U.S. To Punish Germany For Opposing War, Buys Turkey’s Support

‘To Harm The German Economy’
It quoted one source as saying “We are doing this for one reason only: to harm the German economy.”
“’The aim is to hit German trade and commerce. It is not just about taking out the troops and equipment; it is also about cancelling commercial contracts and defence-related arrangements,” the paper quoted Another Pentagon source as saying.

“German industry earns billions of euros every year from supporting the U.S. Army Europe which, although reduced from its Cold War heights, still totals 42,000 troops and 785 tanks – almost three times as many as the British Army owns. Many of these soldiers and their fighting equipment, including Apache helicopters, have already been sent to the Gulf,” the paper said.

‘Aid Package To Turkey’

Meanwhile, U.S. decided to offer Turkey an expanded aid package that includes about $6 billion in grants and up to $20 billion in loan guarantees to secure Ankara’s support in a possible invasion of Iraq, news agency reported.
Bush met with Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and others at the White House on Friday, February 14 , but U.S. and Turkish negotiators have yet to strike a deal that would allow American forces to use Turkish bases as a springboard for an invasion of Iraq from the north.
“On top of an estimated $6 billion in grants that would be provided to Turkey in the event of a war, the Bush administration is offering backing for up to $20 billion in loans that Ankara could secure through private banks,” it added.
It is unclear whether Ankara will accept the offer, which has ballooned in size in recent days. Turkey, which says it suffered massive economic damage from the Gulf War, has been pressing Washington for billions of dollars more, news Agency reported.
Turkey, which has a 218-mile border with Iraq, is allowing the U.S. military to modernize some bases there for possible use in a war, but has not yet given Washington permission to use them for an offensive.