-Caveat Lector- "The military is the most respected institution in the country and has led three coups since 1960."
TURKEY Military backs US plan for troop deployment http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/065/nation/Military_backs_US_plan_fo r_troop_deployment+.shtml By Louis Meixler, Associated Press, 3/6/2003 ANKARA - Turkey's powerful military said yesterday it supported letting in US troops for a war in neighboring Iraq, boosting pressure on legislators to reconsider their rejection of a measure allowing the American deployment. The comments from General Hilmi Ozkok, the nation's top officer, came a day after Turkey's top political leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, indicated that the government plans to reintroduce a new troop deployment resolution. The two men are widely considered the most influential leaders in Turkey. The military is the most respected institution in the country and has led three coups since 1960. Their statements appeared to have an immediate impact on parliament, where the resolution failed Saturday by just three votes. ''The conditions are changing fast,'' said Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, a deputy chairman of the governing Justice and Development Party. ''Many legislators are saying that they will cast a positive vote if the motion is brought to parliament again.'' Washington has offered Turkey a $15 billion aid package if parliament approves the deployment of 62,000 troops. It wants the deployment so that the US military can develop a powerful northern front against Saddam Hussein. In his remarks, Ozkok said a war would be ''shorter, there would be less pain'' if the country backed Washington. Ozkok said the military respected parliament's rejection of the resolution. But he appeared to urge parliament to reconsider, stating that if Turkey did not support the United States, Ankara would have no say in Iraq's future. Many deputies said they voted against the resolution despite the Cabinet's endorsement because public support is overwhelmingly against an Iraq war, with polls showing that up to 94 percent of Turks oppose a war. Ozkok directly addressed that concern. ''They say 94 percent are against war,'' he said. ''It is wrong. One hundred percent of the public is against a war.'' But, he said, if Turkey allows in American troops ''the war would be shorter, there would be less pain... fewer people will die.'' ''Turkey is not capable of preventing the war on its own. Our choice isn't between good and bad. Our choice is between bad and worse,'' Ozkok said. Turks fear a war could derail the country's fragile economic recovery, and the potential loss of the $15 billion aid package is also pushing legislators to reconsider. This story ran on page A22 of the Boston Globe on 3/6/2003. © Copyright 2003 Globe Newspaper Company. 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
