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.

[Dog]

Look at a map....we could do without going thru Israel.

[onedoug]

"You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists."

We'll remember.

[demlosers]

Do you know where the U.S. 4th IDs' armor and equipment is located? I'll bet the armor is still close to Turkey or in port. I don't think the U.S. has given up hope for another vote to happen...probably tommorrow.

[a_Turk]

I'd drop muh beer..

[a_Turk]

Obviously, you're now with those we consider terrorists.

Smooth move, X-Lax..

[demlosers]

I'd drop muh beer..

I hoped it missed your keyboard :)

[onedoug]

Islamism is the evocation, actualization and/or application of jihad to impose sharia on the indfidel, ultimately by force if all other methods fail.

The new parliamentary majority in Turkey is Islamist.

How am I wrong?

[a_Turk]

Just because a person was born to worship the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus through Islam doesn't make them any sort of *ist or a threat to anyone.

Here are some of our muslim police women:


The lady in the picture is a parliamentarian of the party you refer to as Islamist:


That's how you're wrong...

[onedoug]

Islamism is the evocation, actualization and/or application of jihad to impose sharia on the indfidel, ultimately by force....

I'll stand by that, and add...The Future is Muslim, European or American

Time to choose.

[Avenger21]

If it was up to me we would go ahead and attack from the south. All of iraq's soldiers would go after us. We could also attack from Isreal.

[Avenger21]

I agree with you. Most people who live in Iraq that are fighting fight for Sadamm and not thier religion.

[Redcloak]

It should be...

US to TURKEY: Glad to hear it. And just to show that there's no hard feelings, we won't take a dime more than $5 billion.

; )

[Avenger21]

I think we will just leave Turkey all together, but there is the chance that Turkey will aide Iraq and try to kick us out with the UN's help.

[Bulldogs22]

"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."


I believe this also.

[Avenger21]

If they were really going to help us they after the attack or not they should let us use small special forces groups deployed from thier country.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.

---

what's that from... sounds like a creed, and very familiar.

[Robert_Paulson2]

the third police lady back... rather pretty... your sister?

and you are right about the secular nature of islam....
The shortest skirt you can buy at abercrombie and fitch... is "made in Turkey"... and I rather suspect, it is on occasion, worn there too.

I do not trust the Islamists though. I believe on occasion your military deals with the more extreme elements... If it becomes necessary, secularism will prevail.

This turn of events was expected as a potential outcome... and there are alternatives for us, with or without your help.. and I understand that SOME of the planning will still include your people... this will hopefully still turn out well.

[ustf2dan]

If Turkey does aid with Iraq, Its not really that big of a threat.