Rumsfeld set to talk missile defense with Turkey

WASHINGTON — The United States is prepared to resume missile defense talks with Turkey and allies in the region.

U.S. officials said the talks will take place during the tour this week of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld will arrive for talks in Ankara on Monday and officials said he is prepared to offer Turkey a key role in a U.S.-led missile defense system for Washington and its NATO allies.

"I think what he'll [Rumsfeld] go over and talk to them about the kinds of technologies which are applicable to the problem," a senior U.S. defense official said on the eve of Rumsfeld's trip to Ankara.

One proposal to be explored is the deployment of U.S. anti-missile defense batteries in southeastern Turkey. The batteries — whether the U.S. PAC-3 or the U.S.-Israeli Arrow — would be meant to destroy Iranian and Iraqi ballistic missiles.

Another proposal is for the deployment in Turkey of a U.S. early-warning system that would detect missiles fired toward NATO members or the United States.

The senior Pentagon official said Rumsfeld will explain to the Turks a range of missile defense systems. These will include airborne lasers and the boost phase intercept.