U.S. General: Iraq Attack to Succeed Without Turkey

ABC News ^ | 3/3/03

[areafiftyone]

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - A top U.S. military official said on Monday a possible war in Iraq would be successful even without a northern front after the Turkish parliament blocked U.S. troops from deploying in Turkey.

"I don't think it's absolutely a showstopper in terms of whether you have a northern front or not," said Gen. James L. Jones, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and the Commander of the United States European Command.

"We're going to be successful regardless of what we're limited to," he told a news conference at EUCOM headquarters in the southwestern German town of Stuttgart.

"But to have a presence in the northern part of Iraq -- we would definitely have an advantage, and they would have to pay more attention to the North."

In a setback to U.S. plans for a "northern front" against Iraq, and clouding President Bush's efforts to build international support for a potential war, Turkey's parliament on Saturday narrowly rejected a motion to allow as many as 62,000 U.S. troops to be deployed in Turkey.

The United States is consulting with Turkey on future steps after the decision, a U.S. official said on Sunday.

Jones said the U.S. military was waiting to see what would be accomplished on the issue through diplomatic channels.

"We will have to wait and see how the diplomatic dialogue resolves itself," he said.

The deployment would have been accompanied by a multibillion dollar U.S. aid package under a deal negotiated by the United States and the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.

Jones said current plans to evaluate the U.S. military's base structure in Europe were still at the conception stage, but any base movements would not be connected to differences of opinion between Germany and the United States over Iraq.

"There's no list out there of what might be closed," said Jones, who assumed his current position in January.

European media reports have suggested recently that the United States was considering closing some German bases to "punish" Berlin for its anti-war stance, but Washington has denied any such motivation.

Jones declined to comment on which countries could be possible new homes for U.S. bases. But he said he has asked for a meeting with Russian colleagues to discuss the possibility of stationing troops in Eastern Europe.

The U.S. military was faced with the new challenge of protecting its bases in Germany when forces are deployed elsewhere, Jones said.

"We know that terrorists can strike anywhere," he said. "Force protection is very, very much part and parcel of anything that we do."

Germany currently has 950 soldiers protecting U.S. military bases in the country, where 70,000 of the nearly 110,000 U.S. troops in Europe are stationed. Jones said the U.S. military was grateful for Germany's assistance.

[maquiladora]

Not that the Iraqi's are anything great, but still, you have to have overwhelming force and a whole RG Division against LAW soldiers sounds a tad risky. True, the choppers will be effective in chewing up the tanks, but I have a feeling that not many Iraqi's will be fighting anyway.

The whole war will probably only last a day or two, the country is going to collapse like a house of cards.

[cake_crumb]

"I won't be surprised if after the attack we are told that a special secret USA force was allowed to attack Iraq from Turkey."

Me either.

[The_Victor]

Or better yet:

"Turkey, let me introduce you to our new friend Kurdistan."

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Sorry Turkey, you and your cronies missed the last train. All aboard! Next STOMP, Baghdad!

[CurlyBill]

Since the Turkish Parliament has divested itself of this war, we can now go in without owing them any more than our defense obligations with NATO (which will be done by default anyway.) We should then thank them, and tell them that we will instead launch the northern assault from KURDISTAN!!!!

[George W. Bush]

I won't be surprised if after the attack we are told that a special secret USA force was allowed to attack Iraq from Turkey.

Only if the Turkish military does it. I doubt it will happen.

[Balata]

Isn't that the truth. I've never heard of talking a Dictator to death.

[cake_crumb]

I thought the market reaction in Turkey was hysterical. It's like the parlaiment really didn't believe how much the market was betting on that $15 billion from the US.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[ARCADIA]

Who needs Turkey, Americans prefer beef.... :-)

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

[cake_crumb]

Four votes shy of majority does not a State Department fiasco make. In fact, it doesn't make for a fiasco on the part of the Turkish parlaiment either.

It's only FOUR VOTES, man....remain calm. That article is nothing more than blame gaming on the part of both career administration bashers and a very disappointed Turkish market. It's far to early for finger pointing and buck passing yet. In fact, it's far too early to say it won't come up for a revote yet. The only question now is weather a revote, if it occurs, will occur too late.

[latrans]

They are trying to put a happy face on a tragic situation.
Who will protect the oil fields? The Turks would be very
willing to do the job. Long Term.

[Bombard]

US troops are much better equipted than you give them credit for. Our airborne troops are armed with TOAW and other anti-tank weapons. Add to this the helicopter and fast mover assets and you have a force more that able to stand up to and defeat any Iraqi force in the north. The miniute the Iraqi Army shows itself it is dead meat and they know it. ON TO BAGHDAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mikhailovich]

Was it just me, or did the Turkish lawmakers look almost embarassed, surprised, bewildered, when the vote came in....as though they were sitting in their underwear before the world's eye?

[cake_crumb]

"Was it just me, or did the Turkish lawmakers look almost embarassed, surprised, bewildered, when the vote came in....as though they were sitting in their underwear before the world's eye?"

'Sheepish, suprised, apologetic and nervous' was my impression, but you put it MUCH better.

[George W. Bush]

In fact, it's far too early to say it won't come up for a revote yet.

Turkish prime minister Gul says it will not be brought for another vote unless the Security Council authorizes military action. And he won't promise it will pass then either.

Write off Turkey for the duration. Regrettably.

[Dog]

Watch Jordan..

I have a feeling the boy king will allow us to transit thru his kingdom..

[mhking]

I have a feeling the boy king will allow us to transit thru his kingdom..

In exchange for land post-Saddam? Absolutely!