[markomalley]

I had read that the Turkish govt. wanted a larger payment or shakedown from Uncle Sam to allow us to use their country to go into Iraq.

We balked at the sum and told the turks to shove it.

That was only part of the story. The French simultaneously promised to sponsor their way into the EU if they stayed out.

Of course, we both know what happens when you trust the French: you get screwed.

So it was one of two ways:

• either the Turks were shaking us down in order to make up for the economic loss they'd feel as the result of helping us (to include a guarantee of being blocked from EU membership)
• OR they were playing one side against the other and ended up with nothing.

Here on FR, it's popular to select the second option. But I think the first option is probably closer to the truth.

[Joe Boucher]

Either option means screw the Turks.