USG-SOURCED WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE MIXES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 000211

SIPDIS


EUCOM FOR J3, J4 AND J5


E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2014
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS KPAO TU IZ
SUBJECT: USG-SOURCED WALL STREET JOURNAL ARTICLE MIXES
GLOBAL DEFENSE POSTURE AND INCIRLIK TROOP ROTATIONS,
COMPLICATING COOPERATION WITH TURKS


REF: A. (A) ANKARA 7800

B. (B) ANKARA 7735

C. (C) ANKARA 4841


(U) Classified by Ambassador Eric S. Edelman. Reasons: 1.5
(b) and (d).



1. (C) Summary: A January 9 article in the Wall Street
Journal that quotes U.S. officials and misleadingly links the
review of U.S. global defense posture to the commencement of
the rotation of U.S. troops to and from Iraq through the
Incirlik Air Base was ill-timed and has complicated the
Mission's ability to work with the government of Turkey on
both issues. End Summary.



2. (U) Citing senior Department of Defense officials, the
article that appeared in the European edition of the Wall
Street Journal on January 9, ties the agreement to "reopen"
Incirlik Air Base to the review of global U.S. defense
posture, including the repositioning of U.S. ground forces
from Germany. The article confirms that troop rotations
through Incirlik began last week and quotes U.S. officials as
saying the U.S. would like to return to Incirlik in a more
permanent way, including transiting troops through on
exercises and using the base in other military operations.



3. (U) The same day, the Turkish media quickly distorted the
news further, with television reporting that Washington and
Ankara had reached agreement on the opening of an additional
"new base" in Turkey and using Incirlik for the shipment of
munitions. The following day's print media compounded the
WSJ's muddling of the two stories, claiming that the U.S. was
planning to move troops from Europe to bases at Incirlik and
Konya.



4. (C) The Government of Turkey, while forthcoming in the
arrangement to use Incirlik for troop rotations and open to
deepening strategic cooperation with the U.S. in its effort
to repair diplomatic and military ties, emphasized to us on
December 19 (reftel A) its preference to handle the troop
rotation issue in a low-key manner. In a January 2 meeting,
the Ambassador and Prime Minister Erdogan agreed to maintain
a low profile on the rotations due to force protection
concerns and in deference to Turkish public opinion
sensitivities.



5. (U) When the commencement of troop rotations became a
major news story, the GOT was forced to acknowledge the
operations publicly. The discussion is growing with some
questioning the legality ofthe autorization. The Embassy and
the MFA are emphasizing that Incirlik is being used in
accordance with Turkish law and in full compliance with
mutually agreed guidelines for the use of the facility. The
MFA's press guidance also notes that the rotations are in
accordance with the Council of Ministers direction of June
2003 on the use of Turkish bases and ports for support of
coalition operations in Iraq and are within the framework of
UNSCR 1483. The Embassy and MFA are stating that the troops
are in transit-only status as they move through Incirlik, and
we are not confirming operational details or troop numbers.



6. (C) Comment: While we would have preferred that the GOT
adopt a more forward-leaning tack in announcing the use of
Incirlik for troop rotations, we were committed to not
preempting them by acknowledging the rotations through this
Turkish base first. The timing of the Wall Street Journal
article, sourced to U.S. officials, is likely to complicate
efforts to work out with the Turks arrangements for other
military operations and ooperation in the future. End
Comment.



7. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
EDELMAN