BY YILMAZ OZTUNA
TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the US factor in deliberations about an Iraq deployment. A summary of his column is as follows:
The last two weeks saw the government and General Staff’s approval of the deployment motion, serious preparations for implementing this decision, and negotiations with the US. Such key decisions must be carried through fully and willfully. Otherwise certain problems could cost the Turkish people dearly. As our strategic ally, the US, complicates the issue with shifting policies, all our efforts might be in vain.
The authorization given by Parliament to the government ensured the necessary legitimacy. Now we will try to compensate for our missteps back in March. Certain foreign circles alarmed by news of the deployment show the heavy price we will have to pay if we don’t send the troops. We will go to Iraq to establish peace, save lives, provide unity and order, and ensure that people treat each other humanely. We will put those who seek blood and conflict in their place.
Next week the situation will become clear. Our troops will pass through the Habur border gate on the way to central Iraq, and this will continue for some weeks. The only domestic or foreign factor capable of changing our mind might be Washington’s hesitation. No other development could sway us. The US is dragging out the negotiations and doesn’t want to put them on paper, which might be a response to what happened back in March. However, I believe there will soon be Syrian and Iranian operations. Washington will evaluate its cooperation with Turkey from this standpoint.