Difficulties In Iraq

BY HASAN CEMAL
MILLIYET- Columnist Hasan Cemal comments on the many difficulties Turkey faces on the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:
Of course no country wants to see its soldiers die. However, today the situation is very complicated, and discussions are being dominated by Turkish soldiers’ blood. The opposing sides accuse each other of supporting US President George W. Bush, Saddam Hussein and the PKK, which is a shameful tactic. Nobody should seek to exploit such emotions. Some shout slogans like ‘The blood of Turkish soldiers isn’t for sale.’ However, the important thing is the ability to see the big picture. Sometimes in a larger context Turkish soldiers might play important roles, just like over the last two decades. Turkish soldiers have died and been injured not only in southeastern Anatolia, but also in northern Iraq for many years. What’s more, the instability in Iraq and the power vacuum in northern Iraq lie behind these tragic incidents.
‘Turkey has been dealing with Iraq for almost 23 years,’ a top Foreign Ministry official told me recently. ‘The war next door started back in 1980 when Saddam attacked Iran. Then in 1990 Saddam invaded Kuwait, and then we came to this point through two gulf wars, which is enough.’ I think he’s right. Iraq, Turkey and the Middle East need stability and order in Iraq. Would Arabs deny this, or would the Kurds prefer more chaos? I don’t think so. Chaos wouldn’t serve their interests. It’s important for Turkey to play a constructive role in establishing order and stability in Iraq as soon as possible. As for the Iraqi Kurds, Talabani and Barzani and circles close to them should listen to the words of a Foreign Ministry source: ‘For 12 years now Turkey has given you the base for your security, providing your lifeblood. How can you be so quick to forget this?’
In sum, Iraq is important for Turkey, and Turkey is important for Iraq as well. A stable, independent unitary Iraq, living peacefully with others and no longer under occupation, would be a new Iraq and a new door. Now Turkey holds the key to open this door, that is, to cooperate for a solution in Iraq. Ankara should use this key carefully, without alienating the Arabs or Kurds. It should use this key by looking at the entire picture, paying attention to the Middle East and details of the cooperation with the US and the balance between the European Union and the US as well.