Is It The Right Time?

MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen writes on a possible US military attack on Iraq and the US' expectations from Turkey in this regard. A summary of his column is as follows:
Turkey's political and military leadership are hoping to be briefed about the US' plans to bring down Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq from US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz during his contacts today in Ankara. Similarly, Wolfowitz hopes to learn what the Turkish government thinks about this issue. It is obvious that President Bush, without a doubt, wants a regime change in Iraq. Washington has not decided on any specific plan or tactic yet. However, it is known that various plans have been vigorously debated over the last few days. In his speech at a conference last Sunday, Wolfowitz illuminated some basic parameters of the US' Iraq policy: Firstly, the US thinks that the Iraq's territorial integrity should be preserved and that a democratic regime should be restored. Secondly, Washington -- also taking into account Turkey's sensitivities -- considers any Kurdish state in northern Iraq unacceptable. Thirdly, the Bush administration accepts Turkey's 'legitimate interests' in the region and demands that the rights of the Turkmen population in Iraq be recognized. These three points are of vital importance to Turkey. What are, in turn, the US' expectations? Certainly, in the first instance the US would like to see Turkey agreeing with its views about Iraq. However, the heart of the question is in what way the change in Iraq is going to be achieved. US authorities know that they are not in full agreement with the Turkish leaders. Nevertheless, they are expecting Ankara to take part in and support possible actions. One alternate way to bring down Saddam's administration now being discussed, with the active support of Britain, is to undermine it from the inside. But Washington has deep suspicions that this option will not work out. Thus, a military attack becomes more of a probability. As a matter of fact, more reports on various attack scenarios are being aired in the British and US press these days. Accordingly, the US may want to use Turkey's air bases in an airborne assault. Moreover, the US may initiate a land operation from the north of Iraq -- that is, from Turkey. Yesterday's Financial Times wrote that it was an unfortunate coincidence for the US that its campaign against Saddam Hussein had accelerated at a time when Turkey is experiencing a political crisis. Actually, is it less unfortunate for Turkey?

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION