BUSH ON THE WAY
The opposition to the war in Iraq hasn’t lost any steam anywhere, Turkey included. There’s no reason to lower this opposition as the US continues to flounder. In addition, the pictures showing US soldiers’ torturing Iraqis are another black mark against Washington. Obviously this opposition to Bush can be seen not only in Turkey, but also for example in Britain. Actually since Bush divided the world in two, ‘evildoers’ and good, and showed that he was ready to move in spite of his allies’ opposition, he hasn’t had world support. Bush was unable to transform the feelings of solidarity coming from the Sept. 11 attacks into support for his policies afterwards.
In addition, there are certain issues on the agenda of Ankara and Washington frustrating our nation’s expectations. Both of these capitals will make efforts to make sure Bush’s visit isn’t derailed, but certain unkept promises might cause the Turkish nation to consider the visit useless. No operation to end the presence of the terrorist PKK in northern Iraq is expected any time soon, and the public resents this. Washington is determined to prevent the PKK from threatening Turkey. However, most Turks won’t be satisfied before the PKK is no longer in northern Iraq. The fact that Iraq’s Turkmen have little representation in the new Iraqi administration while Kurdish autonomy has strengthened and a possible operation by Turkish soldiers beyond the border could be blocked has created doubts in many Turkish minds against the US. Even Washington’s gesture of an $8.5 billion loan for Turkey had negative repercussions due to the provision that if Turkish soldiers launch unilateral operations against Iraq, the loan is void. Another issue is that ending the isolation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) hasn’t been supported with concrete steps.
In spite of these difficulties, we should be careful about the importance of this visit. We shouldn’t forget that in spite of a series of incidents which drew negative reactions from Turks, our relations with the US are generally good. The International Monetary Fund program which spurred our radical economic transformation was implemented thanks to Washington. The Bush administration understood that Turkey’s most important project was its integration with the European Union, and it has supported this aim and encouraged reforms. The US also contributed to emphasizing Turkey’s regional role. For example, Turkey was given a functional role at this month’s G-8 summit, and Istanbul was chosen to host the NATO summit.
However, certain people in Turkey are resisting change, opposing Turkey’s EU membership and getting angry about efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, the recent release of Democracy Party (DEP) deputies and steps for democratization. These people’s stances have grown clouded by extreme nationalism. However, we should follow Bush’s visit not with the empty talk and prejudice of others, but with our own eyes and ears.”