Turkey balked on helping Bush invade Iraq, but may help Obama with exit
ANKARA — Turkey's Islamist President was less than cooperative when the U.S. under former President George W. Bush sought to use its bases for the invasion of Iraq in 2003. But times have changed as Turkey under Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Obama administration have been preparing to enhance
their nations' military ties.
Officials said the Obama administration has sought Turkish cooperation
for a U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq. They said this would include the
stationing of an expanded American military presence in Turkey.
In May 2009, the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Adm. Michael Mullen, was scheduled to arrive in Turkey for meetings with
Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Ilker Basbug, Middle East Newsline reported.
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Officials said the two countries have agreed to conduct regular
high-level meetings as part of a strategic dialogue. They said Turkey has
agreed to help the United States in military missions in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
"The military and intelligence relations will become much closer and
reflect U.S. appreciation of Turkey as a major ally," an official said.
Officials said the strategic dialogue would take place in Ankara and
Washington.
Mullen would be the third high-level U.S. official to visit Turkey in
2009. In April, President Barack Obama spent two days in Turkey and
pronounced Ankara a key ally. In March, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
held talks with the Turkish leadership.
Comments
Under the radar, a massive change is taking place in Turkey. The Islamists have mounted a campaign against the army and the intellectuals to take the pressure of of themselves for abrogating the secular constitution. For some reason, the military is balking at intervening. Already, Turkey which has been a strong ally of Israel has just held military exercises with Syria! The west does not realize that the current world order is changed and will probably start to be felt soon.
