Rumsfeld denies blaming Turkey over Iraq

Although Rumsfeld did not deny statements made last week that Ankara’s not allowing the opening of the north front had resulted in a greater level of insurgency in Iraq following the March 2003 invasion he said that Turkey had made its own decision in as independent country.
“There was a very fresh government in power in Turkey then, this party had not run the country before. But despite that the government showed a good willed effort to pass the bill,” he said.
IN March 2003, the Turkish parliament rejected a motion tabled by the Justice and Development Party government to allow US troops to be stationed on Turkish soil in a lead up to an invasion of Northern Iraq.