MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Turkey’s possible role in an operation against Iraq by the US. A summary of his column is as follows:
Ankara knows that the US is determined to carry out an attack against Iraq. Washington is trying to ensure support for the operation and during this period of time, both Ankara and Washington are busy with planning. Ankara is trying to turn the political and military choices into a common decision. During the recent Iraq summits in Ankara, common decisions were being created on various alternatives. Within this framework, we can summarize Ankara’s possible political and military preference in an Iraq operation like so: ‘Keeping in the thick of things.’ Turkey favors a solution to the problem without resorting to war, but it also sees that a military operation is very likely. Therefore it’s reasoning along these lines on the governmental level: ‘The US will do what it’s determined to do. It will do this whether Turkey supports it or not. In such a situation, Ankara’s putting itself into the thick of developments will yield better results than sitting outside.’ Thinking this way, political and military officials are of the opinion that Turkey should play an active role in an operation that will be based on international law. The degree of this role will be determined through military evaluations. The method of this determination will be technical negotiations to be held with US military officials. Ankara’s desire to take an active posture in an Iraq operation derives from its plans for cooperation and mutual assistance as well as its wish to protect Turkey’s national interests in northern Iraq. Ankara considers it indispensable for Turkey’s national and political interests that following any operation, control of the region will be under the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) rather any foreign military power.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION