WASHINGTON, February 16 ( IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Continuing its feverish attempts to remove all obstacles in the way to attack Iraq, the United States will punish Germany for leading international opposition to an attack Iraq. Meanwhile, the Americans will provide turkey with aid amounted to 26 billion Dollars in attempt to get its support in its war against Iraq.

U.S. is to punish Germany for leading international opposition to a war against Iraq by withdrawing all its troops and bases from there and end military and industrial co-operation between the two countries, The Observer newspaper reported on Sunday, February 16.

“The plan, discussed by The Pentagon officials and military chiefs last week on the orders of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, is designed 'to harm' the German economy to make an example of the country for what U.S. hawks see as Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s 'treachery',” the paper said.

“The hawks believe that making an example of Germany will force other countries heavily dependent on US trade to think twice about standing up to America in future, “ The paper added

“This follows weeks of increasingly angry exchanges between Rumsfeld and Germany, in which at one point he taunted Germany and France for being an irrelevant part of 'old Europe',” it reported.

‘To Harm The German Economy’

It quoted one source as saying “We are doing this for one reason only: to harm the German economy.”

“'The aim is to hit German trade and commerce. It is not just about taking out the troops and equipment; it is also about cancelling commercial contracts and defence-related arrangements,” the paper quoted Another Pentagon source as saying.

“German industry earns billions of euros every year from supporting the U.S. Army Europe which, although reduced from its Cold War heights, still totals 42,000 troops and 785 tanks - almost three times as many as the British Army owns. Many of these soldiers and their fighting equipment, including Apache helicopters, have already been sent to the Gulf,” the paper said.

‘Aid Package To Turkey’

Meanwhile, U.S. decided to offer Turkey an expanded aid package that includes about $6 billion in grants and up to $20 billion in loan guarantees to secure Ankara's support in a possible invasion of Iraq, news agency reported.

Bush met with Turkish Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis and others at the White House on Friday, February 14 , but U.S. and Turkish negotiators have yet to strike a deal that would allow American forces to use Turkish bases as a springboard for an invasion of Iraq from the north.

“On top of an estimated $6 billion in grants that would be provided to Turkey in the event of a war, the Bush administration is offering backing for up to $20 billion in loans that Ankara could secure through private banks,” it added.

It is unclear whether Ankara will accept the offer, which has ballooned in size in recent days. Turkey, which says it suffered massive economic damage from the Gulf War, has been pressing Washington for billions of dollars more, news Agency reported.