Lieberman, McCain hear Turkish concerns about extending war to Iraq

By SELCAN HACAOGLU
Associated Press Writer

ANKARA, Turkey – The United States still believes Iraqi President Saddam Hussein should be ousted, but it will not strike at him without consulting Turkey first, an American delegation told Turkish leaders Friday.

Turkey does not want the United States to target Iraq in the war on terrorism because it fears Iraqi Kurds could take advantage of a subsequent power vacuum to create a Kurdish state.

That could boost aspirations of autonomy-seeking Kurds within Turkey.

Nonetheless, the nine U.S. lawmakers, visiting Central Asia for a week, said Saddam remains a potential target.

"The war against terrorism will not end until Saddam Hussein is removed from power in Baghdad," Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., said after meeting with Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit and Foreign Minister Ismail Cem.

"A change in regime in Baghdad, which I think so critical to the security of the United States, does not mean that territorial integrity of Iraq should in any way be changed from what it is today."

Lieberman said the Turkish premier stressed that Iraqis should decide whether Saddam remains in power. He responded that the United States understands the "importance of maintaining territorial integrity of Iraq."

Lieberman and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., assured Turkish leaders that anything the United States does regarding Iraq would involve consultations with Turkey.

"We are appreciative ... of the sensitivity regarding Kurds, that's why any action taken by the United States vis-a-vis Saddam Hussein would be after a period of consultation and hopefully cooperation particularly with the Turkish government," McCain said.

Turkish support would be crucial to any fight against Iraq. Turkey was the launching pad for attacks against Baghdad during the 1991 Gulf War and has since hosted U.S. and British warplanes enforcing a no-fly zone above northern Iraq.

The advocates of attacking Iraq argue that Saddam is maintaining programs to build weapons of mass destruction, which U.N. inspectors tried to dismantle after the Gulf War. Inspectors have not been allowed into Iraq since 1998.

President Bush has said the U.S. war against terrorism would not be limited to Afghanistan, but has not specified which other nations could become U.S. military targets. Iraq is considered a possibility.

"We believe that there is no way to imagine reconciliation with Iraq under Saddam," Lieberman said.

After leaving Turkey, the senators will travel to Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Oman. Lieberman said the delegation also would travel to Afghanistan.

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