Turkey swallows US pill

But the decision is a bitter pill for the ruling AK party to swallow. Strong opposition exists within the party, and its leader Tayyip Erdogan has for months voiced his opposition to war. Much to Washington’s frustration the Turkish government delayed the decision for months, while Ankara focused on diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis.
Acrobatics
Earlier this week Mr Erdogan performed an impressive political somersault, telling his party that Turkey cannot stay out of a war against Iraq, and that the country must protect its interests. Political commentator Mehmet Ali Birand says the government has little choice. "If you have a deep economic crisis, if you need American backing in the IMF, [and] everywhere in the European Union . . . you can’t say no. You can just try to limit your participation, that is all, and pray that it is not going to get out of hand, it is not going to break Iraq altogether."

Washington is already supporting a 16-billion-dollar bail out of Turkey’s crisis-ridden economy by the IMF and World Bank. The US is also reportedly offering up to 15 billion dollars in assistance for any economic losses suffered due to war, on condition of Turkish assistance. But according to Turkish opinion polls over 80 percent of the population oppose war.
Local resistance
Anti-war rallies are held across the country nearly every day. On the streets of Istanbul there is strong opposition to war, but at the same time a resignation that Turkey has little choice but to support the US for financial reasons. But it is not only money that is forcing Ankara’s hand. Turkey remains deeply concerned that any war against Iraq could lead to its break up and the creation of Kurdish State on its border. Ankara fears that could lead to similar demands from its own Kurdish population The US has said it is opposed to a Kurdish state, but according to former Turkish minister Coskun Kirca that opposition might be conditional on Turkey supporting Washington.
"If Turkey refuses to help America in this operation then the creation of a Kurdish state can come as a surprise because then the united States will have no other argument to oppose Kurdish independence."
Forces in place
Such fears have led in the last few days to Turkey moving thousands of soldiers and equipment to the Iraqi border. Those forces are expected to cross into Iraq if hostilities break out. While the Turkish government still voices hope of a peaceful solution to the crisis, the country is now preparing for war.