US explores alternative airbase after row with Turkey

October 15 2007
Herald
IAN BRUCE,
Correspondent

The article below says that the Pentagon is looking for an alternative transport route. I find it very strange that the US becomes so much dependent to the point that it is threatened when it makes a decision going against the liking of Turkey. Where is the independence of the USA?

The Pentagon is looking for emergency alternatives to its key Incirlik airbase in Turkey in case a diplomatic row with Ankara cuts off 70% of its airborne supplies to US forces in Iraq.

The possible loss of Turkish facilities follows US congressional criticism over alleged "genocide" against Armenian civilians by Ottoman Turkish forces during the First World War.

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Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.