Turks have such a love-hate relationship with the United States – and they are by no means alone in this, as the latest anti-American student protest in Greece has demonstrated clearly.
Turks know that the US supports Turkey in a number of policy issues ranging from Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline to Turkey`s EU membership. But they are also very wary that the US is doing all that for a "sinister reason." Conspiracy, the danger of being sucked into somebody else`s less-than-noble plans, the danger of losing one`s independence and dignity is always in the foreground of Turkish thinking. The worst scenario is "Americans are trying to split Turkey."
When this kind of wariness is coupled with Islamic sensibilities, then it is very easy to portray Washington as the "killer of Muslims in Iraq." However, when such portrayal comes from the prominent members of the AKP government it transforms into a diplomatic problem.
Mehmet Elkatmis, the chairman of Turkish parliament`s Human Rights Commission has dropped such a bomb on the US-Turkish relations the other day when he accused US with "genocide" in Iraq and portrayed the Bush administration as "worse than Hitler."
"The occupation has turned into barbarism," the daily Yeni Safak (which is known for its special access to the AKP higher ups) newspaper quoted Elkatmis. "The U.S. administration is committing genocide... in Iraq."
"Never in human history have such genocide and cruelty been witnessed.
Such a genocide was never seen in the time of the pharaohs (of ancient Egypt), nor of Hitler nor of (Italy`s fascist leader Benito) Mussolini."
"This occupation has entirely imperialist aims," Elkatmis added. (Then why the Turkish government does not close the Turkish-Iraq border and ban the Turkish drivers deliver goods to the US forces in Iraq? That would have saved the lives of over 60 Turkish civilians who are beheaded or blown to pieces. What did the AKP government do to prevent such deaths or exact justice?)
Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul played down the impact of Elkatmis`s comments by noting that "In open societies everybody can say what they want." What the good Mr. Gul does not admit in public is the fact that, yes, in a democracy people can say whatever they want but that does not cancel the law of cause and effect.
After such speech, it is impossible not to expect any adverse impact on the Turkish-US relations even though it is true that the overwhelming majority of Turks are definitely against the US occupation of Iraq.
If this was not a gaffe, if this was a responsible statement by a Turkish official, then why did Abdullah Gul step in and try to save the day for Elkatmis? Why did Elkatmis need such a rescue operation by the Foreign Minister himself?
And why did Turkey need this on the eve of the important EU summit on December 17? Or, would this actually HELP Turkey on December 17 since such vociferous Washington-slamming now pushes Turkey even closer to Paris and Bonn?
An interesting chess gambit before the EU end game.