Turkey poised for Iraq deal with US
"They understand our worries, we understand theirs. A result will be reached in the coming days," Mr Gul said.
Turkey and the US have been wrangling for weeks over the US request, raising the possibility Washington might abandon plans for a northern front it hopes would shorten any war on Iraq and reduce US casualties.
Turkey says the US must satisfy its political, economic and military concerns before a deal is struck.
Turkey strongly opposes war, arguing it could stir turmoil in the region and undermine its economy by boosting interest payments on its large debts, cutting tourism revenues and throttling tentative recovery from recession by raising oil prices.
Outright refusal of the US request would throw a dark cloud over ties with Turkey's closest ally.
Should Turkey fail to agree to the passage of US troops across its territory, it would forfeit a substantial amount of aid and this would send financial markets, which have assumed a deal will be sealed, into a steep fall.
Faustian contracts alive and well in international relations. Mr Turkey, if you sup with the Devil have a long spoon ... and lots of food tasters.
Mr Gul gulled ... this Thanksgiving Day George will be mostly having
Powell foreshadows brief military rule
"As soon as we can, (caveat emptor, de nouveau!) we would want to get the military commander to transfer real authority to a civilian leadership, perhaps initially of an international character." (Ronald McDonald, Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny ?)
He said the process would take place as a new leadership was being groomed ("groomed" what a 'lovely' word, "groomed by whom and to what ends, he asks rhetorically) that would consist both of exiled opposition groups(I believe many can be found banged up in 5 star detention camps in the outback of Australia, locked up in the dunnies of ships turned away from Australia or, if they were really hit the jackpot, in Davy Howard's locker.) "as well as those who are inside the country who are responsible and committed to the same values that those outside the country are".
Mr Powell denied Washington wants to take over Iraq, saying its track record in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Kosovo "is not one of imperialism, it is one of doing the job, bringing peace, restoring order and getting a responsible government in place".
Yeah right!
Colon, didn't your mum tell you it's rude to point?
Say it long enough, often enough #347
He says successful disarmament will help end the suffering of ordinary Iraqis and reassert the authority of the international rule of law.
He also believes the Iraqi leader will only respond to the genuine threat of military force.
"If we took away the military pressure there would be no cooperation on Saddam, there would be no inspections whatsoever," he said.
"The tyrrany of Saddam on his own people, the killings and the torture of his own people would go on. The intimidation of his neighbours would continue and we would have shown dictators everywhere that defiance pays."
"Who's a pretty boy?" "Jackie wants a
