HURRIYET- Columnist Ferai Tinc comments on Parliament’s vote yesterday to take steps to cooperate with the US against Iraq. A summary of her column is as follows:
The Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies’ obligation to decide about cooperating with the US against Iraq in a closed session yesterday proved that one can’t escape responsibility just by saying, ‘I’ve washed my hands of it.’ Prime Minister Gul took the initiative for Ankara cooperating as Washington requested by saying, ‘We’ve done our best for peace. It’s not our responsibility anymore.’ If a process that is becoming more and more complicated had been explained to the nation and its possible consequences discussed much more, then maybe the government wouldn’t have had to make such a decision. We can’t say that it’s not our responsibility anymore, and it will be our responsibility until the Iraqi nation is saved from Saddam Hussein. This so-called relief takes place amid escalating threats of war, with conflict growing closer day by day. Now the Iraqi nation is in a bind: Saddam or war? No to both of them. Humanity should find a different way.
If this is about ridding Saddam’s regime from weapons of mass destruction and making him comply with all the UN Security Council resolutions, then solutions besides a military operation can surely be found. After listening to the evidence presented by Powell to the UN Security Council, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said things which should not be ignored. He suggested that the number of weapons inspectors should be increased and a headquarters established in Iraq. An atmosphere of security could be formed with the UN resolutions so the Iraqi nation could raise their voices against their regime. ‘Human shields’ can be established not in order to guard Saddam, but to protect the Iraqi nation from Saddam. For this purpose, first of all world governments should stop dealing with Saddam and his regime. It’s not impossible as long as they pursue commercial relations and oil agreements. International cooperation should be established in order to save the Iraqi nation from Saddam through peaceful means, instead of establishing a coalition for war. Our Parliament made the easiest decision in the most difficult way. It will be more difficult to make decisions after the Feast of the Sacrifice (Kurban Bayrami) holiday.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION