STAR- Columnist Zeynep Gurcanli writes on Turkey’s hesitation to take an official stance on the Iraq issue. A summary of her column is as follows:
Looking at Prime Minister Abdullah Gul’s recent tour of the Mideast, one fact is striking: All the countries that Gul visited are opposed to a US operation against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. None, however, is powerful enough to resist the Bush administration.
Politically speaking, while Jordan and Saudi Arabia are kingdoms, dictators in Egypt and Saudi Arabia rule their countries with an iron fist. Iran’s shariah regime is nothing but extremist Islamic rule.
These countries’ leaders don’t take into consideration the voice of the people when they make their decisions, but rather only how they can maintain the status quo. In order to protect their own rule, these leaders are well aware that they have to establish or keep good relations with the US, which has openly proclaimed itself to be world’s policeman.
In fact, the leaders of all the Mideast countries governed by non-democratic regimes are currently quaking in trepidation, since they can’t keep their minds off one question: “After the US overthrows Saddam, will I be their next target?” No matter how much they’re opposed to a possible Iraq war, they all feel that they have to support the US in it.
What about Turkey? Despite all its shortcomings, Turkey is the only country in the region ruled by a democratic regime. That’s why our leaders need to ensure the approval of the people before taking an official stance on the Iraq issue. In fact, before the US, we’re more powerful than other Middle Eastern countries, since the will of the people is the most important element in our country’s political decision-making mechanism.
Since Turkey hasn’t yet made any official decision on the Iraq issue and due to conflicting signs such as our sending a trade delegation to Baghdad, the US is seriously concerned about our country’s official stance. In Washington, there are two opposing camps on the Iraq issue, the moderates and the hawks. Turkey’s hemming and hawing suits the interests of the moderates just fine. Even US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, the Bush administration’s most renowned hawk who advocates Saddam’s immediate ouster, had to take a step back. Turkey’s hesitation also showed the world that Bush shouldn’t forget what he told the United Nations General Assembly last year, namely that the Iraq problem couldn’t be solved without securing the blessings of the international community.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, one of the few US politicians exhibiting common sense, recently stated that Jan. 27 was only a date for the UN weapons inspectors to present their report on Iraq, stressing that it shouldn’t be considered a deadline since there might be more chances to reach a peaceful solution.
Looking at things from this angle, despite many criticisms, Turkey’s hesitant stance fits well with the plans and interests of circles worldwide which are opposed to war.
However, looked at from the domestic angle, we see a weak economy and also increasing tension among the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), the bureaucracy and the military. Taking into consideration all these developments, there is but one question dominating our thoughts: How long will Turkey be able to resist the US?
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION