The War Isn’t Ours, But The Consequences Will Be

MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on Turkey’s position on a possible US-led war against Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
More and more demonstrations against a war in Iraq are being held every day. This is very good. Everybody should be opposed to this war. The Turkish nation is also telling the whole world that it’s against war. It’s saying, ‘This is not our war.’ All these reactions against the prospect of war are appropriate. However, they won’t be enough to stop the US. Clearly the US will start this war. This won’t be our war, but its consequences will be our problem to deal with. This shows that Turkey can’t just be a spectator in this situation. Turkey won’t go to war with Iraq, but it will have to have an active stance militarily against the problems resulting from the war. Turkey’s military posture was a subject of debate during the 1991 Gulf War as well. The discussions at that time resulted with the resignation of then Chief of General Staff Gen. Necip Torumtay. The soldiers were opposed to President Turgut Ozal’s suggestion that Turkey open a front from the north alongside the US, and then Torumtay resigned. As a result, Turkey was incapable of changing the military situation and no front was opened. Today Turkey would prefer not to open a front from the north or a land war from our border. The atmosphere in Ankara shows that if Turkey can’t prevent war and stop the US, Turkey should take active military precautions. Why is Ankara taking a stance that is so different from that during the Gulf War? The military strategists’ answer to this question is as follows: ‘First, in 1991 there was no northern Iraq, there was only Iraq. Opening a front from the north with the participation of Turkish units would have meant opening a war against Iraq, and the Iraqi army had six military divisions across the border. There was no reason for Turkey to participate in a land war against Iraq for the US. Today, there still isn’t any reason. However, there is a situation in northern Iraq today. This situation constitutes a grave threat to Turkey’s present and future both militarily and politically. Therefore Turkey has to ensure its security in the region. Ankara’s military posture can’t be that of a spectator. However, it can’t wage war against Iraq, either. It should be limited to playing an active role in order to ensure and maintain peace and security for its future. This time the US is proceeding with a permanent intention. It’s planning a land war from the north and south. There’s also the aim of reconstruction in Iraq. Turkey can’t be a spectator to this situation, either. It can’t be indifferent to this, for reasons having to do with history and international law.’ These interpretations show Ankara’s stance in the face of future developments.

SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION