Damage control needed [Turkish Editorial]

The Turkish Times ^ | 3/24/2003 | Ilnur Cevik

[a_Turk]

Both Erdogan and Gul have to explain to the American people why Turkey behaved like this

Our discussions with Turkish leaders over the weekend showed that they are fully aware that serious damage has been inflicted in Turkey's relations with the United States and urgent steps are needed for damage control.

The Americans were angered when Turkey could not pass a second motion in its Parliament to allow U.S. troops on Turkish soil. Then came the new motion that only allowed the Americans over flight rights that effectively shut even the use of Turkish bases to the U.S. But even then there were difficulties as technical problems and bargaining between Turkey and the U.S. held up the Americans who could not fly combat missions through Turkey to attack Iraq...

The Americans were hopping mad to see such treatment from a country that was considered a strategic ally. They felt let down by the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) government.

They had given all out support for the AK Party thinking that the model offered by this party with its Islamic roots but with a contemporary look would be a model for the proposed Middle East democracies. Now they are shocked and frustrated.

After much negotiations and even some ultimatums the Americans managed to win over flight rights and thus decided to use Turkish airspace for their combat missions against Iraq. However, they were also quick to announce they had completely scrapped the idea of opening a new front from the north of Iraq and that they were moving their forces and gear designed for this front to the southern front...

The Americans and Turkey also did not see eye to eye over Turkish intentions of sending new troops into northern Iraq above the current Turkish troop presence of 17,000 in the region.

From an atmosphere of warm relations Turkish-American relations have taken a nosedive turning from bad to worse. We fear that if things do not progress well in Iraq and the Americans can't progress in the war as they wish with their southern front they could put the blame on Turkey for not allowing the creation of a northern front.

Yes, it is clear the Bush administration is in no mood to listen to our ifs and buts but we do feel both sides have to start doing some damage control because as some American analysts point out Turkey's strategic importance is too significant to be ignored.

We feel Turkey could make some gestures to help the U.S. war effort if things do not go as well as Washington contemplates at this stage. Turkey can also forge closer ties with the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq to ease some of the American concerns and thus avoid any new complications in the efforts to liberate Iraq.

Both Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul have to launch a campaign to explain to the American people and especially the Congress why they have failed to provide more active support to Washington. They have to convince them that this is not an Islamic plot to sever Turkey's ties with the West. They have to convince them also that they were not Islamic fundamentalist sleepers...

[a_Turk]

ping

[Cicero]

Well, the first thing Turkey can do is . . . stay the hell out of Iraq.

[Shermy]

bump.

[spectre]

As one who spent a few years in Turkey, worked with its military and developed the greatest respect for the nation and its institutions -

I am totally pissed.

[a_Turk]

>> I am totally pissed.

So am I.. We could have used a whole new set of vets..

[prairiebreeze]

Turkey must own their decisions and their actions. If things muck up because the north wasn't secure, all eyes will be on Turkey. Amends or no amends.

Prairie

[Torie]

I am very encouraged that Turkey has stayed pat so far. I think the repair operation has already begun.

[WOSG]

"Turkey can also forge closer ties with the Kurdish leadership in northern Iraq to ease some of the American concerns and thus avoid any new complications in the efforts to liberate Iraq. "

At the very least. We are liberating Iraq. It's bad enough
we have to deal with Saddam and his thugs using 'human shields'. The last thing we want is more strife.

People may complain about US diplomatic errors, but look at the Turkish errors: they do NOT have billions in aid, they have the US now considering Turkey unreliable, they have kurds in Iraq now afraid of Turkish moves. etc.

And the US best division is doing an unscheduled tour of eastern med.

" ..have to convince them that this is not an Islamic plot to sever Turkey's ties with the West. "

Not doing a good job of it.

[Paraclete]

first, I'm no authority on Turkish affairs. But I am one P.O.'ed American. On the surface, it looks to me like Turkey was more interested in a power play in Northern Iraq than assisting a longtime ally. This is a failed policy on Turkey's part. They will be condemned by the world if they make an unprovoked move into Iraq. And in IMHO, from the US perspective, I'd drop a few MOAB's on them if they do.

[knews_hound]

Hello again a_Turk,

We have spoken several times and I always try to catch your posts regarding Turkey and the Middle East.

Your reasoned thoughts are one of the reasons I come to FreeRepublic.

I have my own thoughts on the current crisis in relations between our two countries and I offer the following analysis…

The current Government was convinced by some of its EuroCentric proponents that they had the best of both worlds. They could maintain a sympathetic face at home and pander to the Euros, and the French in particular. They had a somewhat cozy prior relationship with the Germans due to the huge numbers of Turkish “Guest Workers” the Germans have maintained for years. Which is indeed where many in the current Government were educated.

Meanwhile, they could also push the Americans to the hilt, demanding more and more, buying time until a decision could be reached in the UN.

When the time came to decide, they rejected the US request, then backpedaled, and ultimately were too late to be a part of the New Iraq

I am not a policy consultant, just an ex GI who liked your countrymen a great deal. It begs the question to average Americans, if these are The Turks, or just another E-Uropean power,

I guess I had always thought of Turks as different somehow.

Please in no way take this in any way personally, I guess I am just trying to understand.

Then agin, its 8 pm in California and it is pretty late for me to be spouting off like this.

Cheers,

knews hound

[mathurine]

Put the Turks right square on the list with France, Germany and Russia for betraying the United States. Put them on the list for payback. Frogs and Krauts: you can stand aside first for any economic participation hereafter in Iraq. You blew that one. Russians, you have about blown the last wisp of good will developed when you finally figured out that communism was a dead-end. We have tried to help you keep your leftover weapons out of terrorist hands, but you have been relatively uncooperative. And you have not been very friendly in this current unpleasantness. You and the perfidious Turks should consider, along with Iran, which has made a point of being nasty for a generation, that soon the possibility of a much enlarged Kurdish nation amongst you backed by the United States is a possibility. The Kurds would like it. They are helpful. You are not. Why should we not let that occur?

[Roy Tucker]

What's the point of having bases in Turkey when you can't use them when you need to?

Turkey is strategically important but less so after Iraq is liberated. As a democracy Turkey can do as it likes, but we won't forget.

[Pushi]

Did you see Greta on Fox a few minutes ago? She tore the Turk ambassador's butt up. I'm getting to like Greta.

[Lurker]

Turkey: France on the Med.

L

[a_Turk]

True that they were working all sorts of angles.

I don't know if I can give the ruling party leadership the benefit of having purposefully lost the troop vote though.. That part was a serious oopsie, IMO..

I still win though.. The religious right in Turkey won't be getting any votes for another couple of decades as a result of this debacle.

[pkpjamestown]

http://www.ccnr.org/turkey_syndrome.html

[Diddle E. Squat]

I'm not sure some type of public 'explanation' would be very productive right now. May be better to just lay low, don't escalate things in Iraq, and let some of this blow over. Doesn't change what has happened, but talking about it won't change many minds right now. Decision made, now it will have to be lived with.

But that is just my opinion, from an armchair, with not a lot of knowledge of the region.

[neuron2]

The religious right in Turkey won't be getting any votes for another couple of decades as a result of this debacle.

Do you have any basis for this seemingly absurd claim beyond wishful thinking?

[Mortimer Snavely]

Erdogan and the AKP won the plurality of the vote with 34% of the electoral pie. That means 66% of the Turkish electorate despise him and his party, but were to fragmented to keep him out of office. This is a statistic of great significance, but is not appreciated by most casual observers. Given the current appalling situation, it is highly likely that he and the AKP will have their butts handed to them on a shish kebab skewer come election time.