White House Withdraws Offer to Turkey

Fox News ^ | March 15, 2003

[Mr. Mulliner]

ANKARA, Turkey

[pepsionice]

For the Turks...it hurts. Their tourism, which is heavily based on Germans coming to the southern coast of Turkey...will be heavily hit by the war. A lot of Germans have not made reservations for their annual vacation to Turkey, and the key reason is safety. They think the war there makes the region unsafe. Tureky's tourism trade will suffer by at least $5 billion. In addition, there is the problem of the Kurd. Without the Turks, the Kurds are going to enjoy a lot of freedom and opportunities in the new Iraq. The US will ensure that there are enough forces up in the north to halt any Turkish advance into the country. And finally, the new government of Iraq may be more pro-Jordan than pro-Turkey...so business-wise...they will likely be hurt financilly there too. For Turkey, its a lose-lose situation.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Turkey's got a whole load of problems to face, it sounds like. More of a lose-lose-lose-lose situation.

[dwilli]

You think that Turkey will stand by an watch a Kurdish nation being formed in northern Iraq? The Turks already claim they have rights to the oil fields in northern Iraq.
Look for the turks to cross into N. Iraq as soon as we advance on Bagdad.

[185JHP]

They owe what's going to happen to them to the oozing Muslim pus. They exhibited a better understanding of "rational self interest" when they were more secular. It's like they inhaled what the Palies have been smoking: "I tell you it'll work, Achmed. They're weak!"

[Delta 21]

.....just wondering....

There is a navigable waterway into the Black Sea between Greece and Turkey (I hope I'm still thinking straight). Who claims these as territorial waters? Would it be worth it (is it any closer by land) to set up base in say Georgia and come down from the north? Its probly all Russian held and this is a very moot post, but i know that someone here will let me know.

....was that out of left field or do I just need to go to bed?

[Mr. Mulliner]

If Turkey wants to make any claims on oil in Iraq, they blew it.

The way Turkey handled this provides a lesson on "finger in the wind" politics. Their politicians decided to go with the polls of an obviously misinformed public and now they'll have to suffer the consequences for their lack of leadership.

[DB]

We won't let them have the oil fields.

They'd be making a huge mistake, on the level of Saddam taking Kuwait in the early nineties.

[FairOpinion]

"I do hope we reconsider our position on establishing a homeland for the Kurds"

-----

Plenty of choices: Turkey, France, Germany...

[Destro]

The Bosphorus straights are open to all by treaty. They are not Turkey's to control.

[dwilli]

I am not sure what we would do if Turkey moves in N. Iraq.
They are NATO, they are an ally of sorts, I don't know.

[Steven W.]

I concur re friends & allies but I'd suggest France is proven neither but, rather, like Russia, an adversary.

[Valin]

Earlier this month, Turkey's parliament -- mindful of polls showing a vast majority of the public opposed war -- rejected a government motion to authorize the deployment of 62,000 American troops on Turkish soil.

This is part of the problem in dealing with other democracies. Sometimes they don't do what you want.

As I've been saying for sometime now, day 4 of the war is when things really start to get...interesting

[river rat]

"They are NATO, they are an ally of sorts, I don't know."

It appears Turkey had a problem figuring that out also...
They will be the forth largest loser in this deal..
French, Saddam, Germans, Turks.......Russia...
Semper Fi

[Right_in_Virginia]

"Farewell Turkey, hello Kurdistan."

Although I had hoped for a friendship with Turkey...in light of the risk Turkey has chosen to bring to our troops~~~all I can say is: "We will alsways remember, and~~~Welcome to the family, "Kurdistan".

[Owl558]

To our valiant Turkish friends,

I hope the vote in parliment felt good because the Turkish economy is going to be a casualty of the Iraq war. Hope that notion is really sinking in right now. Thanks for nothing.

Boycott France and Germany.

[Delta 21]

Looks like it will be cutting into this guys buisness. Too bad .

No....really.

http://iol.co.za/index.php?click_id=3&art_id=qw1047651840883B262&set_id=1

[Marak]

An ally is a partner. If Turkish troops were joining us in the liberation of Iraq, they would be an ally. This is not happening.

A friend need not be an ally. For whatever reasons, the friend may not see a need to be involved in the action, but a friend would never hinder the action. If we had permission for overflight of Turkey, one could argue that Turkey is a friend, although not an ally. This also has not come to pass.

An adversary is one who obstructs or acts against the action. Clearly France is an adversary. By definition, Turkey is neither friend nor ally. It remains to be seen if Turkey is to become an adversary.

[LibertyThug]

A good relationship would have been wonderful for the U.S. and Turkey.
However, Turkey chose public opinion over good sense (Yes, at times the two are incompatible).
I am sorry for the Turks and happy for the Kurds.

[KingNo155]

we don't need to go thru turkey, we have a foot hold in the talibans former home.

[ambrose]

Time to drive the Muslims out of Europe, 'eh?