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U.S. General: Iraq Attack to Succeed Without Turkey
ABC News ^ | 3/3/03

Posted on 03/03/2003 8:21:34 AM PST by areafiftyone

STUTTGART, Germany (Reuters) - A top U.S. military official said on Monday a possible war in Iraq would be successful even without a northern front after the Turkish parliament blocked U.S. troops from deploying in Turkey.

"I don't think it's absolutely a showstopper in terms of whether you have a northern front or not," said Gen. James L. Jones, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and the Commander of the United States European Command.

"We're going to be successful regardless of what we're limited to," he told a news conference at EUCOM headquarters in the southwestern German town of Stuttgart.

"But to have a presence in the northern part of Iraq -- we would definitely have an advantage, and they would have to pay more attention to the North."

In a setback to U.S. plans for a "northern front" against Iraq, and clouding President Bush's efforts to build international support for a potential war, Turkey's parliament on Saturday narrowly rejected a motion to allow as many as 62,000 U.S. troops to be deployed in Turkey.

The United States is consulting with Turkey on future steps after the decision, a U.S. official said on Sunday.

Jones said the U.S. military was waiting to see what would be accomplished on the issue through diplomatic channels.

"We will have to wait and see how the diplomatic dialogue resolves itself," he said.

The deployment would have been accompanied by a multibillion dollar U.S. aid package under a deal negotiated by the United States and the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.

Jones said current plans to evaluate the U.S. military's base structure in Europe were still at the conception stage, but any base movements would not be connected to differences of opinion between Germany and the United States over Iraq.

"There's no list out there of what might be closed," said Jones, who assumed his current position in January.

European media reports have suggested recently that the United States was considering closing some German bases to "punish" Berlin for its anti-war stance, but Washington has denied any such motivation.

Jones declined to comment on which countries could be possible new homes for U.S. bases. But he said he has asked for a meeting with Russian colleagues to discuss the possibility of stationing troops in Eastern Europe.

The U.S. military was faced with the new challenge of protecting its bases in Germany when forces are deployed elsewhere, Jones said.

"We know that terrorists can strike anywhere," he said. "Force protection is very, very much part and parcel of anything that we do."

Germany currently has 950 soldiers protecting U.S. military bases in the country, where 70,000 of the nearly 110,000 U.S. troops in Europe are stationed. Jones said the U.S. military was grateful for Germany's assistance.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: allygermany; allyturkey; warlist
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To: mhking
Look at a map....we could do without going thru Israel.
41 posted on 03/03/2003 11:55:53 AM PST by Dog (Courage is being scared to death... and saddling up anyway. ~John Wayne)
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To: areafiftyone
"You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists."

We'll remember.

42 posted on 03/03/2003 12:39:04 PM PST by onedoug
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To: a_Turk
Do you know where the U.S. 4th IDs' armor and equipment is located? I'll bet the armor is still close to Turkey or in port. I don't think the U.S. has given up hope for another vote to happen...probably tommorrow.
43 posted on 03/03/2003 12:42:09 PM PST by demlosers
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To: demlosers
I'd drop muh beer..
44 posted on 03/03/2003 12:45:51 PM PST by a_Turk
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To: onedoug
Obviously, you're now with those we consider terrorists.

Smooth move, X-Lax..
45 posted on 03/03/2003 12:46:42 PM PST by a_Turk
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To: a_Turk
I'd drop muh beer..

I hoped it missed your keyboard :)

46 posted on 03/03/2003 12:48:36 PM PST by demlosers
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To: a_Turk
Islamism is the evocation, actualization and/or application of jihad to impose sharia on the indfidel, ultimately by force if all other methods fail.

The new parliamentary majority in Turkey is Islamist.

How am I wrong?

47 posted on 03/03/2003 1:07:15 PM PST by onedoug
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To: onedoug
Just because a person was born to worship the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus through Islam doesn't make them any sort of *ist or a threat to anyone.

Here are some of our muslim police women:


The lady in the picture is a parliamentarian of the party you refer to as Islamist:


That's how you're wrong...
48 posted on 03/03/2003 1:24:39 PM PST by a_Turk
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To: onedoug
Islamism is the evocation, actualization and/or application of jihad to impose sharia on the indfidel, ultimately by force....

I'll stand by that, and add...The Future is Muslim, European or American

Time to choose.

49 posted on 03/03/2003 1:57:23 PM PST by onedoug
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To: All
If it was up to me we would go ahead and attack from the south. All of iraq's soldiers would go after us. We could also attack from Isreal.
50 posted on 03/03/2003 2:07:28 PM PST by Avenger21
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To: a_Turk
I agree with you. Most people who live in Iraq that are fighting fight for Sadamm and not thier religion.
51 posted on 03/03/2003 2:09:34 PM PST by Avenger21
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To: COBOL2Java
It should be...
US to TURKEY: Glad to hear it. And just to show that there's no hard feelings, we won't take a dime more than $5 billion.
; )
52 posted on 03/03/2003 2:55:20 PM PST by Redcloak (All work and no FReep makes Jack a dull boy. All work and no FReep make s Jack a dul boy. Allwork an)
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To: Redcloak
I think we will just leave Turkey all together, but there is the chance that Turkey will aide Iraq and try to kick us out with the UN's help.
53 posted on 03/03/2003 3:02:35 PM PST by Avenger21
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To: VRWC_minion
"I won't be surprised if after the attack we are told that a special secret USA force was allowed to attack Iraq from Turkey."


I believe this also.
54 posted on 03/03/2003 3:11:49 PM PST by Bulldogs22
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To: Bulldogs22
If they were really going to help us they after the attack or not they should let us use small special forces groups deployed from thier country.
55 posted on 03/03/2003 3:14:28 PM PST by Avenger21
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To: SMEDLEYBUTLER
Improvise. Adapt. Overcome.


what's that from... sounds like a creed, and very familiar.
56 posted on 03/03/2003 5:06:07 PM PST by Robert_Paulson2 (Mr. 29a... needs to be convicted)
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To: a_Turk
the third police lady back... rather pretty... your sister?

and you are right about the secular nature of islam....
The shortest skirt you can buy at abercrombie and fitch... is "made in Turkey"... and I rather suspect, it is on occasion, worn there too.

I do not trust the Islamists though. I believe on occasion your military deals with the more extreme elements... If it becomes necessary, secularism will prevail.

This turn of events was expected as a potential outcome... and there are alternatives for us, with or without your help.. and I understand that SOME of the planning will still include your people... this will hopefully still turn out well.
57 posted on 03/03/2003 5:14:35 PM PST by Robert_Paulson2 (Mr. 29a... needs to be convicted)
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To: Avenger21
If Turkey does aid with Iraq, Its not really that big of a threat.
58 posted on 03/03/2003 6:14:31 PM PST by ustf2dan
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