The troops then will go to Turkey.
Apparently the "deal" is for a small contingent of new US Troops to be "stationed," ie living in Turkey; while a division of fighting troops "transits" to northern Iraq (Iraqi Kurdistan) via southern Turkey. The "stationed" troops will provide logistics, the "transiting" troops will go directly to the "Northern Front" to fight, transported via Turkish railways. This is how the Turks can both honor US and Nato requests while still avoiding the basing of large numbers of US Troops. See below posted news items.
Note: For History Fans.
Iskanderun was formerly known as Alexandretta. This was a city founded by Alexander the Great to celebrate his victory over the Persian Army at Issus. If the Milliyet report is accurate, then a division of US Troops will be roughly following the Royal Road that Alexander took to the Battle of Gaugemela which effectively ended the reign of the Persian Monarch Darius. The Gaugemela battlefield was roughly halfway between the modern day cities of Mosul and Irbil - and is renowned among all millitary historians. The only difference is that, after Issus, Alexander initially moved south to suppress the coastal cities - securing the rear. This Campaign ended with the sack of Gaza after which Alexander turned back north. Hmmmmmm. BTW the US 4th division is included in a task force that is code named "Iron Horse." As far as I know, Kuwait, is not known for its railways. Hmmmmmmmm.
Date : 2003-01-28
Milliyet: Turkish- American joint military plan concerning Iraq
asiantribune.com
The Turkish daily Milliyet said yesterday that the Presidium of the Turkish army staff and the American military officials have finalized joint plan concerning likely military operations against Iraq, and that the two sides reached an agreement concerning the passage of American units to Iraq through the Kahbour Border Gate and without deploying these units on the Turkish territories.
The paper added that the ships which are loaded by almost 20,000 American troops will arrive within several days to the territorial waters of the Mediterranean, where they will meet with another fleet composed of other 28 ships loaded with heavy weapons, radar and telecommunication equipment, waiting for the Turkish consent to enter the Turkish ports.
The paper indicated that it is likely that the Turkish national security council will discuss, in its meeting by the end of the current month, the northern front plan which is expected to be as follows: The American units arrive in Turkey and move directly to northern Iraq area without being deployed on the Turkish territories, and this will be by using the land border Gate Khabour and the railways and are redeployed in the depth of the region.
According to the paper, centers will be installed in several areas to ensure the logistic support for the unit which will have missions in the front, as the Logistic forces will be positioned in the border areas Khabour, Nseibin and the centers close to the borders of Northern Iraq as well as installing a headquarters in Deyar Baker to be in the position of coordinating the logistic centers.
The paper said that the American units will move from the two ports of Mersin and Iskandaroun and other ports which were not identified, as well as using the bases of Deyar Baker, Incerlik and Batman, noting that the land routes of southern Turkey will witness long caravans of American military in case the Turkish parliament's consent.
The paper indicated that if Turkey does not approve the entry of the American ships with its arrival date to be announced, Washington has decided to anchor the said ships in Qatar.
- Arabic News. Com - Jan / ¢
U.S. Offers Turkey Aid for Cooperation
LOUIS MEIXLER
Associated Press
thestate.com
ANKARA, Turkey - Turkey and the United States agreed on an outline for a multibillion dollar aid plan to cushion the economic shock if war breaks out with neighboring Iraq, Turkey's prime minister said Monday.
The package would be flexible and based on the length of any war and the amount of Turkey's losses, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said.
"A method has been determined, a package if the subject of losses comes up," Gul said in televised remarks. "Is the loss going to be $1 billion, $50 billion, or $10 billion? We don't know."
A U.S. official said the aid package was designed to offset losses international investors say could range from $4 billion to $15 billion. The package of loans or grants would depend on whether Turkey cooperates in any war and if it adheres to an economic program with the International Monetary Fund, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Gul met Saturday with Secretary of State Colin Powell in Davos, Switzerland, where both were attending the World Economic Forum.
Turkish support is considered crucial to any conflict, and the United States has reportedly asked Turkey for permission to base 80,000 soldiers there. They would likely open a northern front against Iraq.
But Turkish officials have asked Washington to scale back its request. Opinion polls show that more than 80 percent of Turks oppose a war.
Turkey is suffering from its worst recession in decades and fears a war would devastate tourism, one of the country's biggest money makers.
Turkey's Deputy Prime Minister Ertugrul Yalcinbayir said Monday that Iraq had put up a "white flag" of surrender, but the United States was still looking for war.
"You'll declare war against an Iraq that that has surrendered and that has taken out its white flag," Yalcinbayir said. "Iraq right now is saying peace. Iraq is in a position that it has surrendered everything."
A Turkish newspaper, Milliyet, reported Sunday that the Turkish military had agreed to allow up to 20,000 U.S. troops to pass through the country into northern Iraq if there is war.
But the U.S. official said military talks were continuing between the countries.
The official said any aid package would have to be approved by Congress, which would be difficult if Turkey does not aid a war effort and if it does not adhere to IMF conditions.
Turkey is one of the IMF's biggest borrowers, with $31 billion in loans. A $1.6 billion loan has been on hold since October while the IMF waits for the government to enact reforms.
The government has called for relaxing some of the austerity measures in the plan to help the poor. The plan was designed to help Turkey out of a severe economic crisis which has left more than 2 million people unemployed.
NATO Plans for Possible Iraqi Attack on Turkey
VOA News
27 Jan 2003, 22:34 UTC
voanews.com
NATO Secretary General George Robertson says the alliance is reviewing plans for dealing with a possible Iraqi attack on Turkey.
Military experts fear Iraqi forces may try to shut down air bases in southern Turkey such as Incirlik, which are used by U.S. and British warplanes to patrol the no-fly zone over northern Iraq.
Secretary Robertson says NATO is considering prudent defensive measures. Turkey is the only NATO member that borders Iraq. |
