Posted on 02/22/2006 10:35:13 PM PST by Wiz
The U.S. military is quietly preparing to withdraw its forces from Turkey.
Government sources said the military and Defense Department have concluded that Turkey is no longer a reliable military ally. The sources said that by 2008 the United States would have no more than a token military presence in Turkey.
"For two years, the Pentagon waited for a turnaround in Turkey," a source said. "That hasn't happened and the Pentagon will be looking elsewhere for basing and deployment."
The Bush administration was deeply disappointed by Ankara's refusal to host U.S. troops in 2003 as part of plans to form a northern front against the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. Last year, despite numerous pledges, Ankara blocked another U.S. effort to expand its military presence and use of Turkish military installations.
As a result, the Pentagon has been changing its deployment in Turkey and ended incentives for U.S. soldiers to be based in that country, which is also a member of NATO. The Pentagon has also terminated Turkey's certification as an area in direct support of the U.S. military operation in Iraq.
On Dec. 31, the Pentagon ended most incentives for U.S. soldiers to be based in Turkey, an area deemed as high risk amid rising anti-American sentiment during the war in Iraq. The Pentagon ended the exemption of U.S. soldiers from federal taxes in an arrangement known as combat zone tax exclusion.
U.S. soldiers in Turkey began receiving this benefit in January 2003 in anticipation of the war in Iraq. But in a review in late 2005, U.S. European Command determined that Turkey no longer fulfilled combat zone requirements.
(Excerpt) Read more at kurdistanobserver.servehttp.com ...
I'm not so concerned about our allowing them to manage the ports.
I'm more concerned about their rolling over the borders and conquering the ports. The Ottomans did that several times, if I recall.
And create a greater Kurdistan incorporating a 1/3 of Turkry and 1/4 of Iran. Sounds good to me.
First off this is freakin Insight magazine. There right up there with DEBKA sometimes on getting stuff right. The relationship with the Turks is worth salvaging. We have been great allies for years. Also they have a big history of Secularlism.
Good thing we didn't put the Turkish government in charge of our main ports when they were our bestest bestest bestest allies in the whole wide world.
Good thing indeed.
Consider the source on this (Kurdistan Observer). AFAIK the USAF considers Incirlik AFB as absolutely vital to its operations.
>>U.S. Military Decides Turkey No Longer Reliable Ally<<
>>We knew that when they stiffed us in iraq. I wonder about their NATO status.<<
ALOT of NATO countries are not reliable allies, not just Turkey.
BTTT
Yeah, but we have replaced them with a real muslim ally, they are called the UAE, and they will be trusted with operating our sea ports. The WH crystal ball says they won't be like all those untrustworthy muslim allies, Saudi, Turkey and Pakistan. These UAE muslims can be trusted with our national security. (until we find out at some future date we shot ourselves in the foot again by trusting our enemies).
ping
Maybe we will learn one day that no Islamic country is our friend nor can they be trusted. After all if you are a Muslim it is perfectly permissible to lie to an infidel to achieve your goal.
I guess that's why our politicians admire them so. They both use the lie so well. They both think they know what is best for everyone else in the world and therefore they seek to dominate them.
Muslims seek one thing and one thing only. A world dominated and inhabited by Islamics only,period.
Any one that follows the teachings of Mohamed is a direct deadly threat to those who do not.
There are no peaceful Muslims. There are only those that will kill you today and those that will kill you tomorrow.
and a history with fake democracy with corruption and Turkey's military in the dark of controlling the government. What was those years which criticizing the military as well as discussing Armenian genocide was a taboo, with possibilities being put on court for anti-patriotic law. I've done my homework.
Of course, as Turkey denied entrance of US force from Turkey during Iraq War, attempting to invade northern Iraq during the war, contacting Syria and Iran for improvement of relationship, and criticizing Israel regarding Hamas, as Hamas makes contact to officials of Turkey, and history of invading Middle East countries, Cyprus, Constantinople, Western Armenia, and Kurdistan, and a history of genocide of Armenians, our Christian brothers. We should also not forget about the Turka Cola CM, slaughter of Italian priest in Turkey, publication of Turkey allied with Russia fighting currently Governor of California as Pro-Nazi President of America allied with Europe, and the recent news of anti-US film about liberation of Iraq. If you still defend Turkey for all this, you might want to move to Democratic Underground.
Show me where I support the Turks in my statement, before you make moronic ignorant comments about me.
Sorry to read it. The US had hopes for Turkey.
Yeah buddy, our military is right up on events.
Wasn't it turdkey that tried to shake the U.S.A. down for a little more lucre for letting us use their country for one of the staging areas to invade Iraq?
As a result of this shakedown refusal many American soldiers died needlessly.
Screw turdkey.
About time our military understands and takes action.
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Turkey was always the token Muslim democracy in the Middle East. With events in Iraq and Afghanistan, they no longer hold that coveted spot. The bases in Turkey were vital to containing Saddam Hussein. Now a jail cell suffices. Turkey's not "all that" anymore.
No, they knew it years ago but where hoping for a turn around. Sort of like Texas always hopes Louisiana will clean up it's politics.
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