Turkey Post Seen for Cheney Aide

In the past year, Turkey’s strategic role in the campaign against terrorism has increased, making the American ambassador’s position there even more important politically and more difficult diplomatically. As a secular Muslim democracy, a member of NATO and a neighbor of Iraq, Turkey occupies a unique position as an important American ally in any war to unseat President Saddam Hussein.Turkish officials on Friday signaled their willingness to allow American ground troops to use Turkish bases while taking part in any potential northern offensive into Iraq.