BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on yesterday’s bomb attacks in Istanbul and global terrorism. A summary of his column is as follows:
A few days after the weekend bomb attacks in Istanbul, terrorist attacks struck Istanbul again yesterday, which shows that these attacks will continue. It was obvious that nothing would be the same and the world was facing a new era after the Sept. 11 attacks. After those attacks, US President George W. Bush and British Foreign Minister Tony Blair’s policy of invasion was unlikely to halt terrorism. Clearly terrorist actions are a challenge to the hold of the global superpowers. No matter how great are our military forces, terrorism is a threat against all countries and nations. The similarity between the methods of these attacks, the equipment used and the targets chosen show the existence of an organization which has the ability to take movement and action on the international level.
Turkey should deal with this situation internationally, as international cooperation against international terrorism is a must. In this process, the US and Britain should be open to suggestions from the world, in particular from experienced countries like Turkey, and show the flexibility to review their policies if necessary. As for Turkey, it’s a country which for 20 years had been mostly left alone in its fight against terrorism, and ensuring our domestic solidarity and cooperation with all people from all walks of life seems to be the first requirement of protecting ourselves. We should do this regardless of our political efforts against terrorism.
First of all, it’s the government’s responsibility to ensure this atmosphere of solidarity. The best way forward seems to be moving towards cooperation on the national and international levels without ignoring the facts or hiding them from the nation due to politics. I extend my condolences to those who lost their loved ones and my get-well soon wishes for those injured by yesterday’s attacks.