Rather than get angry at Turkey, the Bush administration argued that its senior officials had played the diplomatic game poorly.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: How Turkey was lost

The provision for financial assistance to Turkey included in the war-funding request Mr Bush sent to Congress on March 24th was small beer by comparison with what Turkey would have got if it had co-operated fully.

ECONOMIST: Mending fences | The

Bush traveled to Ankara, Turkey, on Saturday for advance meetings with Turkish leaders.

CNN: Bush, NATO focus on Iraq

According to the text read by the Al-Jazeera anchor, the kidnappers called on the people of Iraq to denounce Bush's visit to Turkey and to insist Turkish companies leave Iraq.

CNN: Bush, NATO focus on Iraq

The Americans seemed to be asking Turkey to help with a war George Bush had not yet publicly declared he would wage, while much of the rest of the world was still scrambling to find a peaceful way out.

ECONOMIST: Turkey's promises were always too hard to keep

In his meeting with Erdogan, Bush also reiterated his backing for Turkey's European Union membership bid and said the country was a model for Muslim democracy.

CNN: Bush, NATO focus on Iraq

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- President Bush arrived Sunday in Istanbul to attend the NATO summit with hopes of persuading the international body to help train Iraqi forces after Iraqis officially take control of their country on Wednesday.

CNN: Bush, NATO focus on Iraq

Turkey is a U.S. ally, and the Bush administration is really hoping they stay out of northern Iraq.

NPR: Turkey Rattles Sabers at Kurdish Iraq

Finally, the Bush administration denied the inherent hostility of the Islamist government in Turkey.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Exploiting the crisis

Mr Bush has also been in touch with, among others, leaders in Canada, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.

ECONOMIST: A difficult struggle of uncertain duration | The