After a long period characterized by close collaboration between the US and Turkey, Turkey became a reluctant ally when the fight was taken to Bagdad. Turkey’s hesitance did not stem from its sympathy for Saddam or any doubt regarding its alliance with the U.S. Turkey had military, strategic and economic concerns regarding what a possible attack to Iraq might mean for its own national interests. Despite having no interest in the initiation of an American intervention, Turkey nonetheless felt the need to participate to make sure its interests were preserved. As such the veto of the Turkish Parliament shocked both the U.S. and Turkish administrations. Yet as long as the U.S. sticks to the agreed guidelines, Turkey is likely to maintain cooperative behavior. Please click here to read the text in full