IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 81
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization must begin to plan steps for the defense of Turkey 
as requested by that nation. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 13, 2003
Mr. BEREUTER (for himself, Mr. HEFLEY, and Mr. MCINNIS) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Inter-
national Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization must begin to 
plan steps for the defense of Turkey as requested by 
that nation.
Whereas Turkey is considering the assistance it will offer in 
support of a military operation to enforce United Nations 
Security Council Resolution 1441 to disarm Iraq of its 
weapons of mass destruction programs and prohibited 
ballistic missile programs; 
Whereas Turkey believes Iraq poses a threat to its security; 
Whereas Lord Robertson, the Secretary General of the North 
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has said that 
Turkey’s ‘‘concerns are legitimate and the threat is real’’;
•HRES 81 IH 
Whereas France, Germany, and Belgium repeatedly blocked 
consensus on approval of prudent planning steps re-
quested by the United States for the defense of Turkey, 
most recently on February 10, 2003; 
Whereas Turkey subsequently invoked Article 4 of the North 
Atlantic Treaty, requesting consultations with its allies 
about the threat to its security posed by Iraq; 
Whereas the unprecedented invocation of Article 4 of the 
North Atlantic Treaty means that this issue is no longer 
a question of whether authorizing NATO planning would 
signal a decision to use military force against Iraq, but 
is rather a question of whether all 19 NATO allies will 
fulfill their solemn treaty commitments and take steps to 
reassure an ally that believes its security to be threat-
ened; 
Whereas France, Germany, and Belgium have continued to 
block consensus on consultation and planning for the de-
fense of Turkey, despite Turkey’s invocation of the North 
Atlantic Treaty, despite Turkey’s legitimate concerns for 
its security, and despite the solemn treaty commitments 
of France, Germany, and Belgium to contribute to the 
collective defense of Turkey; 
Whereas 16 members of NATO have supported the Turkish 
request; 
Whereas the 7 nations invited to join NATO have indicated 
their support for United States policy in the region, as 
have the 3 NATO applicant nations; 
Whereas the fundamental purpose of NATO is to defend its 
members against outside threats; and 
Whereas the actions of France, Germany, and Belgium will 
have profound, deleterious effects on the NATO alliance,
•HRES 81 IH 
possibly exposing its core mutual defense guarantee as 
nothing more than empty words from the French, Ger-
man, and Belgian governments: Now, therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that—
(1) the United States must honor its treaty 
commitment to defend Turkey should it be attacked 
by Iraq; 
(2) the United States must assist Turkey in un-
dertaking prudent planning steps for its defense as 
requested by the Turkish government in the North 
Atlantic Council (NAC), regardless of whether such 
action is approved by the NAC, and regardless of 
whether such action is blocked within the North At-
lantic Treaty Organization; 
(3) the United States should encourage all of 
its NATO allies to fulfill their solemn treaty commit-
ments to give similar assistance to the Turkish gov-
ernment; 
(4) the United States should encourage the 7 
nations that have been invited to join NATO and the 
3 NATO applicant nations to demonstrate their will-
ingness to undertake the responsibilities of NATO 
membership by offering Turkey whatever assistance 
the Turkish government may require;