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Turkey says US favorable to sale of armed drones
By Suzan Fraser Tuesday, May 22nd 2012, 02:36 PM
Turkey says US administration favorable to sale of armed drones, but
must convince Congress
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - President Barack Obama's administration is
inclined to sell armed drones to Turkey but has to convince Congress
first, Turkey's president told reporters after a meeting with the U.S.
leader.
Washington, which is providing technical and intelligence to Ankara in
its fight against autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels, deployed four
Predator drones from Iraq to Turkey last year. NATO-ally Turkey is now
trying to acquire armed drones - the kind the U.S. has used to target
militants in places like Yemen and the border region between
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
But analysts say some Congress members may oppose the sale of armed
Predator drones to Turkey due to its tense relations with Israel, a
close U.S. ally. A botched Turkish military airstrike in December
aimed at the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party that killed 34
civilians is also likely to further complicate any sale.
"The administration's position (toward the sale) is favorable,"
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quoted President Abdullah Gul as
telling Turkish reporters after a meeting with Obama on the sidelines
of a NATO summit in Chicago late Monday. "They are trying to convince
Congress."
"President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and their aides are
trying their best," he added.
The Turkish president said he told Obama during their discussions that
the armed drones are not as lethal as F-16 fighter jets, which Turkey
already has in its fleet, or the F-35 fighter jet whose development
Turkey is involved in.
"This must be explained to Congress," Gul said. "They must not act
begrudgingly toward an important allied country. They have to trust
it."
Gul would not say how many armed drones Turkey has requested from the
United States.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal said the attack, which struck a
group of smugglers and resulted in one of the highest single-day death
tolls in the long-standing conflict between Turkey and the rebels, was
based on intelligence provided by a U.S. Predator drone.
U.S. officials reportedly told the newspaper that the Turkish military
carried out the attack before more information on the men was
obtained, raising questions about how Turkey uses intelligence
provided by the Predators.
Turkish officials have dismissed the report, saying the first images
of the group were captured by the Turkish military.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party, which took up arms in 1984, is labeled a
terrorist organization by Washington
By Suzan Fraser Tuesday, May 22nd 2012, 02:36 PM
Turkey says US administration favorable to sale of armed drones, but
must convince Congress
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - President Barack Obama's administration is
inclined to sell armed drones to Turkey but has to convince Congress
first, Turkey's president told reporters after a meeting with the U.S.
leader.
Washington, which is providing technical and intelligence to Ankara in
its fight against autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels, deployed four
Predator drones from Iraq to Turkey last year. NATO-ally Turkey is now
trying to acquire armed drones - the kind the U.S. has used to target
militants in places like Yemen and the border region between
Afghanistan and Pakistan.
But analysts say some Congress members may oppose the sale of armed
Predator drones to Turkey due to its tense relations with Israel, a
close U.S. ally. A botched Turkish military airstrike in December
aimed at the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party that killed 34
civilians is also likely to further complicate any sale.
"The administration's position (toward the sale) is favorable,"
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency quoted President Abdullah Gul as
telling Turkish reporters after a meeting with Obama on the sidelines
of a NATO summit in Chicago late Monday. "They are trying to convince
Congress."
"President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and their aides are
trying their best," he added.
The Turkish president said he told Obama during their discussions that
the armed drones are not as lethal as F-16 fighter jets, which Turkey
already has in its fleet, or the F-35 fighter jet whose development
Turkey is involved in.
"This must be explained to Congress," Gul said. "They must not act
begrudgingly toward an important allied country. They have to trust
it."
Gul would not say how many armed drones Turkey has requested from the
United States.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal said the attack, which struck a
group of smugglers and resulted in one of the highest single-day death
tolls in the long-standing conflict between Turkey and the rebels, was
based on intelligence provided by a U.S. Predator drone.
U.S. officials reportedly told the newspaper that the Turkish military
carried out the attack before more information on the men was
obtained, raising questions about how Turkey uses intelligence
provided by the Predators.
Turkish officials have dismissed the report, saying the first images
of the group were captured by the Turkish military.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party, which took up arms in 1984, is labeled a
terrorist organization by Washington