US embassy cable - 04ANKARA7099

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 007099 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2029 
TAGS: PREL, MOPS, TU, IZ 
SUBJECT: DCHOD BASBUG APPRECIATES US HELP IN MOSUL BUT 
WON'T SPEAK OUT; MFA REQUESTS INVESTIGATION 
 
REF: ANKARA 7075 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Robert S. Deutsch for reasons 1. 
4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (U)  This is an action request -- see para 10. 
 
2. (C) Summary: Responding to reports of the December 17 
attack on a Turkish police convoy in Mosul, Turkish First 
Army Commander Tolon told journalists on December 19 that 
this attack, occurring in a place "that is under the control 
of a country that we know and describe as an ally and a 
friend is extremely saddening."  DCHOD Basbug told the Charge 
on December 21 that Tolon's comments reflected that general's 
emotions and did not represent the view of Turkish Armed 
Forces.  Basbug indicated that he would call both VCJCS Gen 
Pace and DCDR EUCOM Gen Wald to express appreciation for US 
forces' engaging the enemy during the attack on the Turks and 
for the subsequent actions to repatriate the body of the 
killed policemen.  Subsequently, MFA informed us that they 
planned to put out a statement expressing appreciation.  MFA 
also formally requested the US investigate who was behind the 
attack.  End summary. 
 
3. (U) According to Turkish media reports on December 20, 
Turkish First Army Commander Hursit Tolon made the following 
comment to journalists covering the opening ceremony of a 
primary school near Istanbul regarding the December 17 attack 
on Turkish police in Mosul (reftel).  (FYI: The police were 
en route to Baghdad to take up security duties at the Turkish 
Embassy.): 
 
"The fact that this incident took place in a region that is 
under the control of a country that we know and describe as 
an ally and a friend is extremely saddening.  This region is 
a perfect example of the willingness of some in the region to 
bite the hand that feeds them.  It is a sign of how much this 
place, which we have propped up for years has assumed a 
hostile attitude toward Turkey.  This incident won't end 
here.  I know that these kinds of incidents will continue. 
Nearly 90 of our citizens have been killed in that region so 
far.  We are taking note of this situation." 
 
4. (C) The Charge raised Tolon's statement with Deputy Chief 
of the General Staff GEN Ilker Basbug on December 21, noting 
that it was unacceptable for a senior military leader to 
suggest that the US bore responsibility for the attack and to 
put into question the basic nature of our alliance.  Basbug 
responded by stating that Tolon spoke from emotions evoked by 
this serious incident.  He (Tolon) was unaware of the 
information TGS had on the incident and the cooperation the 
US military had extended to Turkey.  Tolon's comments did not 
reflect the view of the Turkish Armed Forces, he declared. 
In fact, Basbug planned to call both VCJCS Gen Pace and 
Deputy Commander EUCOM Gen Wald to express thanks for the 
prompt action of US forces in Mosul to engage the enemy 
during the attack on the Turkish police.  The Charge reminded 
him that our military had also gone to extraordinary lengths 
after the attack to retrieve the bodies of the five killed 
policemen, treat the wounded Turk and transport the bodies to 
the Turkish border.  Basbug said that these actions were also 
appreciated. 
 
5. (C) Basbug reiterated his request for information on the 
perpetrators of the attack.  (FYI: Turkish columnists were 
rife with speculation on December 21 about who did this, with 
favorite suspects ranging from the PKK, KDP, Israelis, and 
the US; only one paper we saw suggested it was AIF.)  The 
Charge responded that we had shared all the information we 
had on the attack and, given the security environment in 
Mosul, it was unlikely that the US military would be able to 
find any useful information even if they had the resources to 
devote to the task.  Basbug took the point. 
 
6. (C) Basbug resisted the Charge's suggestion that TGS 
should speak out publicly on the attack to correct Tolon's 
implication and the wild speculation in the press. 
Similarly, Basbug indicated he was not particularly receptive 
to the suggestion that TGS announce that he was expressing 
appreciation for the US's assistance.  Separately, IO raised 
the issue with the MFA spokesman who indicated that he would 
comment favorably on the US role in the incident at his 
regular press briefing on December 22.  Later, the MFA 
spokesman contacted us to say the Ministry planned to release 
a statement the afternoon of December 21. 
7. (C) Finally, in the afternoon of December 21, MFA Iraq 
Coordinator Osman Koruturk contacted the Charge "under 
instructions from Foreign Minister Gul" to express 
appreciation for US military action during and after the 
Mosul attack.  He also conveyed what he said was a formal 
request also at the instruction of Gul for the US to 
investigate the incident to determine who was responsible for 
the attack.  The Charge responded that it was unlikely such 
an investigation could occur, but he agreed to pass the 
request on. 
 
8. (C) Comment: Last September, TGS made some ill-informed 
statements about coalition action in Tal Afar.  We and Task 
Force Olympia (TFO -- who was carrying out the operation) 
subsequently supplied TGS with accurate information that 
contradicted their initial public comments.  Since then, TGS 
has been hesitant to speak out on military operations in 
Iraq.  This case appears no different, even though Turks were 
the victims. 
 
9. (C) Comment (cont.):  Tolon has a reputation as an 
outspoken hardliner.  Since his move to Istanbul to command 
the First Army last August, however, he has been extremely 
quiet.  TGS had a firm gag on all senior officers in the 
run-up to the December 17 EU summit.  Tolon's comments may 
suggest the gag is off, although it isn't clear yet whether 
TGS removed it or Tolon, who is expected to retire next 
summer, was speaking out of school.  Basbug's failure to 
criticize Tolon directly to us may be an unwillingness to 
wash TGS' dirty laundry in front of us, but it also may be a 
more disturbing indication of deeper ills.  End comment. 
 
10. (C) Action Request: Although various Turkish officials, 
including Basbug, had expressed an interest in the US 
investigating the Mosul incident, Koruturk's message from Gul 
was the first formal request.  We request guidance on how to 
respond. 
 
11. BAGHDAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
DEUTSCH