War with Iraq - Turkey

A depressing aspect of the present negotiations over war with Iraq is that the US has to bribe countries to get their support. The special case of Turkey is discussed in a Reuters dispatch (3/13/03), which begins: "US-Turkey deal linked to IMF demands: Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that up to US$30 billion in US grants and loans the country may win if it helps in a war on Iraq was tied to the country's performance under a US$16 billion IMF loan deal. Turkey stands to win the US aid if parliament allows US forces to use the country as a launching pad for an assault on northern Iraq from Turkey. Markets have tracked the negotiations with the US over the money closely, curious to see if Turkey will accept reported US demands that the money be linked to Turkey's adherence to IMF demands". RH: If US grants are tied to adherence to responsible financial behavior, they may do some permanent good.

Ronald Hilton - 3/12/03