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(Newsweek) Owen Matthews - The Turks are certainly acting as if war may be imminent. Last week some of Ankara's top brass inspected the Diyarbakir air base in Turkey's southeast that could become a staging ground for U.S. troops. Hilmi Ozkok, chief of the general staff, confirmed that Turkish troops are already on the ground in northern Iraq, purportedly chasing separatist guerrillas. The Turkish Red Crescent announced that it was preparing tents, blankets, and medicine in the event of a refugee exodus of the sort seen in the 1991 Gulf War. Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has officially handed over operational control of any assault to Turkey's military, giving them a free hand if war breaks out.


2002-10-17 00:00:00

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