The sources did not identify the members. But they said they included
key members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Armed Services
Committee and their counterparts in the House.
Over the last year, Turkey has requested a range of weapons and
platforms from the United States, Middle East Newsline reported. They were said to have included attack
helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and advanced munitions.
The sources said the Turkish Foreign Ministry has discussed the issue
with the White House and State Department. They said the ministry would send
delegations to brief the House and Senate on Turkish policy and military
requirements after congressional elections in November 2010.
"Right now, the atmosphere is not right for serious talks," the source
said.
Congress was said to have suspended consideration of major Turkish
military requests in June 2010, in wake of Ankara's vote in the United
Nations Security Council against sanctions on Iran. Later, several House
members urged the White House to review U.S. defense relations with Ankara.
The sources said congressional opposition to Turkey reached the point
where President Barack Obama warned Erdogan that he would be unable to
guarantee U.S. defense exports to Ankara. In August, Obama was said to have
urged Erdogan to reduce Turkey's strategic alliance with Iran and restore
damaged relations with Israel.
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