Turkey Sees U.S. Loans Despite Iraq Troops Issue

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031108/pl_nm/iraq_turkey_usa_dc&cid=615&ncid=1480

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday he believed Washington would still release a multi-billion dollar loan package after Turkey decided against deploying its forces to help secure neighboring Iraq.

NATO partner Turkey on Friday reversed an earlier decision to send troops to postwar Iraq after stiff opposition to the deployment from U.S.-backed Iraqi officials prompted Washington to withdraw a request for Turkish troops this week.

The United States had offered debt-ridden Turkey $8.5 billion in cheap loans for its cooperation on Iraq. Though no explicit link was made between the credit and the deployment, many investors believed the issues were connected.

"Our friends are discussing this (the release of the loans). There is nothing like the money not coming. It could come at any time," Erdogan told reporters.

more

[leftchick]

1. I thought they received some of that bribe money in September...

didn't I read that here yesterday?

[saigon68]

2. YES ITS A BRIBE BUT FIRST

They have to bring these guys under control

<>

Turkish Islamist protesters set fire to U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration in Istanbul against sending troops to Iraq. Turkey has decided against deploying troops to help its NATO partner the United States secure postwar Iraq, a government source said on Nov. 7. (Reuters)

[cliss]

3. Well, who really has the upper hand here?

The US is perceived to be the "top banana", the hard-hitting negotiator who can demand concessions. I have to assume here that Wolfowitz, along with the diplomatic corps is the chief negotiator. As if history is not enough of a guide, Turkey turned the US down once before, when it refused to allow the US to use Turkey as a staging ground for the offensive. They even had ships steaming toward Turkey to do just that, and I believe they even built a few roads in anticipation to move forward.

Arrogance is its own punishment. The US once again went knocking on Turkey's door, this time wanting troops. I'm sure they pounded their fist in the table, threatening, "you better, or else..." and once again crudely hanging dollars in their faces on a fishing line. Such brutish, neanderthal tactics surprise even me. I might just send them an issue of "Negotiation for Idiots (and we mean IDIOTS)".

And yet again, the Turks have managed to wrest themselves out of it. They know they will continue to be neighbors with Iraq, long after the US has cleared out.

[lumpy]

4. The Turks know how the US can turn around and bite

their 'allies'. They know how the Kurdish people and many countries have been treated. The US will use and abuse.

[Barrett808]

5. This is how a tacit conspiracy of colonies weakens the imperial power

They are going to take us for a ride.

[karlschneider]

6. From what I've read there is practically zero popular support in Turkey

for getting involved...nor from most Iraqis either, especially the northern parts. The whole idea was a travesty from the git-go and was nothing more IMO than a desperate attempt of the Shrub cabal to gather some international PR points.

Maybe I'm just a dumb Okie, but if I were the "president" and over 80% of the whole goddamn world thought I was an insane sonofabitch, I'd sure consider re-thinking some of my actions and ideologies.

:eyes: