Turkish Parliament Speaker Says Troop Vote Rejected

Reuters ^

[RCW2001]

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey's parliament speaker said on Saturday a motion to allow U.S. troops into the country for a possible war in Iraq had been rejected, a member of parliament told reporters. The issue is crucial to U.S. military plans and Turkey's relations with Washington.

The vote, carried out behind closed doors, ended with 264 votes for and 251 votes against with 19 abstentions -- an apparent slim victory for the government.

But the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) challenged the result on the grounds that the government had not won the 267 votes needed to represent a majority of the 534 lawmakers present in the assembly.

The government must now decide whether to try to present a similar resolution to the assembly again and gather the few votes it needs.

The resolution, which would also have cleared the way for dispatching Turkish troops to Iraq in case of war, had drawn widespread opposition in Turkey.

Fearing the economic and political impact of any conflict on its borders, Ankara had been reluctant to agree to any role in the war. Rejection of Washington's request will however deprive Turkey of U.S. financial support and a say in the future of northern Iraq, where Turkey has key interests.

U.S. ships are currently waiting with supplies off Turkey's Mediterranean coast to unload. For months Ankara and Washington have been working on an agreement which was expected to include some $6 billion in U.S. grants for Turkey and some $24 billion in loan guarantees.

[willgetsome]

Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves:

I'd rather save $15B and wait for the next moon cycle. Turkey doesn't want us. It's their decision, let them live with it like France and German. This just gives us more time to train and position troops.

[RobFromGa]

This will be signed tonight, of course they are bitching about the plurality, what else would they bitch about after they lost. (see Gore, Albert- December 2000 for more detail)

ANy idea about the reasons for 19 abstentions? (Most likely people who would have voted for but didn't need to.)

[AF68]

It's official that the vote failed. The Turkish parliament is going to vote again Tuesday. What are we waiting for? It's time for our ships to start steaming for the Gulf NOW.

[EGPWS]

What's "Thank you" in Turkish?

$$$!

[justshe]

*****Recovery from the latter condition will be difficult and prolonged.****

I think a number of these countries rely on the fact that foreign policy COULD change with each new administration. And they gamble that the latter condition might not be so prolonged.

[marajade]

"I think a number of these countries rely on the fact that foreign policy COULD change with each new administration."

I'm not sure I would risk 30 bil on it...

[Alas Babylon!]

Turkey has failed us, they have failed the world. I know that people everywhere (non-Americans) in the world may be oppossed to the War against Saddam, but they, by their wish for peace and no war at this time, are throwing away a chance to have it. Saddam will declare this a great victory. The Iraqi people will suffer, the United States will face humiliation over this in the eyes of our adversaries, and more US soldiers will be endangered. I am sorry to say this, but this is a defeat for the US.

We WILL fight Saddam, and win, but this WILL make it more difficult, as this will embolden him.

[willgetsome]

Yep....pack up our boys and equipment and move 'em thru the Suez Canal to the Gulf. War starts at the end of March.

Write off Turkey. Just tell them that they have a 20 mile buffer zone along the Iraq-Turkey border, but that they need to stay out of the way. This is our fight.

[Thane_Banquo]

War starts at the end of March.

End of March is way too late. Cannot wrap up the fighting before the heat sets in. Bush needs to attack now. Screw the UN and screw Turkey. And screw Colin Powell. It was his UN-loving idiocy that delayed this war for months. He should step down as Sec. State.

[EGPWS]

We WILL fight Saddam, and win, but this WILL make it more difficult, as this will embolden him.

That's the disappointing part of Turkeys decision since they are a welcome part of NATO and even now are getting NATO support to prepare and defend their homeland when the aggression begins.

[Catspaw]

Turkey made their choice. It's time for our troop ships to weigh anchor and leave Turkish waters.

[EGPWS]

2-3 weeks later but $20 Billion cheaper? Ok.

You forgot one other expense involved. American troop lives. Wihout the Northern front it could cost many more lives in the liberation of Iraq.

[A_Niceguy_in_CA]

Tonight would be excellant time to begin the full-scale liberation of Iraq. No more delays; no more BS diplomacy and BS inspections and BS voluntary disarming by Saddam.

[RoseofTexas]

The more we wait the more this War is cheapened! Probably the protests in their homeland scared the CRAP outta them!! This is extremely disappointing! The way it looks, this war might well turn out to be a VERY difficult one!! Bummer! Seems the WHOLE world is against us. Actually against W! They hate his GUTS and they will build walls against him at every turn!

[Dog]

I just got in.....what happened??

[muawiyah]

People in Turkey are afraid of Saddam Hussein. They are also afraid that he has missiles that can reach Istanbul and Ankara and that he will have them loaded up with all sorts of horrible chemicals and germs.

They figure that if they tell Saddam they are not involved then he will leave them alone.

They are, of course, wrong!~ Saddam undoubtedly has them in mind for a little payback for the last Gulf War.

[EGPWS]

Seems the WHOLE world is against us. Actually against W! They hate his GUTS and they will build walls against him at every turn!

That's because his agenda is to do what's right and to stop the whirlpool of world degradation that was acceptable before his tenure. A good portion of the world as become very accustom to appeasement at any cost from us.

[timydnuc]

The leftists in the U.N. are going bananas right now. This is a huge victory for our President and our cause against the Saddamizer. The French and Germans will have to face the post war defeat within the EU and they will be hurt (politically) deeply by their opposition. It is a sad Saturday for the world's leftists. It's good for me, and makes my coffee taste a little better this morning.

[marajade]

"People in Turkey are afraid of Saddam Hussein."

Their faith is more important to them than getting rid of an evil tirant...

[browardchad]

Could you explain why this thread -- with the WRONG information was maintained, while the thread with the correct information -- that Turkey has REJECTED our troops, has been locked?