Turkey Threatens Repercussions for US

Oct 12, 2:34 AM (ET)

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey, which is a key supply route to U.S. troops in Iraq, recalled its ambassador to Washington on Thursday and warned of serious repercussions if Congress labels the killing of Armenians by Turks – a century ago - as genocide.

Ordered after a (U.S.) House committee endorsed the genocide measure, the summons of the ambassador for consultations was a further sign of the deteriorating relations between two longtime allies and the potential for new turmoil in an already troubled region.

Egeman Bagis, an aide to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told Turkish media that Turkey - a conduit for many of the supplies shipped to American bases in both Iraq and Afghanistan - might have to "cut logistical support to the U.S."

Analysts also have speculated the resolution could make Turkey more inclined to send troops into northern Iraq to hunt Turkish Kurd rebels, a move opposed by the U.S. because it would disrupt one of the few relatively stable and peaceful Iraqi areas.

"There are steps that we will take," Turkey's prime minister told reporters, but without elaboration.  

Turkey might shut down Incirlik air base in southern Turkey, a major cargo hub for U.S. and allied military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Turkey's Mediterranean port of Iskenderun is also used to ferry cargo to American troops.

"You don't talk about such things, you just do them," Erdogan said.

Turkey's ambassador in Washington, Nabi Sensoy, was ordered home for discussions with the Turkish leadership about what is happening in Congress, Foreign Minister spokesman Levent Bilman said.

The Bush administration, which is lobbying strongly in hopes of persuading Congress (our Democrat socialist Congress) to reject the resolution, stressed the need for good relations with Turkey.

Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council said. "We remain opposed to House Resolution 106 because of the grave harm it could bring to the national security of the United States."

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the measure is damaging relations at a time when U.S. forces in Iraq rely heavily on Turkish permission to use their airspace for cargo flights.

About 70 percent of U.S. air cargo headed for Iraq goes through Turkey as does about one-third of the fuel used by the U.S. military there. U.S. bases also get water, food and other supplies carried  overland by Turkish truckers who cross into Iraq's northern Kurdish region.

(Does the Democrat socialist Congress  really want to PO Turkey?  Sure - - that way they will FORCE our troops to COME HOME - - end the war, that they want us to LOSE anyway - - and make those Liberal extremely happp)

In addition, C-17 cargo planes fly military supplies to U.S. soldiers in remote areas of Iraq from Incirlik, avoiding the use of Iraqi roads vulnerable to bomb attacks.  U.S. officials say the arrangement helps reduce American casualties.

U.S.-Turkish ties already had been strained by Turkey's complaint the U.S. hasn't done enough to stop Turkish Kurd rebels from using bases in northern Iraq to stage attacks in southeastern Turkey, a predominantly Kurdish region where tens of thousands have died in fighting since 1984.

Turkish warplanes and helicopter gunships attacked suspected positions of Kurdish rebels on the border this week and Turkey's parliament was expected to vote next week on a proposal to allow the military to pursue a large-scale offensive in northern Iraq.

The U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, was invited to the Foreign Ministry, where officials conveyed their "unease" over the resolution in Congress and asked the Bush administration do all in its power to stop passage by the full House, a Foreign Ministry official said.  

Historians estimate up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I.  Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the killings didn't come from a coordinated campaign but rather during unrest accompanying the Ottoman Empire's collapse.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the resolution Wednesday despite intense lobbying by Turkish officials and the opposition from President Bush. The vote was a triumph for well-organized Armenian-American interest groups that have lobbied Congress for decades to pass a resolution.  

The administration will now try to pressure Democratic leaders in Congress not to schedule a vote, but House Speaker Nancy PELOSI indicated they were committed to going forward. 

Pelosi said: "Why do it now? Because there's never been a good time and all of us in the Democratic leadership have supported it".       

          "Democratic Leadership" 

Turkish officials said the House had no business to get involved in writing history.

"It is not possible to accept such an accusation of a crime which was never committed by the Turkish nation," Turkey's government said after the committee adopted the measure. 

(Why would our U.S. Congress, who are made up of such low classed ILK, be so committed to do this against Turkey?   

Again, so that Turkey will become upset enough to stop helping U.S. troops: no water, no fuel, no food, no supplies, our troops must come home, and then we LOSE this war against Terrorism!    

This is what the Liberals have worked for all along. . . . the cut and run
gang = = lose this war!)

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