'Turkey has overrated itself'

Turkish Daily News ^ | Mehmet Ali Birand

[a_Turk]

In the end Washington exploded.

During the MANSET program Deputy U.S. Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz spelled out everything Washington had been simmering about. Without beating about the bush he expressed, albeit in a friendly way, the accumulated disappointment and anger.

Wolfowitz speaks so frankly because he worked hard to further Turkish-American relations. In a way he reacted like a man who has been betrayed by his closest friend. When you read his words carefully you see that his words were realistic but not hurtful. That was, rather, a friendly warning.

Rather than having an angry reaction to his words we should see this as a frank expression of sentiments on the part of a good and close friend.

A similar mood prevails in the State Department Besides, this kind of reaction is not particular to Pentagon. Immediately after that I went to the State Department to have a talk with Mark Grossman, the most effective name in the department that is known as the stronghold of the moderates. Grossman is known as a friend of Turks.

He too knows Turkey well. Two "sensitive" persons who "love Turkey" are holding the two most effective positions in the USA and, strangely enough, Ankara has, due to its incompetence, contents itself with getting stern warnings under the name of "friendly criticism" when it could have obtained support from these people.

'We cannot act as if nothing happened' I had rushed to the State Department with the hope that, in the wake of Wolfowitz's shocking remarks, State Department officials might display a more "understanding" attitude to our relief.

I could not get what I expected.

The only difference was that Grossman used "softer" words. The message was the same. He offered us a hard nut coated in chocolate!

Using intricate language and skillful logic, he indicated, basically, that Wolfowitz's words should be taken seriously. He said, "We cannot act as if nothing happened." .

Significantly, he stressed that Turkey made a big mistake by embracing the idea, "The USA cannot do anything in Iraq without us."

He is right.

While preparations were being made in Ankara to push through Parliament the U.S. troop deployment motion, many an influential people in Ankara had subscribed to that idea which had reportedly stemmed from the AK Party ideologues. At that time I came across many "empowered" and "influential" people who said, "Brother, let us bargain well. We can grab what we want. Without Turkey the USA cannot take a step in Northern Iraq." That idea prevailed in non-AK Party circles as well.

Soon it was seen how empty, how wrong, an idea that was. However, by then it was too late. The USA brought the war to an end without Turkey in so short a time as two-and-a-half weeks.

According to Grossman, the biggest mistake the USA made was that it failed to make a strong enough effort to persuade those who govern Turkey to drop that erroneous assumption.

Turkey must decide what it will do As we chatted after the interview was recorded, he pointed out that Turkey missed two big opportunities: By not accepting a solution in Cyprus it has wasted the chance to join the European Union with its 9,999 troops. Also, by rejecting the troop deployment motion it missed the chance to make its weight felt in Northern Iraq with a 10,000-strong military force and, naturally, missed the $24 billion loan.

Grossman too wants to look ahead rather than focusing on the past. He too stressed that the ball is in Ankara's court and that it will be the Turkish government's decision.

Wolfowitz and Grossman, they both give the same message:

If Turkey wants to go back to the good old days with the USA, Turkey must stop fluctuating. It must adjust its policies to Washington's expectations. Do not engage in different quests. Have faith in us and walk with us. You would benefit from that. Otherwise, you would suffer a loss as you did in the Iraq case.

This is a crystal clear message.

Either be with us and win or act according to your own mind and lose.

Good that these have been said Our country -- including the president, the Parliament speaker, some of our renowned writers and politicians -- continue to live in a dream. They still cannot see the realities of the world.

What we are faced with is an USA that has become a hyperpower and we are, out of ignorance, stepping on its toe.

This is incredible.

We do that at a time that hyperpower is prepared to embrace Turkey, to make it fly up.

Washington's repressed feelings have gushed out during the past few days.

That is good. Now the ball is in Ankara's court. Rather than becoming unduly defensive, rather than overreacting, we too should engage in self-criticism. Let us -- the president, the Parliament speaker, the prime minister, the foreign minister -- speak out as well.

[a_Turk]

ping

[Bahbah]

This is interesting. Who is Mr. Birand? He seems to have some connections in DC.

[Hipixs]

Transcript of the Wolfowitz-Birand interview:

Deputy Secretary of Defense Wolfowitz Interview with CNN Turk.

[Walkingfeather]

Ping

[Shermy]

Article from yesterday had Wolfowitz complaining about the "military" when they made the "no comment" recommendation to the question presented them by parliament.

There's some story there for sure.

[rface]

Turkey made a big mistake by embracing the idea, "The USA cannot do anything in Iraq without us." ..... Soon it was seen how empty, how wrong, an idea that was. However, by then it was too late.

Perhaps Turkey has been given another chance (albeit a less significant and less noteworthy one) to become friends with the USA - a lot of groveling will probably work - but France is another story with no chance in sight.

[MalcolmS]

We do that at a time that hyperpower is prepared to embrace Turkey, to make it fly up.

"As God as my witness, I though turkeys could fly"

Art Carlson, Manager, WKRP (Cincinnati)

(Don't look at me. Somebody had to do it.)

[RJL]

"As God as my witness, I though turkeys could fly"

Art Carlson, Manager, WKRP (Cincinnati)

One of the all time best episodes on TV.

[dinok]

Funny.

I think Turks suffer from the same malady as many around the globe. Americaphobia.

If it rains too much, its America's fault because Bush will not sign the Kyoto Treaty. If Arabs blow up civilians its America's fault because America will not help them desolve Israel. If their economic policies are failing, its America's fault because America's economy is working.

I have heard this in Greece where I was born, and in Germany when I visited and all American haters that I have come across. Its sad actually.

If these people would look at themselves honestly, they may actually solve their problems and live well.

[McGavin999]

Turkey is being given another opportunity, I hope they sieze it. I'm really worried they will miss the chance because there are so many there who are unwilling to look at the truth.

[KillTime]

"Oh, the humanity!"

[Cicero]

I think it was worse than a miscalculation that they could hold us up for more money. I think France persuaded the generals to string us a long and then keep us out by dangling two bits of bait in front of them: 1) membership in the EU; 2) France and Turkey would divvy up the northern Iraq oil fields--Turkey holding northern Iraq and TotalFina pumping the oil.

As it was, Turkey deliberately strung us along as long as possible, keeping a key division waiting and waiting in the wrong place, and could hardly have been more damaging to the original plan for the campaign.

[marron]

For Turkey the issue was always Kurdistan. For us it was Iraq. That was the disconnect. We were inviting Turkey to join us in the attack on Baghdad, and to join us in rebuilding the whole country of Iraq afterward, and they couldn't see past Kirkuk.

It is a shame, but it is done. And, maybe, its better the way that it worked out. We will protect Turkey's interests in Kurdistan because we said we would. And Turkey will just have to trust us. Had they trusted us more, earlier, they would be sitting at the table in Baghdad, and Turkish troops could be patrolling the Baghdad suburbs and guarding the Antiquities Museum. Maybe the Turks should count their blessings that they are out of it.

But life is long, and Turkey is not moving, and in the end the Turks will have a role to play in Iraq. I suspect that they would still be welcome if they wanted to send peacekeepers to central or southern Iraq. And we would definitely welcome them in Afghanistan. There we have been begging them to take an active role in training the officer corps, securing the peace, and backing us up.

[Malesherbes]

I lived for a year in Turkey and travelled extensively. With the occasional exception, I was treated with courtesy and hospitality, and I grew to like the people and their country.

Having said that, I'm rather glad things turned out as they did. We are better off without a Turkish presence in northern Iraq. The Kurds there are truly indebted to us, and we can have an important military presence (e.g. airbase)in their territory, surounded by friends, as long as we need.

[Turk2]

Wasn't Turkey in command of ISAF until a few months ago?

[jungleboy]

The Phobia you talk about is the results of massive MEDIA-DRIVEN propaganda being fed to the populations of every country in the world, by enemies of the US! The ignorant citizens of Turkey were fed the same lies and nothing more. Turkey's parliment's hands were tied.

[WoofDog123]

"The Phobia you talk about is the results of massive MEDIA-DRIVEN propaganda being fed to the populations of every country in the world, by enemies of the US! "

You mean CNN?

[marron]

Yes, Turkey was in command, and had a considerable force there. They withdrew most of their force, probably in preparation for action in Iraq, though that did not materialize. They still have a small contingent in Kabul.

To keep things in perspective, most of the countries we are mad at do have a presence in Afghanistan, so it doesn't do us any good to get too nasty with anyone. We need a lot of help in a lot of places. We have to find ways to register our annoyance with them concerning Iraq without losing their help elsewhere. Turkey in particular could be very valuable in Afghanistan, if she were willing. The Turks are the example we keep offering to the Afghans as the model they should follow, and prior to the Russian invasion Turkey had a very close relationship with Kabul, if memory serves.

[WaterDragon]

Well, someone in Turkey has given this some honest thought. That is encouraging.

The anger at Turkey will persist among us citizens. Their decisions were costly. U.S. forces going into Iraq from the north would have forced Saddam to divide his own forces, reducing the risks to those going in from the South. Clearly, American lives were lost as a result of Turkey's intransigience. We can't forget that.

President Bush is different from any American leader the world has dealt with in our lifetimes. Promises he makes are promises he keeps. Period.

Maybe it is taking the rest of the world (as well as the moronic Democrats at home) longer to realize that, than it has taken American citizens.

I hope the issues with Turkey can be resolved. We have a long relationship of working together that shouldn't be completely abandoned. I've admired Turkey. I'd like to someday have that feeling toward them again.