Bush thanks Turkey for leading peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan (plus picture gallery)

AP ^ | 6/25/2002 | N/A

[a_Turk]

ANKARA, Turkey - U.S. President George W. Bush ( news - web sites) on Tuesday thanked Turkey for taking command of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan ( news - web sites), calling Turkey a model for Muslims of a secular and democratic state.

Turkey took control of the 4,000-member multinational force from Britain last week.

"Turkey's participation and leadership in the war on terrorism deepens our country's strategic partnership and provides Muslims around the world a hopeful model of a modern and secular democracy," Bush wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit.

Turkey, a secular state, has strongly supported Washington's war against terrorism. Turkey is struggling with a deep economic crisis, but agreed to take over the mission following promises from the U.S. administration that it would appeal to Congress for dlrs 200 million in economic aid and dlrs 28 million in military aid.

The United States "will continue to work closely with your government and other contributing nations to ensure ISAF's success under Turkey's leadership," Bush said. ISAF is the international peacekeeping force.

The peacekeepers have been patrolling Kabul since January, supporting the interim government and helping a new police force after U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban regime.

[a_Turk]

President Bush is such a good man. I shudder to think how Al Gore would have fared with his whiney Lieberman..

Here are a few pictures of my compadres:


Turks waiting for their orders.


An Afghan boy looks on.


Afghan workers look on.


A Turk talks with residents of western Kabul.


A Turk trying not to scare a couple of little brothers..

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Good!

[a_Turk]

Ping.

[GingisK]

Hey! Those guys pack FNs. They are smarter than most.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for this post! If any nation can do a good job of this, it will be our Turkish allies!

There will be compassion, and a zero tolerance towards the behavior that allowed the Tallibaniers/al Qeada to take over Afghanistan and cause so much misery.

I was spitting nails last Friday night. I was driving home from fishing and the local station went to a special ABC alert. The clymers at ABC tried to portray the Turks taking over from the Brits as a terrible thing. I turned it off so the left wing agenda/Bravo Sierra stayed out of my vehicle.

These pictures say a lot!

Again our thanks goes out to our great ally in that area, the Turkish people!

[a_Turk]

terrible thing

Too bad I missed it. What was said?

[Freemyland]

"Bush thanks Turkey for leading peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan."

Whew! From the title, I thought Bush had allowed Clinton to get involved.

[a_Turk]

You musta never heard of the "Turkey Police," the "Turkey Diplomat," nor the "Turkey Attack!" :^D

[WaterDragon]

Impressive!!!!! This is a very wise move, for the Afghans, Turks, and Americans on different levels of need and purpose.

I don't have a lot of confidence in other Muslim countries accomplishing what Turkey is working on......Kemel Ataturk was unique. But then, all great leaders are, so maybe another of the Muslim countries will discover a leader who will provide what is necessary.

[Freemyland]

I think a Turkey attack was what Algore tried in Florida after the 2000 election.

Actually, I am not familiar with those terms, and all silliness aside, many thanks to Turkey, a true American ally.

[Grampa Dave]

The ABC rantor just made it should like Afghanistan would go to hell when the Brits left. That we/the USA would be forced to station more soldiers in Afghanistan, and our wins there could be lost if this change didn't work out.

At that time I turned of the radio for a few minutes.

It was an insult to the Turkish soldiers and their officers and to America for quote allowing this not ready for prime time group in to safe guard Afghanistan.

So you know what they are going to say when some violence does break out.

[a_Turk]

Our operation there is underfunded. I'm waiting for the political will in the USA to erode. We're in for some tough times, possibly..

[Tailback]

Not FN's. Most have the licensed HK G-3 from Germany but I can't figure out what the bottom guy has. It looks like a Soviet Dragunov sniper rifle but the flash suppressor looks like it's off an M-14 and the stock isn't correct for a Dragunov. I'm stumped on that one.

[1rudeboy]

I think the Pakis pack FN's, but these look like H&K's.

[PoisedWoman]

I'm waiting for the political will in the USA to erode. We're in for some tough times, possibly..

I wouldn't spend much time worrying about it. Just when we relax, the al Qaeda nuts will blow something up and we'll be back on the enthusiastic attack again.

I saw encampments of Turkish troops at the major, and even some minor, archeological sites in Turkiye. It's going to come to that here, too. WE;ll need troops at national monuments, parks, etc. as well as nuclear installations. Maybe we could borrow some well-trained soldiers from Turkiye to guard our borders. Those Turkish fellows are seriously tough!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

I hope this works for Afghanistan, for Turkey and for the U.S. . . .

In effect, the Israelis want to live within their current borders, but with a neighboring Palestinian state which is indistinguishable from Turkey (albeit preferably without the massive army). I would think that would be an enormously difficult political situation but then, it would be a signal achievement if Turkey could lead Palestine the way they are assaying to help Afghanistan.

But then, that would require a population that actually wanted peace . . .

[zip]

"Bush thanks Turkey for leading peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan." Whew! From the title, I thought Bush had allowed Clinton to get involved.

Now that's funny.

[wimpycat]

Great pics! Cute soldiers!

By the way, I'm pulling for Turkey in their match with Brazil tomorrow morning. Go Turks!

[OldFriend]

When I think of the suffering inflicted on the civilian populations in a large part of the world, it makes me weep.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Each of your "Compadres" is handsomer than the next. Thank your countrymen for me every chance you get. If you talk to any of the servicemen who are in Afganistan, tell them to hug the children for me. Tell them to come home safe and they will be in my prayers until they are in the arms of those who love them and whom they love. Let them tell children in Afganistan they are loved and cared for and that somebody in the United States of America truly wants a wonderful future for them. I see their little faces and all I can think of is finding a way to keep them safe.

When I think of how some of the children are taught to hate us, it hurts the spirit within me so deeply. Thanks for the ping, Turk.