STORM2K

If finnally Turkey dont give the green light to the US to stage an invasion into Iraq from the north then all those ships and personnel that is in the mediterranian sea at this time will have to be moved all the way around Saudi Arabia thru the suez channel and then into the persian gulf and that would mean more time for the war to not start because it will take time to go around Saudi Arabia.

But still there is a chance that they give the US the green light but it all depends on negociations on many $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 6 Billon+ to Turkey in exchange for the US to use it's territory to stage from there a northern front.

The area within Asia Minor, once called Byzantium, is not known as TURKEY for nothing...gobble...gobble...gobble...

They want 60 Billon $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ in exchange to letting the US stage the operation to invade Iraq from the north but the US says it is the final offer thet they will make so the ball is in Turkeys court.

well i mean who wants war in their country w/o getting anything for it. You wouldn't let france come in here and attack canada w/o smthg to gain from it.

I thought we offered them 6 billion, which they in turn now want us to pay 10 billion. What a price to pay to have a friend. huh?

POLITICS are expensive :o

Gives all new meaning to the price of freedom.....

Pretty sad we have to buy our way to make countries see to it that we offer them peace along with it all....that should be payment enough for those countries.....peace by us protecting them.

Everything is about money. Sad but true.

It's not all about military options, folks; the Turks have suffered greatly from earthquakes, and rebuilding without major $$$$ is next to impossible for them.

They also recognize that Iraq is insane enough to shoot toxins all over Anatolia, and this is why they want a "signed and sealed" deal upfront from us to guarantee that we will help them after the dust settles.

They have already alienated the French (for daring to ask for NATO assistance!), and they cannot be certain of any continuous NATO support.
Further, France is now threatening to bar the Eastern European nations (of which Turkey is one applicant) from the E.U., due to their support of the U.S. and U.K.. Given France's and NATO's track record these last weeks, I can understand their misgivings, but G.W. is right...why should the U.S. pay Turkey's freight alone?

Which brings up the UN...long on talk, short on action. THEY sure as +&@% won't help...which puts the U.S. out there as the sole STABLE option for the Turks. It's not just military..there are "wheels within wheels" going around here.

Good points street soldier. Actually many of the EU countries don't even want Turkey a part of it b/c they are very non-European. Mostly stemming from they're non christian background. But Turkey is a very modern place and a wonderful place to vacation at i hear.