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CNN Live Today
Turkey Decision Delayed Again
Aired February 27, 2003 - 11:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. has been really working hard to get a deal to get their troops on the ground in Turkey, but the Turkish parliament has now delayed a decision on whether to allow U.S. combat forces on its soil, and it seems as though they're waiting to see what the U.N. Security Council does first.
Now, Patriot missiles have been off loaded in Turkey as part of a separate NATO deal that was worked out earlier, and our Jane Arraf is monitoring all of these events. Let's check in with her right now. She reports live to us from Iskenderun, Turkey -- hello, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Well, those U.S. combat troops that are offshore Turkey will have to wait offshore at least a couple more days. As you mentioned, the vote in parliament that was to approve U.S. troops being based in Turkey for a potential attack on Iraq has been delayed until Saturday.
That was decided by a parliamentary advisory committee. Politicians and party members say there's no real problem. It's just -- it's a big decision, an important decision, and everyone wants their say. The dozens of members of parliament who belong to the ruling party still haven't gotten to debate this yet within their own party.
Now, here at the port of Iskenderun, we still have some activity going on, despite that delay in the approval for the U.S. troops. The U.S. Navy ship Capella still in dock, and although it's pretty dark out there, you can't really see it, but you can see the ship, and you can see the outlines of some of what was unloaded earlier today. Those are Humvees, armored vehicles, as well as more Patriot missiles you had mentioned to defend Turkey in case of an attack on Iraq.
Now, we were also at Incirlik today, one of the biggest air bases in the region for the U.S. Air Force, where they're also gearing up and preparing. They -- enforce the no-fly zones over northern Iraq from that base. It's where they take off. U.S. and British fighter planes, and it's where fighter planes would take off if there were any attack on Iraq. They are gearing up for an expansion if that expansion is approved -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thank you, Jane. Jane Arraf reporting live from Iskenderun, Turkey.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 27, 2003 - 11:28 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. has been really working hard to get a deal to get their troops on the ground in Turkey, but the Turkish parliament has now delayed a decision on whether to allow U.S. combat forces on its soil, and it seems as though they're waiting to see what the U.N. Security Council does first.
Now, Patriot missiles have been off loaded in Turkey as part of a separate NATO deal that was worked out earlier, and our Jane Arraf is monitoring all of these events. Let's check in with her right now. She reports live to us from Iskenderun, Turkey -- hello, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon. Well, those U.S. combat troops that are offshore Turkey will have to wait offshore at least a couple more days. As you mentioned, the vote in parliament that was to approve U.S. troops being based in Turkey for a potential attack on Iraq has been delayed until Saturday.
That was decided by a parliamentary advisory committee. Politicians and party members say there's no real problem. It's just -- it's a big decision, an important decision, and everyone wants their say. The dozens of members of parliament who belong to the ruling party still haven't gotten to debate this yet within their own party.
Now, here at the port of Iskenderun, we still have some activity going on, despite that delay in the approval for the U.S. troops. The U.S. Navy ship Capella still in dock, and although it's pretty dark out there, you can't really see it, but you can see the ship, and you can see the outlines of some of what was unloaded earlier today. Those are Humvees, armored vehicles, as well as more Patriot missiles you had mentioned to defend Turkey in case of an attack on Iraq.
Now, we were also at Incirlik today, one of the biggest air bases in the region for the U.S. Air Force, where they're also gearing up and preparing. They -- enforce the no-fly zones over northern Iraq from that base. It's where they take off. U.S. and British fighter planes, and it's where fighter planes would take off if there were any attack on Iraq. They are gearing up for an expansion if that expansion is approved -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right. Thank you, Jane. Jane Arraf reporting live from Iskenderun, Turkey.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
