It is an interesting assertion that Turkey barred the US as a result of French pressure. Unfortunately, in this article it is just a bald assertion. Does anyone have any specific references to the facts behind this claim? It makes sense, but I've never seen this claim made before.
None of this can be true. If it were, the Bush White House would have publicly defended itself by exposing it. </sarcasm>
This on the first hit. I'm sure we can find LOTS more if we look. Remember, Turkey wanted to join the EU, but Chirac was initially against it. Good bargaining chips. (And why, oh why did State and Condi Rice act as Turkey's sponsor and force Austria to give up its veto on Turkish EU entry??)
Anyway, here it is:
Feb. 10, 2003, 3:50pm EST
FRANCE, GERMANY, BELGIUM BLOCK NATO ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY
European dissent over U.S. plans for a possible confrontation with Iraq continued to grow Monday as key U.S. allies blocked a NATO proposal to provide defensive military aid to Turkey and prepared to bring a plan designed to prolong inspections in Iraq to the United Nations.
Belgium, supported by Germany and France, led the opposition to NATO support for Turkey, a move that may have repercussions for the powerful Cold War-era alliance. Turkey, Iraq's northern neighbor and a U.S. ally, has agreed to open its bases for possible U.S. operations against Saddam Hussein's regime.
The three opposing NATO members said that voting to deploy military aid to Turkey would signal that military operations were underway, and argued against a "rush to war.