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| Iraq |
| Pentagon Abandons Turkey Deployment Plan |
| 2003-03-22 |
| After weeks of waiting off Turkey's coast, dozens of U.S. ships carrying weaponry for the Army's 4th Infantry Division have been redirected to the Persian Gulf. The decision ends U.S. hopes of using Turkish bases to move heavy armored forces into northern Iraq. About 40 ships carrying the division's weaponry and equipment were to begin moving through the Suez Canal on Sunday. The 4th Infantry's soldiers, who remained at Fort Hood, Texas, after their weaponry and equipment went to the Mediterranean last month, are likely to go to Kuwait, the officials said. It also was possible that they could enter Iraq directly through the Gulf port of Umm Qasr, now under the control of British and U.S. Marines. The original plan had the entire division of about 17,500 soldiers heading to Turkey, along with some Army troops based in Germany. The redirected cargo ships are to begin arriving off the coast of Kuwait about March 30, one official said. All the ships would arrive by about April 10. From Kuwait they could move into Iraq to serve as reinforcements if the ground war lasts more than several weeks, or as occupation forces after the Iraqi government's collapse. I'll bet the 4ID guys are seriously cheezed — and the Bush guys are probably dwelling on the fact that "Turk" is a 4-letter word... |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #6 whether the absence of turkish help is due to poor diplomacy on the part of the Bush admin, or a brave attempt not to sell out the Kurds, is unclear at this point in time. I reserve judgement. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-03-22 21:21:23 |
| #5 This whole question should have been decided before the war began. Its called dipolmacy. There's been too much time wasted already on the diplomatic route. There's been 12 years of it, and until the attack was launched, little in the way of progress was being made. Since Turkey is a NATO member, it made sense to take advantage of their location and ask for assistance, but now that it's apparent that Turkey can't be counted on, they should also be excluded from any participation in any plans for a post-Saddam Iraq. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-03-22 17:47:39 |
| #4 Turkey is part of a growing unstable neighborhood. They have seen what happens to countries that are promised money and credits by America, witness Afghanistan. Turkey also has its own agenda with the Kurds and the possible establishment of Kurdistan in northern Iraq. If America acts in its own best interest then there no reason for President Bush to believe that Turkey would roll over and ignore their own interests. This whole question should have been decided before the war began. Its called dipolmacy. |
| Posted by: SmallMedia 2003-03-22 15:27:40 |
| #3 They could be in Jordan a lot sooner than March 30. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2003-03-22 14:50:46 |
| #2 It's about time. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-22 12:24:36 |
| #1 This whole question should have been decided before the war began. Its called dipolmacy. There's been too much time wasted already on the diplomatic route. There's been 12 years of it, and until the attack was launched, little in the way of progress was being made. Since Turkey is a NATO member, it made sense to take advantage of their location and ask for assistance, but now that it's apparent that Turkey can't be counted on, they should also be excluded from any participation in any plans for a post-Saddam Iraq. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 3/22/2003 5:47:39 PM |