MILLIYET- Columnist Fikret Bila comments on US’ and Turkey’s stance on Parliament’s refusal of the proposal on Iraq. A summary of his column is as follows:
It’s strange that certain Turkish analysts and media organs seem to be angry with Parliament’s refusal of the proposal on Iraq more than the US. They write about the troubles that Turkey will face due to Parliament’s decision and frighten the Turkish public on behalf of the US. They complain about what a great mistake (!) Parliament had made. Even some analysts wrote, ‘You didn’t allow the US soldiers, so withdraw the Turkish soldiers from northern Iraq. Why are our soldiers there?’ However, the US’ reactions aren’t as harsh as ours. This situation makes us think that some of these analysts are more royalists than the king. Clearly the US was sad about Parliament’s decision, which is very natural. Just like the majority of people in Turkey, they thought that Parliament would approve of the proposal and made their calculations according to this expectation but the proposal was refused. However, the US didn’t consider this the end of the world like some of us. The US and the European press published articles praising Turkey’s stance and criticizing US’ stance and certain articles and cartoons against Turkey’s honor.
After US Secretary of State Colin Powell, in his message to Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, US President George W. Bush conveyed his appreciation yesterday. He stated that he respected Ankara’s decision and democratic structure. Powell’s and Bush’s messages show that Washington realized certain truths. The US hasn’t sent messages of disaster that suggest burning the bridges with Turkey, declaring a Kurdish state, starting an economic embargo against Turkey, destroying Turkey or taking Turkish soldiers out of northern Iraq.
In addition, nobody is asking what the Turkish soldiers are doing in northern Iraq because they know that the Turkish soldiers are there by depending on the law, which the Poised Hammer depends. They also know that the Turkish soldiers aren’t there as the advance unit of the US army. They will carry out their duty not for the US, but for Turkey.
It was also understood that Parliament should see that the US soldiers’ passage through Turkey and Turkish soldiers’ presence in northern Iraq are for Turkey’s favor. Otherwise, this can’t be ensured. The US has understood it already but we haven’t.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION