From: STEVE KACZYNSKI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> om Subject: Re: Despite Widespread Opposition, Turkey Pushed By US/NATO To Commit Troops [W Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- > >The Daily Telegraph >October 10, 2001 > >-[T]he Bush administration has asked the government to >contribute special forces to an eventual ground >campaign against Taliban forces in Afghanistan. >-Turkish special forces have gained vast experience in >combating guerrilla forces in rugged mountain >territory during their 15-year war against rebels of >the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. >-[Turkish minister Kenan Tanrikulu] described the >decree as..."falling under the NATO framework...." >-Recent opinion polls show that an overwhelming >majority of Turks are opposed to the country's >military becoming involved against Afghanistan....They >are particularly concerned about the possibility of >Iraq, its south-eastern neighbour, being a target. > > >Move by Turkey to take part in action >By Amberin Zaman and Ambrose Evans-Pritchard >(Filed: 10/10/2001) > > >TURKISH leaders put the final touches yesterday to a >decree empowering the government to send troops >abroad, signalling the country's deepening involvement >in the war against terrorists. > >Reports in Turkey, denied by the authorities, said the >Bush administration has asked the government to >contribute special forces to an eventual ground >campaign against Taliban forces in Afghanistan. > >This would give the coalition forces a Muslim >component they lack. > >Turkish special forces have gained vast experience in >combating guerrilla forces in rugged mountain >territory during their 15-year war against rebels of >the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. > >They could prove an asset in Afghanistan, according to >Western military experts. > >The prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, and the US >ambassador, Robert Pearson, both denied the reports >yesterday. "We have not been asked for troops," Mr >Ecevit said. > >But Ahmet Kenan Tanrikulu, a nationalist minister in >Turkey's three-party coalition, confirmed that "a >decree was prepared yesterday to send soldiers >abroad". He described the decree as "sensitive" and as >"falling under the Nato framework", but declined to >elaborate. > >Turkey is Nato's only Muslim member and has the >alliance's second largest army. Under Turkish law, >parliamentary approval is needed before Turkish forces >can be deployed overseas. > >The leader of the Islamic Felicity party, Recai Kutan, >has already made clear that his party would vote >against approval. Mr Ecevit is expected to address MPs >soon to lobby support. > >Recent opinion polls show that an overwhelming >majority of Turks are opposed to the country's >military becoming involved against Afghanistan or >Turkey's Muslim neighbours. > >They are particularly concerned about the possibility >of Iraq, its south-eastern neighbour, being a target. > >The Iraqi government yesterday denied all involvement >in the September 11 attacks on America, vowing to >resist any attempt by the US-led coalition "to settle >old scores" in the Gulf. > >The Iraqi foreign minister, Naji Sabri, said the >growing allegations in Washington that Iraq played >some role behind the scenes in helping Osama bin >Laden's al-Qa'eda network were bogus. > >"If the United States and its British ally want to >widen attacks on Iraq under the pretext of terrorism, >that would reflect their desire to settle old scores >with Iraq," he said. > > 29 September 2001: Turkey signs up, but fears Iraq is >next US target > > > _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
