BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila writes on the Turkish-US relations. A summary of his column is as follows:
According to the sources in Washington, the Bush administration is still disappointed by Turkey’s refusal of US troop deployments for the Iraq war. Washington holds the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) responsible for Turkey’s refusal. This is a mistaken policy. First of all, it was the Turkish Parliament, in other words the members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), which refused to approve the bill authorizing US troops deployments. Accusing the TSK for such a decision truly made via democratic procedures is an unrealistic approach. In addition, we are all aware that the AKP was never willing to approve such a bill which would plunge our country into the war. The Bush administration should never forget that in democracies national assemblies have the final say. This is what the democracy requires.
Both Washington and Ankara should not be stuck in the past. It’s clear that Washington has yet managed to control the latest developments in the post-Iraq, contrary to its plans. There are problems that the US officials are currently encountering in the country. The US intervention has failed to gain social and political support. The only groups supporting Washington in the region are the ethnic Kurds.
However, despite its failure to establish peace and stability in Iraq, Washington as already begun made offensive statements against Iran. It holds responsible Iran for the negative developments in southern Iraq. Furthermore, the Bush administration has also failed to find any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and lost its accountability in the international arena.
Under these circumstances, we should make a realistic analysis: It’s both mistaken that Washington has yet to forgotten Turkey’s refusal. Moreover, it’s again incorrect that Turkey is still acting as if it is trying to confess its sins. We both should forget the past and focus on our common future.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION