ISKENDERUN, Turkey — Top Turkish leaders signaled Friday that a decision to allow U.S. combat forces to pass through the country for a northern front invasion of Iraq will be considered within days.
“It is certain that we understand their concerns and they understand ours in the best possible way, and a result will be reached in the coming days,” Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul told a gathering in Istanbul.
The Turkish foreign minister echoed the sentiments, saying “broad agreement” had been reached in negotiations over American aid designed to soften the economic blow Turkey could face in the event of war.
“There is a very broad agreement on all subjects,” Yasar Yakis said. “The remaining issues are not that many, but I think we will be able to overcome the differences and mutually agree.”
Turkey’s parliament must approve any decision to allow deployment of foreign combat troops on Turkish soil. If Turkey’s “expectations are fulfilled, then of course it would increase the chances of the motion being approved,” Yakis said.
U.S. officials greeted the statements enthusiastically.
“These statements are very positive,” said a U.S. diplomat in the region, “and we are confident that we can work out the remaining details.”
With Turkish parliament not in session until Tuesday, observers say it is unlikely there would be a vote before then.
Meanwhile, at a sprawling U.S. staging area in Turkey’s eastern port city of Iskenderun, long rows of heavy transportation vehicles snaked their way along the broad pier side unloading areas.
With more than 500 troop trucks, fuelers, heavy-duty wreckers, medical vans and low-slug, tank-hauling trailers, it’s the kind of logistical armada a general could move an Army with.
Small pockets of soldiers worked among the gear through a wind and rain-swept Friday afternoon, working under the hoods of Humvees and 5-ton trucks, checking tires and tweaking generators.
A white dockyard dog weaved his way through the wheel wells of the big rig trucks, as a red and white Turkish flag snapped above the port administrative building in the distance.
In another corner of the docks, a pair of soldiers loaded wooden pallets from a 5-ton truck onto a military forklift.
Farther along, a few troop tents stood near the waterside behind more rows of trucks.
Much of the gear belongs to the Germany-based 1st Infantry Division, including units from the 701st Main Support Battalion. Indeed, many of the vehicles still sport stenciled KFOR monikers from recent peacekeeping duty in Kosovo, where nearly half of the division is currently serving.
That’s not stopping the “Big Red One” from assisting with preparations for a possible attack on Iraq, however.
The division headquarters — along with several of its support units — has begun deploying to Turkey over the past week.
Given the sensitivities over the ongoing negotiations with Turkey, military leaders refuse to publicly acknowledge how many troops have arrived in Turkey, but U.S. officials have said privately that the NATO ally has permitted a maximum of 3,500 troops into the country for “site preparation.”
“Elements of the division are deployed in support of [Central Command] operations,” said 1st ID spokesman Maj. Mark Ballesteros, declining to elaborate.
The division is to serve as the Army Force headquarters — or ARFOR, as most troops call it — tasked with overseeing the massive logistics effort needed to move tens of thousands of combat troops into northern Iraq, according to Army officials.
Nearly 3,000 1st ID troops have already received marching orders for Turkey, and another 2.000 troops from the Germany-based 21st Theater Support Command are also on their way.
Meanwhile, the lead vessels in a more than 20-ship flotilla carrying 4th Infantry Division war gear has begun arriving off the Turkish coast. The 4th ID is expected to lead the assault against Iraq from the north.
Converging with those ships are more cargo haulers carrying gear from the 1st ID and 21st TSC, as well as other support units.
