BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and the problem of terrorism. A summary of his column is as follows:
According to the calendar, the 20th century encompassed the years 1900-1999. However, according to history, the heart of the 20th century lies between 1918 and 1990, from the Bolshevik revolution to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Our third millennium (between the years 2000 and 2099) started two years ago with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York’s Twin Towers and the Pentagon. Obviously, this action will be pivotal in world policy in the 21st century, and actually is already. Nobody guessed that terrorism would reach such an unbelievable stage and strike at the US’ heart and soul.
If the attacks two years ago had never happened, the Pax Americana would have felt secure. However, this terrorist act dealt the US a political ace, that is, the right and mission to fight terrorism in order to destroy it. Terrorism can be a job, the way for many ‘professionals’ and their families to earn a living, and an illegal war. It’s the transformation of political failure into despotism. We find terrorism not just in poor nations, but also in prosperous ones. A great many countries support terrorism against their rivals or enemies. This way huge geographies and millions of people are threatened. Billions of dollars are spent both for terrorism and the fight against it.
Today the US considers itself the champion of the war against terrorism. It will take revenge for the Sept. 11 attacks throughout the 21st century. As for Turkey, we denounce all forms of terrorism.