General Says Turkey Ready to Serve in Iraq

AP ^ | 8/10/2003 | N/A

[a_Turk]

ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey's military is ready to serve in a multinational peacekeeping force in neighboring Iraq (news - web sites), a top general said Sunday.

With U.S. military manpower stretched thin, the United States is looking to several countries, including Turkey, for additional troops in Iraq. It hopes to replace some of the exhausted U.S. units with non-American troops.

The announcement by Gen. Yasar Buyukanit at a cocktail party for journalists in Ankara, could help ease public opposition against contributing to the U.S.-led operation. As a largely Muslim country, Turkey could help the United States gain support in the Islamic world for its occupation of Iraq if Ankara participates in the peacekeeping.

"If there is instability next door, we can't keep our eyes closed," said Buyukanit, deputy chief of staff. It was the first time the military publicly endorsed sending peacekeepers to Iraq.

Gen. John Abizaid, head of U.S. Central Command, made the request for Turkish troops during a visit to the country in July. Press reports in Turkey said Abizaid raised the possibility of a Turkish commitment of 10,000 troops.

Relations between the two NATO (news - web sites) allies have been strained since March, when Turkey's parliament refused to let the U.S. military use its territory as a staging ground for an invasion.

Parliament must approve any deployment of Turkish troops abroad. Many lawmakers, who are still angry with the detention of 11 Turkish soldiers by the U.S. military in Iraq last month, have are opposed to sending the peacekeepers.

"Turkey's military is capable of carrying out any mission, but it is a political decision," Buyukanit added.

Buyukanit said top political and military leaders, including members of the government, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, and Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the head of the military, would meet Tuesday to discuss the deployment.

Buyukanit admitted any mission could be dangerous.

"Of course, there's a risk. Otherwise, they (Iraqis) would not need a stabilizing force," he said.

Turkey maintains several thousand troops in northern Iraq, which borders Turkey, to chase Kurdish rebels who fought a 15-year war for autonomy in southeastern Turkey and to monitor the situation in northern Iraq. But those troops fall outside the scope of the U.S.-led mission.

[a_Turk]

Aside from urban guerilla warfare, plans are ready to feed 50000 Iraqis three meals a day and to rebuild their schools and hospitals.

[a_Turk]

ping.

[Thud]

Thanksgiving is a hundred days off.

[Wolverine]

$30billion later...The only catch is they will deploy from Kuwait..??

[Dog Gone]

It would be nice to have them. I assume they'd work in southern Iraq.

[StarCMC]

Good one! My little bro. was supposed to deploy from Turkey -- got stuck sitting on his thumbs for 2 months in "lovely Ft. McCoy, WI." Maybe we can offer them as much help as they've given us???

[marron]

This is good news.

[Libertina]

Gobble gobble LOL I really need to be more careful when reading FR headlines ... ;)

[Joe Boucher]

The way I feel about turkey right about now, I don't think I want their help there.
Turkey has proven to not be a ally, more of an alley.

[Drango]

It's a little late...but your help is welcome...

[Aaron0617]

It would be nice to have them. I assume they'd work in southern Iraq.

No, I heard Fallujah and Baladi(sp). I say bring them in. Better late than never.

Thank you Turkey.

[joesnuffy]

What?? Turkey but no Grease?

[wtc911]

Not thank you turkey...f*** you turkey. A muslim, duplicitous, opportunistic, third world cesspool.

[Alamo-Girl]

That's great news to me! Iraq needs to rebuild ties with its neighbors and what better way to start than to accept a helping hand in a time of need?

[No Truce With Kings]

"I assume they'd work in southern Iraq."

Either that or the Ba'ath triangle. We don't seem to be having problems in the Kurdish regions, so we don't need them there.

[Aaron0617]

Not thank you turkey...f*** you turkey. A muslim, duplicitous, opportunistic, third world cesspool.

If not Turkey who do you want to continue to guard Police stations and Banks in Fallujah and Baladi? Who?

There aren't enough Iraqi police and U.S. is still training their military.

[wtc911]

I wouldn't trust the turks to guard a vegetable stand. Their entire modern history is one of opportunistic non-principalled manuevering. I would find any alternative preferable to giving these scumbags access to Iraq.

[a_Turk]

They'd work in the area northwest of Baghdad aka the devil's triangle.

[msdrby]

This headline is hilarious! It's like saying, "Come and get it, we've got turkey for dinner." Surely there is a better verb to use than serve.

[Arpege92]

"If there is instability next door, we can't keep our eyes closed."

Why? The Iraqi's have been suffering for years under the dictatorship of Saddam and now your concerned! I wonder how much money the United States is handing over to Turkey in order for them to be more helpful.