US orders 60,000 troops to the Gulf despite stand-off

THE United States has ordered 60,000 more troops to the Gulf, despite signs that a war on Iraq might be delayed until April, as big powers and ally Turkey persisted yesterday in complicating its military plans.

Ankara’s surprise decision not to let US troops launch an attack on neighbouring Iraq from Turkey has upset plans for a mid-March invasion, but Ankara indicated a new parliamentary vote could be held.

US defence officials announced the dispatch of the fresh troops to join a more than 250,000-strong US and British force, as a divided UN Security Council considered whether to approve a new draft resolution authorising war.

Washington has signalled it will push the resolution to a vote next week despite misgivings in the 15-member council. Big powers France, Russia and China say UN arms inspectors in Iraq must be given more time, and Moscow threatened to use its veto.

Whatever the outcome of a vote, US officials and defence experts say Turkey’s opposition to up to 60,000 US troops launching a “northern front” against Iraq from its territory could delay an attack until late March or early April.

They say last Saturday’s decision by Turkey’s parliament could also spark problems over control of northern Iraq’s oil fields, which could be destroyed by Iraq or seized by Kurds in the Kurdish-controlled region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis, whose country stands to lose up to $30 billion in grants and loan guarantees offered by Washington, indicated yesterday the government was considering a new parliamentary motion on the US troops, although he gave no date.

Asked about a new draft, he said: “We are evaluating it both within the party and the government.” But he added: “There are some answers we are expecting (from the United States). Those answers have yet to arrive.”

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Turkey had made the situation “more complicated”. Analysts say the delay could stretch for two weeks or more, possibly into April after the new moon that would increase the US advantage in night fighting.

If Ankara still says “no”, US forces designated for Turkey might have to go instead to Kuwait for a march northward.

Iraq, striving to head off any invasion, has been destroying al-Samoud 2 missiles whose range UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix says exceeds the 150km (93 mile) limit set by UN resolutions after the 1991 Gulf War. The UN said Iraq destroyed three more of the missiles yesterday, bringing to 19 the number scrapped since Baghdad began on Saturday to junk its 120-missile arsenal.

The White House has dismissed Baghdad’s disarmament efforts as the “mother of all distractions”. Washington says it is ready to attack Iraq even without the new UN resolution.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi called for a UN-supervised referendum to effect a power transition in Iraq to avert war. Saddam has dismissed any proposal that he give up power, including Arab suggestions that he go into exile.