The Astute Blogger got it first: The United States seems to be signaling to Turkey that there may be a first strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, and this time around, we expect cooperation from the Turks. Or else.

Belatedly, elements of the MSM are catching up with the huge story. UPI reports that recent high—level visits between US and Turkish leaders signal an effort to gain Turkish cooperation for a US air assault on Iranian nuclear weapons facilities.

The German news agency DDP cited 'Western security sources' to claim that CIA Director Porter Goss asked Turkey`s premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan to provide political and logistic support for air strikes against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Goss, who visited Ankara and met Erdogan on Dec. 12, was also reported to have to have asked for special cooperation from Turkish intelligence to help prepare and monitor the operation.

Two weeks ago, Yasar Buyukanit, the commander of the Turkish army and probable future chief of staff of the country`s armed forces, flew to Washington....The German media speculation about the supposed U.S. plans has been fueled by a number of high—profile visits to Turkey this month, including trips by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, by the CIA`s Porter Goss and by the FBI Director Robert Mueller, who also delivered U.S. intelligence reports on Iranian backing for PKK (Kurdish rebel) operations aimed against Turkey.