Yosef writes:

> Turkey, one of the members of "The Coalition of the Willing," has refused an
>  offer of 26 billion dollars to let the US use their country to launch an
>  attack on Iraq.

Turkey hasn't yet completely refused, they just want more money. Their last
bid was for 32 billion dollars. Colin Powell reportedly told Turkey just
yesterday that 26 billion was as much as the US was prepared to pay them in
order for them to be a "willing partner."

In the 1991 Gulf War, the level of world-wide assistance was such that the US
made a profit. The single greatest expense for the war was the cost of fuel,
which the Saudis provided for free in 1991. This time, they're charging
slightly higher than market rates -- and asking that after the coming war,
all US forces leave the country. And no country this time is providing any
significant support, other than Kuwait and Qatar, in contrast to the
significant levels of aid that most of Europe and Japan provided earlier.

The "Coalition of the Willing" in 2003 is made up primarily of such bulwarks
of freedom and democracy as Romania and Bulgaria and some of the former
republics of Yugoslavia. On the other hand, "willing partners" Estonia,
Latavia and Lithuiania are providing such valuable assistance as the use of
their airspace, should the battle move northward, toward the Baltic.

To the best of my knowledge, the payments to these countries have not yet
been disclosed, but I'm sure that they will be soon. In the meantime, it
appears that entire cost for this elective war will be picked up by the
American taxpayer. Record deficits, a faltering economy and world-wide
popular opposition are not the stuff that deters a "real leader."

Wirt Atmar

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