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Dutch prepare to ship Patriot missiles to Turkey ahead of Iraqi war protest
AP
| 2/14/03
Posted on 02/14/2003 11:43:49 AM PST by kattracks
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb 14, 2003 (AP WorldStream via COMTEX) -- The Dutch Air Force on Friday began loading Patriot defense missile systems onto freighter ships destined for Turkey in case of a U.S.-led war against Iraq, a day before planned anti-war demonstrations in the Netherlands, military officials said. The Dutch government agreed to provide Ankara with three ground-to-air missile batteries after receiving a bilateral request for assistance. Turkey fears it could be targeted by Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein with scud missiles.
NATO has been divided over the issue of starting planning to protect Turkey, the only alliance member which borders Iraq.
France, Germany and Belgium have blocked U.S. proposals for the 19-member alliance to plan for the deployment of early warning planes, missile defenses and anti biochemical units to Turkey, saying starting military preparations would undermine efforts at the United Nations to avoid a war.
The four freight ships will take 10-15 days to reach Turkey, where the systems will be transported by road to their final destinations, Defense Ministry officials said.
The Patriot systems, used to intercept offensive missiles in midair, will be stationed in Diyarbakir and Batman in southeastern Turkey and manned by 370 Dutch military personnel. Germany has provided several dozen rockets.
Dutch Patriots protected the Turkish border in 1991 during the Gulf War. The government said this week it feels obliged to support a fellow NATO member which it said "obviously feels threatened."
The Netherlands has also said it will allow Washington to use Dutch air space, bases and ports if the United States opts for the use of force to disarm Iraq. But it has agreed to play only a non-combat role.
On Saturday, thousands of people are expected to hold an anti-war demonstration in the Dutch capital, part of coordinated protests in several countries. Recent polls indicate that a majority of the Dutch oppose attacks on Iraq, particularly without U.N. approval, and consider U.S. President George W. Bush to be a greater immediate threat to peace than the Iraqi president.
TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: realallies
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1
posted on
02/14/2003 11:43:49 AM PST
by
kattracks
To: kattracks
Turkey will remember the REAL friends in the near future...
2
posted on
02/14/2003 11:47:37 AM PST
by
Caliban
("We are not romantic people! We are the Sega generation.")
To: kattracks
Thank You Dutch Government ...
You hear that France and Germany .. You are irrelevant
3
posted on
02/14/2003 11:48:37 AM PST
by
Mo1
(I HATE The Party of Clinton!)
To: kattracks
This line speaks volumes:
Recent polls indicate that a majority of the Dutch oppose attacks on Iraq, particularly without U.N. approval, and consider U.S. President George W. Bush to be a greater immediate threat to peace than the Iraqi president.
I guess we should be thankful for the small favors we're getting from the Dutch. All of the other eurotrash can rot for all I care.
4
posted on
02/14/2003 11:48:39 AM PST
by
zingzang
To: Mo1
Now I'm in a quandry, do I boycott Shell Oil because they import middle eastern oil or do I support Shell Oil because they are a Dutch company.
My brain hurts...
5
posted on
02/14/2003 11:50:44 AM PST
by
Damocles
(sword of..)
To: kattracks
The four freight ships will take 10-15 days to reach Turkey, where the systems will be transported by road to their final destinations, Defense Ministry officials said.
6
posted on
02/14/2003 11:51:26 AM PST
by
rface
(Ashland, Missouri)
To: Damocles
LOL - wellcome to the group of pain in the brains! ;-)
7
posted on
02/14/2003 11:53:58 AM PST
by
areafiftyone
(The U.N. is now officially irrelevant! The building is for Sale!!!)
To: Damocles
My brain hurts... Allow me to make it worse.
The Brits own Shell now. ;-)
8
posted on
02/14/2003 11:54:48 AM PST
by
Carry_Okie
(The environment is too complex and too important to be managed by politics.)
To: Carry_Okie
LOL ... WARNING .. WARNING .. BRAIN OVER LOAD
9
posted on
02/14/2003 11:56:11 AM PST
by
Mo1
(I HATE The Party of Clinton!)
To: kattracks
Hmmmm, well if they're only loading the missiles now....and if it takes about 3 weeks to get to Turkey...and if we give them another week to or so to set up the system, well, looks like no war for about another 4 weeks.
To: zingzang
I think that's pretty much the sentiment in western Europe - kudo's to the Dutch government for being stand-up guys.
11
posted on
02/14/2003 11:58:05 AM PST
by
talleyman
("there was a little dutch boy who sang a song I like... (continued next tag line))
To: zingzang
(I really don't expect a lot of combat support from the mighty Dutch war machine - although I would like to see them invade France.)
12
posted on
02/14/2003 11:59:24 AM PST
by
talleyman
((continued) "...if you want to save your country stick your finger in a dike!")
To: maquiladora
No, make that 3 weeks actually....hmmm, sounds perfect, New Moon in early March.
Bingo
To: maquiladora
10 days to ship. 4 days to offload, drive to site, and deploy. 2 weeks.
March 1st, 11 AM CST. Boom boom booooom!
To: Carry_Okie
Oh, God!
I...feel...dizzy...ahhuuuuuunve jdffflk
15
posted on
02/14/2003 12:06:18 PM PST
by
Damocles
(sword of..)
To: dark_lord
10 days is optimistic.
To: Carry_Okie
I thought Shell was 50/50 Dutch and British.
17
posted on
02/14/2003 12:16:13 PM PST
by
expatpat
To: expatpat
In time, it became obvious that the competing Dutch and British companies(Shell) would do better working together. In 1907, the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of companies was created to incorporate their operations worldwide.
To: kattracks
Hup Holland
To: knighthawk
just a ping...
20
posted on
02/14/2003 12:53:57 PM PST
by
VOA
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