Turkey, a key ally, on fence over supporting Iraq war

The Bush administration, working to persuade the world that military pressure plus UN inspections is the best way to deal with Saddam Hussein, did not expect its old NATO ally, Turkey, to be its toughest sell.

In fact, Turkey is working equally hard to convince its neighbors to resist the apparent US march toward war.

Turkey's two-month-old government is treading two paths: Along one, it shows that it values its relationship with the US by allowing 150 US military officials to inspect Turkish air bases and ports, assessing their potential use. Along the other, Ankara has stepped up its diplomatic drive to avert war.

After visiting several Arab countries and Iran last week, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul plans to host a regional summit here this week to discuss how to avoid a US-led war against Iraq.

"We are telling the Iraqis to cooperate with the UN to the greatest extent," says Dr. Seyfi Tashan, the director of the Turkish Foreign Policy Institute. "We are telling our neighbors, 'This is the last chance: Get together, and put some pressure on Iraq so that a war may be avoided.' "

Turkey has not yet replied to the US request to allow the use of its territory for a ground invasion of northern Iraq - which the Pentagon sees as the key to a shorter, cleaner war.

Yesterday, Gen. Richard Meyers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with officials here in Turkey. Local media reported that they discussed reducing the American proposal for basing 80,000 troops to 15,000 or 20,000.

Ankara says that it won't decide on the US request until after Jan. 27th, the date when Hans Blix, the chief United Nations weapons inspector, is due to deliver his latest report.

After that, the Turkish parliament would have to approve the stationing of ground troops in Turkey, likely to be a difficult feat in a country where more than 80 percent of those polled oppose a war against neighboring Iraq.

"The site survey has started, and this should not be ignored," says Ahmet Davutoglu, a policy adviser to the prime minister. "There are two channels. One is technical preparation and contingency planning," with the US military, he says. The other is a diplomatic channel, one Ankara thinks Washington should appreciate, given the number of Turks opposed to war. "There is a new government in Turkey and [the US] needs to take that sentiment into consideration."

Washington has begun to let off puffs of steam about Turkey's indecision, suggesting that time is running out for Ankara to decide which road it is on. The US is worried about the problems a delayed operation could entail - March's sandstorms, April's searing heat, and the escalating cost of maintaining so many troops in the region. But Turkey says it's in no rush to use force.

"Our national timetable may not exactly coincide with the US timetable," says Yusuf Buluc, the spokesman for the Turkish foreign ministry. "We want to send a message that we have turned every stone to resolve this peacefully."

US officials say that at some point the Bush administration might decide to forge ahead with or without Turkey. "I am not sure that Washington's timetable is subject to Turkey's timetable," says a Western diplomat in Ankara. "President Bush said he would lead a coalition of the willing. He didn't say ... Turkey must be among them."

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