Vice President Dick Cheney wrapped up an 11 nation middle east tour today aimed at rallying support for attacksagainst Iraq. Cheney’s final stop was the key nation of Turkey. During his meetings with Turkish officials, the VicePresident offered Turkey some $228 million to assume control and command of the international peacekeeping force inKabul.

With Cheney’s trip to Turkey, it seems as though the groundwork is being laid for US strikes against Iraq.

Turkey is central to any US plans to attack Baghdad-the country would be an important base of operations for suchattacks.

Meanwhile, as Cheney wrapped up his trip, CIA director George Tenet appeared before a Senate committee where heaccused Iraq of having links with Al Qaeda.

In the wake of September 11th, the Pentagon dispatched former CIA director James Woolsey to London to investigateIraq’s connection to the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

Guests:

• James Woolsey, former director of the CIA (1993-1995). He is currently a partner at the law firm of Shea& Gardner in Washington, D.C.
• Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General and founder of the International Action Center.
• Hussein Ibish, communications director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Related links:

• International Action Center
• American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee