TURKIYE- Columnist Yilmaz Oztuna comments on the current situation concerning the Iraq issue. A summary of his column is as follows:
A possible US attack on Iraq has dominated headlines worldwide for some time. Now, however, it seems the attack may be delayed for another couple of months, and the possibility even exists, albeit slightly, that the attack may never come.
The US has to deal with the Iraq issue as the most crucial stepping stone towards its ‘Pax Americana’ before turning its eyes to other countries, most probably to Iran. Otherwise, the US’ very designs for the 21st century will inevitably fail. This is what President Bush and his inner circle have in mind.
Now everyone knows very well that the US’ basic issue with Iraq is not Saddam Hussein himself, but rather the US bid for the country’s vast oil resources. Washington is in a desperate quest to gain control of the distribution of oil extracted in the Middle East, in the process taking the reins in dealing with world’s most developed industrial nations. Yet, the US faces strong opposition, the firmest of which comes from Germany. By fulfilling Japanese demands in the Pacific, and making concessions to France and Russia, the US is trying to counter Germany. China, however, has its own oil resources, and so would not resist the US on the Iraq issue, unlike France and Russia. Moreover, the US has substantial investments in China.
In a bid to convince Russian authorities of the need for immediate action on Iraq, the US is arguing that the terrorists who attacked a theater in Moscow last week were affiliated with Iraq. However, persuading France will prove far more difficult. The US, unable to confront France directly, is trying to take French support for granted by giving concessions in the oil business.
Turkey’s demand from the US for concrete, substantial guarantees to compensate its losses in a possible Iraq war have also played a key role in the US’ change of heart. Nevertheless, the US will definitely carry through its designs on Iraq so as to maintain its superiority in the Gulf region.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION