Turkish impasse forces US rethink

Turkish impasse forces US rethink

Heavily-laden ships remain at sea

Turkey's failure to agree to US troop deployment has meant a top-level rethink about war plans, Washington's top general in Europe has confirmed.

But General James L Jones insisted that the war plans would not be derailed by the Turkish impasse.

US plans to base 62,000 troops in Turkey, to open a northern front in any war against Iraq, were thrown into chaos on Saturday when the Turkish parliament failed to endorse the plan.

Further talks between US diplomats and Turkish officials continued on Monday, but with little sign of progress, as Turkish markets dived over 12% in response to the failed vote.

Turkish PM Abdullah Gul said on Monday no decision had been taken on reintroducing the motion, which has already been approved by the cabinet.

Any military planner would like to have options, but I don't think it will be a show-stopper

General James L Jones
US Europe commander

Analysts believe the vote will be delayed until a crucial by-election this weekend, in which ruling party leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan is standing.

A government reshuffle could then follow, possibly delaying a new vote for at least two or three weeks, a parliamentary source told the AFP news agency.

Despite the Turkish chaos, General Jones played down the significance of the possible loss of a northern front.

"Any military planner would like to have options," said General Jones, "but I don't think it will be a show-stopper."

US media reports spoke of a Plan B under preparation.

Aid in doubt

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer confirmed that possible changes were being looked at.

"Turkey is reviewing its options for what they will or will not be able to do, and we are evaluating our options and our alternatives," Mr Fleischer said.

Markets took a battering

The gloom on Turkish markets was prompted by the apparent loss of a multi-billion-dollar package of aid and loans which formed part of the deployment deal.

Markets had been trading for weeks on the assumption that the deal would be approved, providing a much-needed boost for the ailing Turkish economy.

On Monday the US State Department suggested that $6bn in aid could be off the table unless troops were allowed in the country.

It said the money was intended to pay for the troop accommodation in Turkey.

"If those activities don't occur, the costs won't be incurred," spokesman Richard Boucher said.

The vote's failure also leaves a huge question over the possible role of Turkish troops in any war.

The measures put to parliament allowed for Turkish troops to cross the border into Northern Iraq to secure the region in the event of war.

Opposition politicians have been calling for the bill to be split into two halves, which would allow a separate vote on the deployment of the Turkish troops, which has wider support in parliament.

Kuwait opening

As Washington works out what to about the Turkish impasse, US ships laden with the 4th Infantry Division's equipment remain at sea off Turkey, where they have been waiting for months.

Kuwait indicated on Monday it might be willing to accept the troops previously destined for Turkey, in addition to the 120,000 UK and US troops it already houses.

"There has been no formal request," Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber al-Hamad al-Sabah told reporters, according to Reuters news agency.

"If they [the United States] present a formal request it will be presented to the leadership and if they agree then there will be no problem."