BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Some are allowing terrorism in Turkey to once again rear its ugly head. Big cities are being targeted this time. Turkey had successfully completed its fight against terrorism by paralyzing the terrorist group PKK. However, efforts to get a date for accession talks from the European Union were merely intended to legitimize the PKK, which took the lives of 35,000 civilians. The EU threw its weight in this direction. For the sake of its EU accession, Turkey’s hands were tied concerning the PKK. At the same time, with the new political conditions as a result of the US occupation of Iraq, Washington’s cooperation with Kurdish groups in Iraq and its closeness to the terrorist group PKK have drawn increased attention. Ankara saw the US protecting the Iraqi Kurdistan Democracy Party (IKDP) and the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (IPUK). The US policy towards these groups is undistinguishable from its policy towards the PKK. Washington even prepared a joint action plan with Ankara against the PKK, but failed to take action against the terrorist group.
The US policy is a serious problem for Turkey in a time of a rising terrorism. Ankara is expecting Washington to paralyze PKK armed forces in the Kandilli Mountain in northern Iraq, and has weakened its hand. Clearly this problem can’t be solved with the interference of others. Turkey has to question US policies on this issue. Turkey supported the US invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, done under the pretext of the fight against terrorism, and now we have the right to expect a clear attitude from the US. The US shouldn’t have the opportunity to continue this policy. Turkey shouldn’t be in a situation where it is obeying pressure from the EU and the US. Ankara should consider acting in the awareness that it has the right to expect the US to keep its promise, and it should know that getting a date for accession talks from the EU is no favor, but Turkey’s right. Turkey has the power to claim and take its right. The key thing here is that Turkey’s leaders should believe in themselves and this power.