Our Allies- the TURKS

[Shi Huangdi]

Originally posted by DanS
What is wrong with what Turkey is doing?

Nothing. Except they can't get too greedy. We've already moved from $3 billion -> $6 billion cash and $10 billion -> $20 billion loan guarantees.

Well it's ok for them to try to negotiate with them? Turkey is in a key strategic geogrpahical location and are one of our most important allies, it is very important we keep them as such. And keep in mind a large majority of the Turkish people oppose such a war, a huge compensation is warranted given the possible domestic political consequences.

[Bereta_Eder]

A whooping 80% of Turkish people oppose the war.
Not even their police state can contain them and if economic hurdles continue, which they will with the war, that makes it bad for the present Islamist government.

Turkey is in a tight spot but has seen that it is able to extort the US and will do so because it is risking big in a war with Iraq.

[Ned]

Paiktis, why do the 80% of the Turk people oppose the war?

[Bereta_Eder]

Ned:
_ because they consider Iraqis brothers (muslims)
_because they fear it will lead to further economic crisis
_because they are afraid of a free Kurdistan
_because some are pacifists
_because they don't want to have for a neighboor a country which they helped being invaded

The regime is mostly afraid about the 3rd one the people about the 2nd

[Lancer]

I say we pump oil out of Iraq equal to the cost of the war.

Then just a wee bit more...

No really, what about paying for freeing the Iraqis with Iraqi oil?

[Ned]

Paiktis, thanks. BTW, it is interesting to even contemplate Turks being pacifists. My what a change from history.

As to Kurdistan, the more Turkey supports the war the more Turkey has a say on the issue of the Kurds. However, I for one am opposed in principle to cutting any deals with the Turks concerning the Kurds. This sounds to me a lot like Chamberlain and Hitler discussing Czechoslovakia at Munich.

As others have said here, I hope Turkey does not accept our offer. We can then deal with the Kurds fairly.

[Capt Dizle]

Iran moved troops into Iraq in the last couple of days. It is shaping up like a real mess.

[DanS]

This is a funny one...

Turkey actually asked for $92 billion.

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1045510927622

[DuncanK]

DanS,

How is that amusing? I'm pissed.

[DanS]

Well, if you don't ask for it, you'll never get it.

FYI: $93 billion represents 2/3rd of a year of the entire Turkish economy.

[KrazyHorse]

Well, for 2/3 of our annual GDP I'd let you use Canadian bases for any attack against Iraq...

[DuncanK]

frogger,

Would that be like 50 bucks?

[MOBIUS]

Apparently it's something like 94% of Turks against the War...

Also, why are the Kurds allowed to kill and torture the Kurds and the Iraqis are not - something of a double standard?

BTW if the northern front goes ahead, apparently the Turks plan to 'occupy' northern Iraq indefinitely...

[Demerzel]

The Turks are asking for an awful lot, it just comes down to who needs the other more I guess.

On the Kurds issue and the respective human rights issue, now you can see why the EU has refused even to start talks on admitting Turkey in for at least another year or two.

[DuncanK]

Why would the Turks want northern Iraq? Aren't they worried about having too many Kurds in Turkey?

Anyway, I really can't seeing either Turkey or Iran seriously pissing the US off. Although, asking for 93b does make them suspect.