Bush stops short of terror aid for Turkey

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>
http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2005/06/09/bush_stops_short_of_terror_aid_for_turkey/

Bush stops short of terror aid for Turkey
By Jim VandeHei, Washington Post | June 9, 2005

WASHINGTON -- President Bush praised Turkey yesterday as a close, democratic ally in the Middle East, but stopped short of meeting a plea from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for greater US assistance to defeat a terrorist group operating out of northern Iraq.

Erdogan, whose country is considered the United States' closest Muslim ally, came to Washington seeking more help from the Bush administration in cracking down on a rebel group, called the Kurdistan Workers' Party, that has killed hundreds of Turkish troops in recent attacks. After meeting with Bush, Erdogan told reporters the president expressed concern about the terrorist groups but promised little in terms of new assistance to cut off the group's logistics and financing.

''We are exchanging information," Erdogan said. ''However, we don't think it is sufficient. We want to be taken further." He said Bush's priority is getting the new Iraqi government in place, before shifting attention to other problems.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush is committed to defeating the Kurdistan Workers' Party and other terrorist organizations operating in Iraq. ''There are a number of challenges we continue to face in Iraq, and the president talked about that," he said. ''This is one area where we will continue working with Turkey and the transitional government in Iraq to address."

<</SNIP>>

[Supersedeas]

1. Ah McButterpants says the chickenhawks continue the hard werk