New Turkish PM Dashes US Hopes of Swift Troop Move

Reuters | 3/15/03 | Daren Butler

[kattracks]

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said his government will not consider a bid to deploy U.S. troops in Turkey for an Iraq war until it wins a confidence vote, dashing any remaining U.S. hopes of a rapid decision.

Erdogan's comments on Friday evening came hours after he presented a cabinet list to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, who approved the government lineup and appointed him prime minister.

U.S. officials have already indicated they had little hope of Ankara approving a request to station 62,000 American troops on Turkish soil in time for any conflict with Iraq, which could be just days away.

Parliament rejected a first resolution on the deployment -- which U.S. military planners say could speed a victory over Baghdad by forcing to fight on two fronts -- two weeks ago.

Asked when a new motion might be submitted to parliament, Erdogan was quoted as saying by the state-run Anatolian news agency: "At the moment there is no such thing on our agenda. All of that (comes) after the vote of confidence."

He said the cabinet would meet on Monday and the government program could be read in parliament on Tuesday or Wednesday. A debate would follow two days later and a confidence vote after another day, pushing any new motion on the troop deployment back to the following week.

Barring a last-minute reversal on the issue, Washington has said a multi-billion dollar aid package vital to shielding Turkey against the economic impact of war was off the table.

The United States is still pushing for overflight rights in any conflict but officials are increasingly pessimistic. In Friday evening's briefing at party headquarters, Erdogan said it was up to parliament to decide on the overflight request.

ERDOGAN FORMALLY TAKES OFFICE

In a ceremony at the prime minister's office on Saturday, Erdogan formally took over the premiership from ally Abdullah Gul, who resigned this week to make way for his party leader.

Erdogan led the Justice and Development Party to victory in November polls but was barred from the premiership until last weekend because of a conviction for Islamist sedition.

He gave Gul the key post of foreign minister in the new government.

Widespread Turkish opposition to an attack on a neighboring Muslim state played a role in parliament's rejection of the initial troop resolution on March 1. More than a quarter of Erdogan's own deputies voted against the motion.

The powerful military intervened last week, suggesting parliament should support the United States. But Erdogan might nonetheless be reluctant to risk his authority by submitting a second motion he could yet lose.

Some 10 ships loaded with armor and equipment for the Fourth Infantry Division, a body of 30,000 soldiers, waits off Turkish shores for the order to disembark or divert elsewhere.

[DB]

Divert elsewhere now.

Forget Turkey.

[The Wizard]

bye bye 15 Billion

[chemicalman]

When the free Iraq is ready for trade with the world, Turkey will not be involved.

[Neanderthal]

Let's hear it for the new nation of Kurdistan . . .

[USMCVet]

Can you say "Autonomous Republic of Kurdistan"?

Yes, I knew you could..

[dep]

this is potentially a hell of a lot more serious than inconveniencing our battle plans. turkey -- you can take this to the bank -- plans to end up owning the northern iraqi oilfields.

we're gonna be shooting at turks before this thing is over. here's hoping we don't try to get permission from france first. or its bathhouse (or is it ba'athhouse?), the u.n.

dep

[AMNZ]

I trust we have already discounted any cooperation from the turks and have implemented an alternative. This has been clearly a "wish" not a reality too long to hang on to it.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

Next time a big earthquake devastates Turkey, and I'm hoping it happens sooner rather than later, the US Congress symbolically meets to decide whether to send aid.

And they drag out their decision for a month or two.

INGRATES!!

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Can you say "Autonomous Republic of Kurdistan"?

Easily. :^)

[prairiebreeze]

When the carriers in the Mediterranean start moving, we will know Turkey is out of the picture for good.

Prairie

[uncbob]

Ships should have left two weeks ago instead of allowing the State Dept to dork around hoping Tryrkey would get on board

This situation is a big time screw up

[UncleSamUSA]

In my mind there is very little difference between the French and the Turks in this build-up to the Iraq war. The French have been our main impediment and enemy in the diplomatic side of the buildup; and the Turks have been our main impediment and enemy in the military side of the buildup.

Both are former quote "allies" who have in fact acted as out-and-out enemies in the last few months and both are going to see major negative repercussions in the months that follow as victorious US forces defeat Saddam and the French and the Turks reap the whirlwind they have sowed.

[scooby321]

Turkey do Not cross Your border into Iraq

[shezza]

Absolutely. Time to enact Plan B, and pronto. There are more troops waiting to go, as soon as that load disembarks. So disembark, already.

[shezza]

The French have been schmoozing the Turks to get them to thumb their noses at the U.S., dangling the EU carrot in front of them. But ain't no way the French or the Germans (or the Greeks, for that matter) would let Turkey into the EU. Bunch of lying hypocrites, the French. I sincerely hope the Americans who keep that country afloat with their tourism billions will choose to spend their vacations in beautiful Spain and Eastern Europe.

[AndyJackson]

I have been to Turkey many times, have enjoyed it very much and am very very saddened by this development. Unfortunately, the Turks are going to learn that Kurdistan is what comes of making common cause with the French.

[laz17]

Tha hand of Chirac at work once again, turning another nation against us. My utter contempt for Chirac is beginning to eclipse my contempt for Saddam.

[dep]

alas, no. nor is kurdistan a foregone conclusion here. as i mentioned above, turkey knows exactly what it's doing, and has plans to acquire some oil wells for itself, as witness this.

dep

[Gore_ War_ Vet]

You'd think 16 billion would be enough to bribe anyone.

How dare they attempt self determination and sovereignty of thier borders.