GENOCIDE BILL IN U.S. MAY AFFECT INCIRLIK MISSION
By Kent Harris Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes, DC
Oct 10 2007
Legislation headed Wednesday before a committee of the U.S. House
of Representatives could affect the future of Incirlik Air Base –
or at least current contingency operations on base.
Turkish authorities have said if Congress passes legislation declaring
the deaths of up to 1.5 million Armenians in the early 1900s genocide,
the NATO ally might choose to restrict American operations in its
country.
The initiative – long backed by Armenian groups but bitterly opposed
by the Turkish government – would serve more as a symbolic statement
than a change in policy.
But recent comments by Turkish government officials, lobbying President
Bush and members of Congress, have indicated that such a resolution
could prompt Turkey to change its policies.
Turkey is already upset with the U.S. for breaches across its border
with Iraq. It says Kurdish rebels are using Iraq as a launching point
for attacks against Turkey.
Some reports have also said that U.S. military equipment given out
to local military or law enforcement agencies in Iraq has been found
in the hands of criminal elements in Turkey.
Turkey claims that the deaths in the Armenian population came as a
result of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire and that thousands of
people from all ethnicities were killed. Armenian groups, backed by
many historians, insist the population was especially targeted.
Turkish military officials have made their thoughts known on the
subject to their American counterparts over the years.
"I’m worried about the potential impact to our operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan," Maj. Gen. Robertus Remkes, director of strategy,
policy and assessments at the U.S. European Command, said after a
series of meetings that took place in Germany in March.
Capt. Rose Richeson, public affairs officer for the 38th Air Base
Wing at Incirlik, deferred comment Tuesday to the U.S. Embassy in
Ankara. Officials there could not be reached for comment.
The 385th Air Expeditionary Group operates out of Incirlik. Officials
have said about half the cargo flown by air into Iraq and Afghanistan
comes through the base. Military and civilian aircraft bring the
cargo into Incirlik and C-17 Globemasters temporarily assigned to
the base bring it the rest of the way. American KC-135 Stratotankers
also fly out of the base to resupply American cargo planes that don’t
touch down.