MILLIYET- Columnist Sami Kohen comments on the ongoing war in Afghanistan and Turkey’s stance. A summary of his column is as follows:
It was believed that the war in Afghanistan was over. However, incidents which led to the downing of two US helicopters and the death of eight American soldiers this week demonstrated that the clashes were continuing and Al Qaida and Taleban forces were hiding in the mountains. The US is preparing broad operations against these hostile forces among whom are Arab and Chechen warriors.The operations’ aim is to sweep Afghanistan clean of Al Qaida and and Taleban militants. The heating up of clashes in Afghanistan may have two results which closely concern us. First, this incident shows that it will not be easy to establish peace and stability in Afghanistan. The international community has sent troops with this aim to the country. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) is right now deployed only in Kabul. In April the command of the force may be turned over to a Turkish officer. However, Ankara is insisting on certain conditions. The last incident has demonstrated how right Turkey is in acting carefully on the issue... Secondly, these last clashes have shown that the US has to stay in Afghanistan for some time longer. Can the Bush administration open new fronts in other parts of the world under such circumstances? Officials in Washington state that US will go wherever Al Qaida is present. Is Iraq included? The US officials cannot give a clear answer to this question. At the moment, there has been no decison made on the issue. This does not exclude such a possibility in the future. While the US is battling in the swamp of Afghanistan, it may hesitate to open another front in Iraq. US military sources say that they will certainly end the war in Afghanistan but it may take some time. It is easy to start a war but hard to end it.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION