-Caveat Lector-
www.sfgate.com Return to regular view
Wolfowitz says Turkey made `big, big mistake' in denying use of land
KEN GUGGENHEIM, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, March 27, 2003
©2003 Associated Press
URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?
f=/news/archive/2003/03/27/national1724EST0768.DTL
(03-27) 14:53 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --
Turkey's government "didn't quite know what it was doing" in failing to win
parliamentary approval to allow U.S. troops the right to use its territory to
invade Iraq, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said Thursday.
Wolfowitz described Turkey's decision as a "big, big mistake" but also
acknowledged the United States had asked a lot of Turkey and noted that
Turkey has granted overflight rights to American planes.
Appearing before the House Appropriations defense subcommittee,
Wolfowitz defended President Bush's request for $1 billion in aid to Turkey,
part of a $74.7 billion war spending bill. The United States had planned to
give Turkey a $6 billion aid package if it allowed the invasion from its
territory.
"Turkey's economy is in difficult circumstances and that is not good for
us," he said. Turkey is a secular Muslim nation and a member of the NATO
military alliance.
The United States had hoped to invade Iraq from Turkey, to the north, and
Kuwait, from the south. But Turkey's parliament refused to allow U.S.
troops to use the country's territory. The United States this week
parachuted about 1,000 Army troops into Kurdish-held northern Iraq to
open a northern front.
Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., asked Wolfowitz how much Turkey's decision
cost the United States.
Wolfowitz said the monetary cost is "not trivial," but the real cost is in not
having a heavy combat division in northern Iraq.
"There's no question if we had a U.S. armored force in northern Iraq right
now, the end (of the war) would be closer," he said.
He said the Turkish government came close to win parliamentary support
for the use of its territory.
"It was a new government that I think didn't quite know what it was
doing," he said. "It was a big, big mistake."
He said Turkey would have benefited from the $6 billion aid package. "And
that's clearly gone," he said.
But he said Turkey has "stepped up" by permitting overflight rights to the
United States. He noted Turkey is the only NATO ally that borders Iraq.
"Overflight of Turkey is a very big thing and they gave it to us
unconditionally," he said.
He said the $1 billion is needed to help Turkey deal with economic losses
caused by the war, such as damage to its tourism business. In the long run,
he said, the war will benefit Turkey because it will open new trade
opportunities with an Iraq free of international sanctions.
©2003 Associated Press
Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article
have to stand on their own merits.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do
not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera-
tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and
rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is
written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on
the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after
careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with
reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief,
from the Kalama Sutra
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
