CSIS: RESOLUTION WILL CREATE NEW SOURCE OF REGIONAL ANGER AGAINST US
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Oct 17 2007
Anthony Cordesman, expert at Center for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) in Washington D.C., said that the net impact of Armenian
genocide bill may well be to create yet another pointless regional
source of anger against the United States.
A report titled "Armenian Bill and the Turkish Reaction in Iraq"
by Cordesman said that it is far from clear what Turkey will or will
not do in Iraq. The report noted that the US should be careful not
to overreact if Turkey does send forces into the north of Iraq.
It stated, "Iraqi sovereignty and the security of the Kurdish zone in
Iraq ultimately require an Iraqi solution to terrorist organization
PKK problem." Indicating that the US did not want Turkey to go into
Iraq, Cordesman said, "it is not clear how deep the Turks go, the
numbers they invade with, what they do, and how long they stay. The
US, Iraqi Kurds, and Iraqi government has every reason to protest."
"However, it is far from clear just how destabilizing such Turkish
action will be. It might even be positive — forcing Iraq’s Kurds to
realize they are far better off as Iraqis than in seeking independence
or extreme versions of autonomy," he remarked.
Reporting Turkey’s supports to the United States in Iraq, Cordesman
said:
– One key area of support is the movement of fuel goes through Habur
Gate that is the main entryway into Iraq from Turkey. The cargo hub at
Incirlik Air Base serves both Iraq and Afghanistan. 74% of air cargo
into Iraq transits Incirlik. Six US military C-17 aircraft based at
Incirlik move the amount of cargo it took 9-10 military aircraft to
move from Germany, saving $160 million per year.
– KC-135 tankers operating out of Incirlik have flown 3,400 sorties
and delivered 35 million gallons of fuel to U.S. fighter and transport
aircraft on missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
– Approximately 25% of the fuel used by Coalition forces enters Iraq
from Turkey via the Habur Gate crossing, which is the main entryway
into Iraq from Turkey.
– In addition, 29% of the fuel used by Iraqi consumers — 250,000
tankers and 1.6 billion gallons of fuel – enters through Habur Gate.
– Turkey provides 19% of the food and water that Iraqis consume
through Habur Gate.
– Turkey continues to provide blanket clearance for military over
flights supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom (Off) and Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan.
– Turkey exports 270 MW of electricity to the north of Iraq and has
plans to increase that total to 1000 MW, or 25% of Iraq’s current
peak capacity.
– Over 20,000 Turks have worked in Iraq since 2004, and approximately
150 (mostly truck drivers) have lost their lives in attacks. About
1,000 Turkish companies are active in Iraq.
– Turkey has authorized the temporary deployment of 32 USAF F-16’s
to Incirlik Air Base during January-February 2007, providing vital
training and experience to the U.S. crews. A second rotational
deployment is scheduled for May 2007.
– Turkey welcomed 16 US Navy ships to Turkish ports in 2006, including
9 port calls for US crewmen and 7 fuel deliveries for Coalition forces
in Iraq. Six US Navy ships also made passages through the Turkish
Straits on their way to/from the Black Sea. Eight to ten port calls
are expected in 2007."