the impact of any war were reasonable enough compared to the actuals, but simply weren't believed in by many of the MPs, especially since they weren't given definite assurances on what was going to happen with Northern Iraq...ie would there be a Kurdistan or not?, would the Kurds get the oil revenues and thus be able to equip themselves and make a serious play, etc.

It was a strong parliamentary rebellion over serious issues in the face of a pro-US PM and cabinet.

[x1stcav]

2 yaers later!

The Turks were Jerks!