thedrifter
12-19-07, 08:11 AM
US commanders in Baghdad angered to learn of Turkey bombing flight after fact
By: PAULINE JELINEK - Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- U. S. military commanders in Iraq didn't know Turkey was sending warplanes to bomb in northern Iraq until the planes had already crossed the border, The Associated Press has learned.
Americans have been providing Turkey with intelligence to go after Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. And a "coordination center" has been set up in Ankara so Turks, Iraqis and Americans can share information, two officials said Tuesday.
But commanders and diplomats in Baghdad were angered when they were told of Sunday's attack after it was already under way, defense and diplomatic officials said in Washington and Baghdad.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.
Their comments follow complaints by Iraqi leaders Monday that Turkey hadn't coordinated with Baghdad before sending bombers to strike targets of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
It was left to the Americans to inform Iraqi government officials of the incursion, one U.S. official said.
No problem occurred with a conflict in the air space, but might have as both military and commercial flights go through northern Iraq, the officials said.
U.S. diplomatic officials also expressed irritation that the Turks had not provided them or the Iraqis with advance notice of the operation and said they had made their displeasure clear.
Ellie
By: PAULINE JELINEK - Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- U. S. military commanders in Iraq didn't know Turkey was sending warplanes to bomb in northern Iraq until the planes had already crossed the border, The Associated Press has learned.
Americans have been providing Turkey with intelligence to go after Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq. And a "coordination center" has been set up in Ankara so Turks, Iraqis and Americans can share information, two officials said Tuesday.
But commanders and diplomats in Baghdad were angered when they were told of Sunday's attack after it was already under way, defense and diplomatic officials said in Washington and Baghdad.
They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record.
Their comments follow complaints by Iraqi leaders Monday that Turkey hadn't coordinated with Baghdad before sending bombers to strike targets of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
It was left to the Americans to inform Iraqi government officials of the incursion, one U.S. official said.
No problem occurred with a conflict in the air space, but might have as both military and commercial flights go through northern Iraq, the officials said.
U.S. diplomatic officials also expressed irritation that the Turks had not provided them or the Iraqis with advance notice of the operation and said they had made their displeasure clear.
Ellie