BY GUNERI CIVAOGLU
MILLIYET- Why has the favorable wind blowing from the US towards Turkey shifted direction? Does it have something to do with the motion of March 1, 2003?
Turkey’s stance on the Iraq issue back then sent great shockwaves throughout the US. When some suggested that a visit to Washington by a government representative could break the ice, American officials’ response was clear: ‘No way.’
Later, the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) took some steps that helped ease the atmosphere. And then…
On Oct. 7, 2003, our Parliament approved a motion that gave it the authority to deploy our troops in Iraq. Even before the vote, 10,000 troops were ready for action in order to be sent to blood-soaked Fallujah.
The motion of March foresaw only the deployment of Turkish troops in northern Iraq for purposes of providing protection for Mosul and Kirkuk. They weren’t supposed to fight Saddam’s army. However, the motion of Oct. 7 gave our government the authority to send our soldiers right into the frying pan. This way, the gods in Washington would be pleased. However…
The US announced that it ‘didn’t want Turkish troops in Iraq.’ Kurdish leaders Talabani and Barzani disliked the idea of Turkish intervention in the region and convinced Washington to decide against it.
Still, the motion of Oct. 7 helped to melt the ice.
Another glittering era began in Turkish-US relations. President Bush even hailed Turkey as a ‘beacon’ in the region and a nation which had successfully melded democracy and Islam. Washington stepped in to ease Turkey’s EU membership talks. The International Monetary Fund glorified Turkey.
Then, suddenly, ice formed again. Some figures in the US media recently targeted Turkey. The White House and its hawks have been taking potshots at Turkey since then. Here’s why:
Since President Bush was reelected, the Bush administration is now able to say: ‘Our people support our policy. We’ll carry on with it. Those who support our policy are our allies, and the ones who don’t are our enemies.’
When they are told that the Turkish people despise Bush, not the US, Washington officials answer: ‘More than half of our people voted for Bush. To despise Bush is to despise the US.’
Turkey’s stance on Iraq is considered likely to cause the US trouble in the near future.
Turkey’s efforts to build up a united front together with Syria and Iran against new formations in northern Iraq are a matter of concern for the US, which has long been trying to isolate these two countries.
The US wants to transform Incirlik into a logistical base and is pressing for this.
American officials, who initially used the media as a mouthpiece, have now begun to talk openly. The IMF has also been dragging its feet recently. The Armenian ‘genocide’ claims are on the verge of being discussed in the US Congress. And other approaching footsteps also seem to carry dark omens.