[lbo-talk] Re: U.S. Asks Turkey to Send Troops to Iraq

[John Mage]

On March 26, 2003, General Ozkok (Commanding Officer of the Turkish
military) gave a news conference (following the Turkish refusal to permit
USBrit troops to invade Iraq from Turkey) that dealt with
the consequent USBrit demand that Turkish troops NOT enter northern Iraq.
Bush had just given a news conference in which he had said "We're in
constant touch with the Turkish military, as well as Turkish politicians.
They know our policy, and it's a firm policy. And we've made it very
clear to them we expect them not to go into Northern Iraq..."
<http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030323-1.html>
General Ozkok had this to say:

 > ''Developments about the military action against Iraq have revealed

 > Turkey's geopolitical and strategic values and importance. Turkey is

 > the important and reliable country of the region. If everything gets

 > out of control one day, I hope that our friends will be left no

 > choice but asking Turkey to do what they are against today,'' he

 > added.

<http://www.turkishpress.com/turkishpress/news.asp?ID=9686>

It took 4 months, and the USBrits came crawling back to General Ozkok,
just as he had "hoped."

john mage