US looks for alternative supply links to Iraq
By Alex Spillius in Washington

Daily Telegraph/UK
Last Updated: 3:02am BST 20/10/2007

The United States is looking for alternative ways to supply its troops
in Iraq in case Turkey closes its borders in protest at a perceived
snub by Washington.

A Pentagon official said: "There is planning going on," adding that
there would be "serious operational impacts" if the Turks chose to
obstruct US equipment.

The US fears that the Turks could cut access to Incirclik air base,
through which it sends materiel for Iraq and Afghanistan, after
Congressmen accused the Ottoman Empire, the forerunner of modern
Turkey, of the genocide of Armenians in 1915.

President George W Bush yesterday called on the Democratic-controlled
House of Representatives to drop the motion.

"One thing Congress should not be doing is sorting out the historical
record of the Ottoman Empire. It has more important work to do than
antagonise a democratic ally in the Muslim world," he said.

Mr Bush also urged Turkey not to launch an offensive against Kurdish
rebels in northern Iraq.

He said talks between Washington, Ankara and Baghdad were continuing to
try to calm the situation.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress