Europe\'s split with America deepened Monday after France, Germany and Belgium vetoed a U.S.-backed measure to authorize NATO (news - web sites) to make plans to protect Turkey in the event of attack by Iraq. Turkey responded by invoking a clause in NATO\'s mutual defense treaty requiring immediate consultations. It was the first time in 53 years that a member of the Atlantic alliance publicly activated the emergency measure. American ambassador Nicholas Burns said the European rejection had plunged NATO into crisis. In Washington, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the United States and the 16 other countries in the alliance would go ahead with planning \"outside of NATO if necessary. The French and German view is that Turkey does not need the equipment now, and that planning for Turkey\'s defense now could send the wrong signal. \"If Turkey is ever attacked, we will stand at its side, that is not an issue here,\" said Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt at a news conference. \"At issue is, are we at a logical point where we are at war?\" Rumsfeld said Turkey needed aerial surveillance and anti-missile equipment as well as detection devices for biological and chemical weapons to protect against Iraqi counterstrikes. Turkey\'s request Monday marked the second time a NATO member has been forced to invoke Article 4 of the treaty, which binds the 19 allies to talks when one perceives a threat to its \"territorial integrity, political independence or security.\" Turkish officials did not comment on the results of Monday\'s emergency consultations. But they sought earlier to soothe tempers. \"They did not veto the protection of Turkey,\" Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis said in Ankara. \"These countries have problems with the timing.\" On Monday, Turkey\'s top politician ruled out foreign command of Turkish troops in case of an operation in Iraq, calling it an \"insult\" and \"humiliation\" for Turks. Recep Tayyip Erdogan was referring to a U.S. statement that Turkish troops would have to come under the command of a U.S.-led coalition in case of an operation in northern Iraq. (AP)