Posted on 07/11/2002 10:38:29 AM PDT by a_Turk
To usher in the 21st century, Time Magazine asked its readers to vote their choice for "the most influential people of the 20th century." The contest quickly became a two-man race, with the top contenders each gaining about a third of the vote (and the other 98 nominees sharing the other third). The winner, with 33.8%, was Winston Churchill. The runner-up, with 33.2%, was Mustafa Kemal Ataturk -- a result that prompted most of the Western world to emit a collective "Mustafa who?"
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is certainly less well known than Franklin Roosevelt (12%), Fidel Castro (11%), Lenin (3%), Ronald Reagan (2%) and Billy Graham (1%). But he shouldn't be. Turkey represents one of the few nations in the Muslim world -- and the only one in the Middle East -- that has managed the trick of separating mosque and state. Ataturk, who was Turkey's president between 1923 and 1938, is the man responsible for this achievement. From the humiliated rump of the defeated Ottoman empire, he strove to create a modern, secular state. Turkey has its problems, including Ankara's deadly internal conflict with the nation's Kurds. But thanks to Ataturk's legacy, Turkey is more free than any other Muslim state in the region. It is the only Muslim nation in NATO, and may one day become a member of the European Union. Unfortunately, Ataturk's vision of Turkey as a modern state is under threat.
Until now, Turkey's Islamist activists -- who reject secularism -- have been kept in check by the central government and army. But that may change. Bulent Ecevit, Turkey's 77-year-old Prime Minister, is ailing, and his determination to remain in power has pushed his government into disarray. Cabinet members are resigning left and right, and his party has lost its plurality status in Turkey's Parliament. The political upheaval has exacerbated an ongoing economic debt crisis that threatens to bankrupt the treasury. The danger is that, amid the chaos, the Islamists may find their opening.
Such a transformation would be nothing less than a catastrophe for the Western world. On the political front, the development of the Muslim world would be set back by decades -- for the minority of Muslim scholars who argue for the separation of mosque and state would have lost their guiding star. The result would be a military disaster, too: The alliance between Israel and Turkey, two of the region's military superpowers, is a stabilizing influence in the Middle East. Should an Islamist government in Ankara renounce Turkey's alliance with Israel, all bets might be off.
Western nations have few means to influence events in Turkey. But those means they have should be exercised. The International Monetary Fund should continue to provide Turkey with the financial assistance it needs to bring its economy out of crisis. When Argentina foundered last year, Argentinians suffered. If Turkey were to follow the same path, an entire region might lurch toward the abyss.
:)
"Lo-fat"?
Do you know of a good biography of Attaturk ?
UnrecognizedBecause he scuttled their plans?
BiographyThe best one I know is called "Ataturk" and was authored by Lord Kinross. ISBN 0-688-11283-8
remember Gallipoli and how The Brits used Aussies as cannon fodder who were mowed down?
Well, the Turkish commanding officer was Colonel Kemal Pasha who was promoted to General for this feat.
Of course, as a General, he was in position to owerthrow the Sultan and become Ataturk ( father of Turkey)
What's a coupla of Aussies as a price to put your man in place.
This is good lesson how things really work.
There is an ongoing furor in Canada because sultana raisins imported from Turkey in the last decade contained approx. 100X more lead than allowed by Canadianlaw.
Health Canada (Canadian Ministry of Health) warned importers, but import continued, even Canadian Ministry of Foreign affairs intervened on Turkish behalf! In comparrison, FDA forbade import upon hearing of Canadian findings.
The lead poisoning of Canadians was allowed in order not ot not to upset the Turks who were prospective buyers of Canadian nuclear technology.
I feel that NATIONAL POST was hard pressed to write something positive about Turkey.
Will post a comparison and contrast between Churchill and Atatruk later.
As a military brat and a student of history, what surprises me is the respect which military forces accord their foes.
The Turks have always been recognized as ferocious fighters; we are fortunate to have them as allies now.
On ANZAC Day, as the descendents of the valiant men who died at Gallipoli visit the beach, the Turkish people there accord them hospitality and honor.
It seems to me that the villains at Gallipoli were as much the British commanders who allowed the ANZAC forces to be used as fodder, more than the Turks who were doing what the opponent is tasked to do: kill the enemy.
You heroes who shed their blood and lost their lives ….
You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country therefore rest in peace.
There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours ….
You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace after having lost their lives on this land. They have become our sons as well.
Now really, the Aussies have a legitimate beef with Churchill and the other British commanders regarding Gallipoli. But how can you blame an opposing colonel for doing his job well in defense of his own soil?
-ccm
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