BY TAHA AKYOL
MILLIYET- Yesterday I spoke with Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. An incident which makes Gul angry is certainly something more terrible than it seems, namely the US military bombardment of the northern Iraqi Turkmen city of Tal Afar. Gul told me that the US’ actions there have created suspicions. Tal Afar is very important for Ankara. Turkey wants to open the Ovacik border gate as an alternative to Habur so Baghdad can be reached through Tal Afar. This is a second route against terrorism and another way to improve our trade with Iraq. However, Gul said that the US was hindering this proposal. Yes, the US is against our trading with Baghdad by passing through Mosul and Tal Afar and opening a second border gate at Ovacik and a consulate in Mosul. What’s more, it’s bombarding Tal Afar. Is it possible not to suspect the US’ intentions in Iraq? Saying that it was normal for the US to pursue insurgents who escaped to Tal Afar, Gul added, ‘We heard this as well. However, the operation to pursue insurgents seemed to have changed. They used excessive force and hammered at Tal Afar. Although they weren’t aiming at Turkmen, it’s Turkmen who suffered the most harm. One can’t understand it. The US is turning everybody against them. The Turkmen were allies, but the US caused them to turn. We are the US’ friend and ally and we are helping them in Iraq, but they are making mistakes there and displeasing us.’
Gul told me that it would also benefit Turkey if the US gains more friends in the region but that the US is instead winning enemies. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, Americans asked why people hate the US so much. The answer to this could fill volumes. However, the US can find a simple answer by looking at Iraq. The US wanted to increase its sway over the Middle East by invading Iraq. However, instead suspicions and criticisms of it have grown, even among its friends and allies. The US said that it would establish democracy and shake the despotic regimes in the region. However, instead it created ethnic and religious terrorism. The US should see that the arrogance of thinking ‘I’m the most powerful’ is its Achilles’ heel.