Can A Common Front Prevent A War?

Columnist Sami Kohen comments on Turkey’s Iraq policy. A summary of his column is as follows:
Will Prime Minister Abdullah Gul be able to head off a war in Iraq with his active peace diplomacy initiative, currently being pursued in his visit to Arab countries?
Wrapping up his visits to Syria, Egypt and Jordan, Gul yesterday remarked that he believed certain promising diplomatic efforts held the possibility of defusing the growing crisis in the region. Gul stated that Turkey and Arab countries share similar views on the Iraq issue and had reached agreement to act together as a common front whenever needed.
We really should admit that Gul’s recent diplomatic efforts have been very successful. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has shown the world its resolve to do its utmost to bring peace and stability to the region. However, the key question is whether the AKP will really be able to prevent a war in the region. Can a common front formed by Turkey and Arab countries really be successful in defusing the crisis? Being optimistic on this issue is very difficult. There are two chief reasons for my pessimism:
There are still doubts that such a common front can be durable and long lasting. In the past, Arab countries formed similar fronts for various reasons, but these alliances proved short lived.
There are serious doubts that this alliance will be an effective one. Why should US President George W. Bush, whose ambition to attack Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is well known, pay attention to the calls for peace from this common front? Indeed, why should Saddam Hussein take the views of this front seriously?
Let’s hope that I’m being overly pessimistic. Diplomacy has always been a powerful method for solving international problems. Let’s not sink into despair! However, what if these diplomatic initiatives fail to sway Bush or Saddam? What will our common front do under such circumstances? What will Turkey do?
Turkey’s position is a bit more complex and complicated. Our country faces a true dilemma: On the one hand, we really don’t want to take part in an Iraq war. On the other hand, it’s impossible for our government to turn its back on US demands, since the two countries have been strategic partners for a long time.
We can say that our government has so far done well. First, it announced that it would support the Bush administration. Then it launched a peace initiative, taking into consideration the Turkish people’s well-known opposition to a war in Iraq. Our government is currently sidestepping giving a straight answer to the US demands. Now it’s trying to form a common front with the Arab world. These are all admirable policies. Let’s hope that the US gives up its war plans! Let’s believe that diplomacy can win the day!
However, what if a war is waged in the region? In that case, such a policy would not be beneficial to Turkey. Turkey will then have to develop new strategies and assume new roles in order to protect its own national interests.

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