In interesting tidbit from Milliyet via ArabicNews. We'll see how or if it pans out.
Milliyet: Turkish- American joint military plan concerning Iraq
Iraq-Turkey, Politics, 1/27/2003
arabicnews.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. |
