Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Victimised man of Europe
UK Telegraph ^ | 11/22/2003 | N/A

Posted on 11/22/2003 9:25:55 AM PST by a_Turk

Here in Britain, the Istanbul bombs have provoked anguish, anger and anxiety in equal measure: anguish at the helpless suffering of the victims, anger at the pitiless cruelty of the terrorists, and anxiety at the prospect of further attacks on British targets.

Yet another emotion ought to come into play alongside anguish, anger and anxiety - solidarity. The natural tendency of any nation to look to its own should not blind us to the even more grievous blow inflicted on our Turkish allies.

Though al-Qa'eda had various ulterior motives in attacking two synagogues, a British consulate and a major international bank, in every case the great majority of casualties were Turks.

Nor was the location of these attacks accidental. Turkey, as the Muslim world's oldest and most successful experiment in secular democracy, is abominated by radical Islamists.

This unique attempt to reconcile Islam with modernity remains an exemplary model for other pro-Western governments in the Middle East, such as Egypt, Jordan or the Gulf states.

As such, its destabilisation is a high priority for al-Qa'eda, while other terrorist organisations such as Hizbollah and Hamas are hostile to Turkey because of its close relationship with Israel. Turkish governments have always co-operated well with America, which not unreasonably regards Turkey as a more loyal Nato ally than some European states.

The fact that Turkey did not participate in the overthrow of Saddam Hussein had less to do with lack of enthusiasm than with the understandable sensitivities of the Iraqi Kurds and unseemly haggling over the level of American subsidies.

Despite these minor irritations, Turkish relations with America and Britain remain good. The recent ascendancy of moderate Islamists over the secularist heirs of Atatürk has made no difference to Turkey's pro-Western policy.

This week's onslaught, which may mark the beginning of a sustained terrorist campaign, could be intended to prise Turkey away from its Anglo-American alliance.

If so, it will surely fail. Turks have uniformly reacted with horror and indignation to the terrorists' indiscriminate slaughter of fellow Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. There is no backlash against the British or Americans among ordinary Turks; rather the contrary.

What resentment there is towards the West is directed against the European Union, which has again postponed consideration of Turkey's membership application until next year.

Jack Straw's hope that the Istanbul bombs might speed Turkey's progress looks like wishful thinking, given lingering European hostility, notably in France, dating back to the long feud between the Ottoman Empire and Christendom.

Though the impact of 70 million Turkish Muslims on Europe would be substantial, and the disparity in living standards is large, there are already large and successful Turkish communities in Britain and Germany.

A prosperous, well-integrated Turkey would pose no threat to Europe. An impoverished, excluded Turkey might fall prey to anti-Western Islamist movements.

This, then, is a moment to show solidarity with our Turkish allies. Al-Qa'eda deliberately chose to attack diplomatic, religious and commercial targets, symbols of the most cosmopolitan port in the Mediterranean.

In each of its incarnations – as Byzantium, Constantinople or Istanbul – it has been a citadel of civilisation. Istanbul, like Turkey itself, is no stranger to the barbarism that was unleashed against it this week, but this confluence of Orient and Occident, straddling Europe and Asia, will never succumb.

Turkey has chosen the Western path. That remains the right choice. Britons and Turks, Muslims, Christians and Jews, have died together for a common cause: the cause of freedom.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: britain; istanbulbombings; terror; turkey

1 posted on 11/22/2003 9:25:56 AM PST by a_Turk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Shermy; aristotleman; prairiebreeze; Dog Gone; alethia; AM2000; ARCADIA; ...
ping.
2 posted on 11/22/2003 9:26:24 AM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
Fingers crossed ping.
3 posted on 11/22/2003 11:27:45 AM PST by struwwelpeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
My only disagreement is taht Turkey is not part of Europe.
4 posted on 11/22/2003 11:28:46 AM PST by rmlew (Peaceniks and isolationists are objectively pro-Terrorist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
Excellent article!

Enthusiastic bump.
5 posted on 11/22/2003 11:30:33 AM PST by RottiBiz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rmlew
Like Russia, Turkey is part of both Asia and Europe, imo.
6 posted on 11/22/2003 11:35:43 AM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
We are behind the Turks 1000%. We weep for those who were slaughtered and maimed, we understand the Turks rightous indignation, and if they need us we will be there, standing beside them.
7 posted on 11/22/2003 11:47:12 AM PST by McGavin999
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: McGavin999
>> and if they need us we will be there, standing beside them.

Well then you're welcome to engage entities in your vicinity who demonize Ataturk as a means to deprecate his monument: The secular and modern Republic of Turkey where all are created equal..

Nothing would impress the Turks more than that single act.
8 posted on 11/22/2003 12:11:07 PM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
Turkey should change its flag from a symbol of Islam to show that it is indeed evolved away from the Ottoman empire.
9 posted on 11/22/2003 12:37:57 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Destro
F*** you.
10 posted on 11/22/2003 12:58:28 PM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
Secular or Islamic? The star, which was added to the [Turkish] flag in 1793, initially had more than five points. The star may represent the Morning Star mentioned in the Koran. Effective date 5 June 1936. (Image Helicon)
11 posted on 11/22/2003 1:02:50 PM PST by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorisim by visiting www.johnathangaltfilms.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
Turks have uniformly reacted with horror and indignation to the terrorists' indiscriminate slaughter of fellow Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan

I've seen this reference for violence during Ramadan several times since the bombings. It's interesting that the violence being perpetrated in Iraq against Muslims several times per month year round doesn't prompt the same level of indignation. Important religious holiday or no....

Prairie

12 posted on 11/22/2003 6:12:01 PM PST by prairiebreeze (Memo, memo, who's got the memo?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: prairiebreeze
The quote is BS. We don't like to be the target no matter what day of the year.

I must have read a thousand Turkish comments and not one refered to Ramadan, but all denounce these bastards as either sub human, non Muslim, or satanic. Wish I could find a free Turkish translator resource, I'd post a link.
13 posted on 11/22/2003 6:20:11 PM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: a_Turk
a_Turk ve Butun Turkiye'ye: Sheker Bayrami'da tebrik edip, saglik, huzur, mutluluk ve BARISH dileriz!!! Peace and Happiness for 'Eid ol-Fitr, buddy!
14 posted on 11/24/2003 12:49:27 PM PST by Map Kernow ("In terra pax in hominibus bonae voluntatis")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Map Kernow; superflu; TurkishOpinion
Sag olun beyefendi. Sizinde kutlu olsun. Nice mutlu yillara.

15 posted on 11/24/2003 3:04:37 PM PST by a_Turk (Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson