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Saint-Gaudens

Israel, Turkey got no advance notice of Iraq strike

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, February 21, 2001

TEL AVIV — Two leading allies of the United States are upset that Washington failed to notify them in advance of last week's air attack on Iraq.

Officials in Israel and Turkey said that as allies of the United States they should have been warned of the weekend attack. Israeli officials said such a warning would have helped prepare the military for any Iraqi retaliation.

"This is improper," Israeli President Moshe Katsav said.

Prime Minister Ehud Barak and other government leaders refrained from any criticism.

Turkish officials said Ankara is directly involved in U.S. policy on Iraq. They pointed out that British and U.S. warplanes use a southern Turkish air base to patrol the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.

Unlike Israel, Turkey criticized the attack on Iraq. Officials said such efforts leaves Ankara vulnerable to economic and political retaliation by the regime of President Saddam Hussein. Turkey wants to return as a leading trading partner of Iraq and, despite U.S. concern, is preparing to open an exhibition in Baghdad in May.

Wednesday, February 21, 2001



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