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2003-01-10 Axis of Evil

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Posted by Steve 2003-01-10 12:46 pm|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 'Global security'(globalsecurity.org) is reporting that there are 4,000 US troops based in turkey, yet turkey is constantly stating that they will not allow US troops in turkey. Which is hard to understand considering they are a NATO nation and obliged under treaty to do so.

Posted by Frank Martin 2003-01-10 13:17:54|| [varifran.blogspot.com] 2003-01-10 13:17:54|| Front Page Top

#2 Turkey's playing a game old Turkey watchers are thoroughly familiar with. She's simply holding out until the very last moment. A common secret is that the Turkish generals would love to have a free hand in northern Iraq to slaughter the Kurds, but this "operation" would be a bit difficult with US troops in the immediate vicinity. Also, Ankara feels her mouth water over the Kirkuk oilfields, which she feels they're hers by right of God (pardon, Allah...) And she also needs cash -- lots and lots of it -- because the Turkish economy has gone to the dogs and it ain't rising any time soon (give 'em another 50 years to work out the basics).

In the meantime, Turkey does not let up in also claiming supremacy in the Aegean, by violating, daily and massively, Greek air space and fueling instability in the Eastern Med. Where the Turks are boxed in is Cyprus, where their illegal invasion and occupation of almost half the island has now made Turkey an occupying power of EU soil. This is one the rocket scientists at the Turkish general staff just didn't expect. But history is both harsh and unforgiving...

In all, the US needs Turkey, at least in the short run re. Iraq, but in the longer term American officials will have to decide whether a Turkey brimming with guns and having zero friends in the neighborhood would be the desirable "rampart" to defend US strategic interests. Remember what happened to that other "rampart," Iran, about twenty-odd years ago...

By the way, all those in the US who believe Turkey will be entering the EU and thus she will have the time and the incentive to "stabilize should be thinking this through again. I'd give Turkey as much chance of entering the EU as the Romanovs reclaiming their throne in Russia.

PS: Re. Frank's comment, Turkey is NOT obliged by NATO treaty to host US troops on her soil unless NATO is directly involved in war and the (in)famous Article 5 has been invoked. Bilateral agreements do stand though, and a special memorandum between the US and Turkey would serve the purpose fine.

Posted by Nik Karanikos 2003-01-10 13:47:13|| [sphaera.blogspot.com] 2003-01-10 13:47:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Just to give you a further measure of Turkish "cooperation" in times such as these: According to one of the largest-circulation Turkish dailies, "Milliyet" (Jan 8), a 150-man strong US military advance team, tasked to inspect Turkish bases for logistics/tactical readiness et cetera, has been snarled because the Turks have insisted ALL US military personnel be subject to Turkish laws. The DoD is reluctant to agree to such terms, especially when the US currently displays the highest sensititivity to questions of extra-territoriality and non-prosecution of its military personnel serving on missions in foreign countries. The Turkish military, according to this report, want the 150 US soldiers under Turkish law so that if "thousands" of US soldiers arrive for the Iraqi operation, their legal status will be the same. "Milliyet" also said that the USG insisted the advance contingent comes under NATO regulations, something that the Turkish generals rejected outright. The paper further reported that the Turkish foreign ministry is conducting "studies" of Turkish "rights" over Iraqi oil based on arrangements reached back in 1926. Turkey is determined to sink its fork and knife (and a few bayonets) in Iraqi flesh and it won't allow the US to have its way without obstruction, bickering, and a bottom-line deal that allows some form of permanent Turkish sway over parts of northern Iraq. Would the Bush administration be willing to agree to that?

Posted by Nik Karanikos 2003-01-10 14:15:37|| [sphaera.blogspot.com] 2003-01-10 14:15:37|| Front Page Top

#4 Where do we sign?

Posted by Steve 2003-01-10 15:07:55|| 2003-01-10 15:07:55|| Front Page Top

#5 I stand both corrected and educated. Thanks.

Posted by Frank Martin 2003-01-10 15:52:24|| [varifrank.blogspot.com] 2003-01-10 15:52:24|| Front Page Top

#6 For the record, the Associated Press reported (Jan. 10) that Turkey has finally agreed on the terms for the 150-man contingent. No mention of what exactly the arrangements are, or anything about the legal status question.

Posted by Nik Karanikos 2003-01-11 00:31:23|| [sphaera.blogspot.com] 2003-01-11 00:31:23|| Front Page Top

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