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| Iraq |
| Turkey agrees to aid US war |
| 2003-02-06 |
| Turkey's parliament has agreed to allow the United States to upgrade Turkish military bases in preparation for a possible war with Iraq. Deputies passed a motion on Thursday authorising US personnel to start "renovation, development, construction, expansion and infrastructure work at military bases". YES! Let's get busy, the ships carrying the 4th ID from Fort Hood are on the way. The BBC's correspondent in Istanbul, Jonny Dymond, says the vote is Turkey's first step on the road to war. A vote on allowing Turkish troops to be sent abroad and foreign troops to be stationed in Turkey is expected in about 10 days' time. Our correspondent says the Turkish Government resisted as long as it thought conflict could be averted. But before Thursday's vote Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said Turkey had no choice but to back Washington on Iraq. "We have to act together with our strategic partner and ally the United States for our national interests," the daily Milliyet quoted him as saying, echoing remarks by his party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. The motion was passed by 308 votes to 93 with 9 abstentions. Not bad It makes clear that Turkey regards itself as a victim of circumstances. Before the vote, Iraq's ambassador to Turkey, Talib Abid Saleh, warned that any state providing logistical support to the US would "be participating in the war. Iraq might lob missiles into Kuwait, but I don't think they will attack the Turkish bases. That would make the Turks unhappy, you don't want to do that. |
| Posted by:Steve |