http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/ap_on_re_mi_ea/turkey
2007-10-17 05:28:40 · 9 answers · asked by Darth Vader 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Iraq that is.
2007-10-17 05:28:54 · update #1
Good question and what I have been posting on other questions!!
It is a myth that Turkey is this great unconditional ally of the U.S. in Iraq.
Turkey was a Cold War ally and was richly compensated for it. So much so that when Turkey attacked our loyal NATO ally, Greece ,we looked the other way. We continue to give arms and aid to Turkey to this day despite the Cold War having ended 15 years ago.
Turkey's present democratically elected ISLAMIC government has a majority Islamic constituency that DO NOT LIKE US . No leader in Turkey today can guarantee to deliver what the U.S. needs from Turkey,that is approval for :
1. access of our troops and weapons to Iraq through Turkey
2. a free hand to arm the Kurds in Iraq.
Only a military coup and dictatorship could possibly give the U.S. the kind of alliance that would make a difference to the troops in Iraq. And it ain't going to happen.
The Turks want a go at the Kurds and they are going to do what they want,Armenians or no Armenians. It is ridiculous to suggest that if we keep a cowardly silence on the Armenian genocide issue that we can buy Turkey's compliance.
Turkey is using moral blackmail on us . Why not? It is legitimate for nations to try and make the most of their chances. What is incredible is that WE give in to it!
2007-10-17 05:48:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Turkey is about to turn their backs on us , because Nancy Pelosi thinks the most important mission in the House is a resolution that labels the World War I-era massacre of Armenians by Turkish forces "genocide," many are asking why the House is debating the resolution now. Many officials have lobbied against the resolution, saying good U.S-Turkish relations are vital to U.S. forces in Iraq. The Pentagon says 70 percent of the military's cargo heading into Iraq either flies into or over Turkey. But the Democrats do not care about anything , or anyone except their goal to rally votes for democratic presidential candidates....and of course seeing how they failed to bring home the troops as promised , they are willing to sabotage the war and our Troops ...
2007-10-17 12:54:25 · answer #2 · answered by Insensitively Honest 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They were more worried about Kurds and thier quest for Kurdistan than Iraq. Turkey has the next largest military in the region. Iraq was not that big of a threat to them, and the Kurds are right there on the border.
2007-10-17 12:40:32 · answer #3 · answered by commanderbuck383 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bush stated they have had forces in Northern Iraq and as he gave the News conference the Parliament passed the authority as your post indicates. The PKK, the Kurdish Worker's Party have been raising heck in the area for years. Run into the hills and back & forth into Iraq. The good Kurd's take the heat.
2007-10-17 12:39:16 · answer #4 · answered by Mele Kai 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They stayed out of it--as we asked them to. For Turkey tobecome involved will only make things worse. They are only threatening to now because of border incursions from Kurdish nationalists. A problem we should be policing as long as we are there--an the Iraqi government is responsible for inany case. Not running around gunning innocent civilians in the streets of Bagdhad.
2007-10-17 12:44:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Read the article more carefully.
"In Washington, President Bush said the United States was making clear to Turkey it should not send a massive number of troops into Iraq."
"Bush said Turkey has had troops stationed in Iraq "for quite a while."
"We don't think it's in their interest to send more troops in."
2007-10-17 12:53:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
They now allow us to fly needed stuff to the troops. But when we first started, they did not allow our boys to fly sorties out of Turkey to Iraq. We had to go to Bulgaria first. A real pain. But what did you expect from Turkey?
I Cr 13;8a
2007-10-18 02:46:04 · answer #7 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the Thanksgiving dinner table.
2007-10-17 12:45:56 · answer #8 · answered by subprimelendor 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Getting ready for Thanksgiving?? lol (sorry, first thing that came to mind)
2007-10-17 12:32:14 · answer #9 · answered by marshfield_meme 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋