U.S. considers unusual arms deal for Turkey

[talsor]

(Reuters) - The Obama administration is consulting Congress on an unusual proposal to transfer U.S. Marine Corps attack helicopters to Turkey, U.S. officials said on Thursday, as Ankara tries to exact revenge for a major attack by Kurdish separatists.

Turkey, a NATO ally, has been seeking AH-1 SuperCobra helicopters to replace those lost in its long struggle against separatist rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

Under the administration's plan, the Marines would get two new, late-model Textron Inc Bell AH-1Z SuperCobras in exchange for the three AH-1W aircraft that would be transferred to Ankara from current inventory, a congressional official said.

The officials declined to be identified because of the matter's sensitivity and because they were not authorized to speak on the record. The idea to take weapons from the U.S. arsenal was rare, they said.

The proposal has been held up amid lawmakers' questions about increasingly distant relations between Muslim-majority Turkey and Israel, a key U.S. ally, among other matters.

The AH-1W has sold previously for about $10 million. Turkey bought 10 of them in the 1990s. The larger, twin-engine AH-IZ may sell for about $30 million, according to industry sources.

Under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act, the executive branch must provide 15 days' formal notice to Congress before going ahead with significant arms transfers to a NATO partner. It was not immediately clear when such notice might take place, with informal congressional consultations continuing.

Turkey last week launched air and ground assaults on Kurdish militants in northern Iraq, vowing to exact "great revenge" after 24 Turkish troops were killed on October 19 in one of the deadliest Kurdish attacks in years.

The United States and Turkey have a strong tradition of military cooperation, both bilaterally and inside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Turkey agreed last month to host a powerful U.S.-supplied radar system to act as advanced eyes for a layered shield against ballistic missiles coming from outside Europe.

The AN/TPY-2 surveillance radar in Turkey will boost the shield's capability against Iran, which Washington alleges is seeking to build nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

[Kurdistano]

KRG after declaring independence definitely should try to become a Nato member too.

[Azamat]

KRG after declaring independence definitely should try to become a Nato member too.

Are you serious? Are you aware of the consequences of such a move? It's permanent consequences I'm talking about here. It would be like selling Kurdistan to the Western market.

I feel sick and enraged when I see so many Kurds looking up to the West as our saviour and the way to national advancement, while the US and Turkey are kissing each other's asses at the very moment, in service of eliminating our heroes. Only the contrary is true; the West has always been an active hindrance to our cause, and especially with corporate globalization and neo-imperialism on the rise, I think we should reject them the very day we secess. Nationalize all the filthy corporations exploiting our motherland, and show the Western international community nothing but indifference. That's exactly what they deserve after spitting on our cause for a 100 years. China should be our focus from then on, but only to a minimal degree.

And no, I'm not an Islamic extremist. I'm growing sick and tired of being thought of as an Islamic extremist only because of the opinion shared above.

[Kurdistano]

I think you get something wrong. The only reason why I wish KRG becoming a Nato member is, when another Nato member tries to attack Kurdistan, we all know what happens. I am not asking for Nato membership because I want to be the slave of those who closed their eyes for us over 100 Years.

[jjmuneer]

I think you get something wrong. The only reason why I wish KRG becoming a Nato member is, when another Nato member tries to attack Kurdistan, we all know what happens. I am not asking for Nato membership because I want to be the slave of those who closed their eyes for us over 100 Years.

Which NATO member wouldeven dare attack us?

[Kulka]

I wonder how long time it will take for our boys and girls to f*** up these two brand new american Cobras.

[jjmuneer]

Obama should go back to where he came from I'm putting my faith in Ron paul winning american elections to put an end to American foriegn interventionism. Why let other nations who can't help themselves or solve their own problems help us? Isn't it just ironic?

[Kulka]

Obama should back to the times when he would be only black nigger in the USA, not allowed to travel on the same deck with whites in the bus and facing Ku-Klux-Klan prosecutions.

[Kurdistano]

Obama should back to the times when he would be only black nigger in the USA, not allowed to travel on the same deck with whites in the bus and facing Ku-Klux-Klan prosecutions.

My dear Its not only Obama. Its the Guys sitting on his neck.

[jjmuneer]

Obama should back to the times when he would be only black nigger in the USA, not allowed to travel on the same deck with whites in the bus and facing Ku-Klux-Klan prosecutions.

My dear Its not only Obama. Its the Guys sitting on his neck.

Remember he doesn't pullthe strings, its his coporate friends.