Let us take this issue more seriously this time

Turkey too has suffered a significant loss. Ankara has not been written off by Washington. However, if we consider what we could have gained, we can conclude that we have missed a big opportunity.

All the things that have been lost
A $26 billion soft loan would have given economy relief. Supplies worth hundreds of million dollars would have been shipped via Turkey.

The $400 million modernization of various bases, airports and seaports — much needed by the military — would have been accomplished.

Turkey’s status as a model country would have been bolstered and Turkey could have played a role in Iraq’s reconstruction and have a say in the region.

Now everybody trying to get closer to USA
Let no one say that we have conducted an honorable policy and that our prestige has grown in the Islamic World or in the eyes of certain EU countries.

The situation our Iraqi brothers are in, is all too obvious. Not having moved a finger prior to and during the bombing and now starting to discuss fearfully what to do, the Islamic world does not care which way Turkey acts. They are trying to save their own necks.

Meanwhile, Germany and France are vying with one another to place their relations with the U.S.A. on the right track.

Let us focus on the future
Let us learn a lesson from the goals scored against us. Let us try to score new goals so that we can improve the situation.

Judging by press reports currently we are faced with two new developments:

1. Our Northern Iraq policy is reportedly being fine-tuned. Turkey has reportedly decided to change its approach — of focusing only on Turkmens and of keeping the Kurds under constant pressure — and is opting for a more balanced policy. An extremely wise decision which, in fact, should have been taken earlier.

2. The U.S.A. has issued a call on all its coalition partners, asking them to what extent they would be contributing to Iraq’s restructuring.

The Americans are not making any demands.

They sent a list of their requirements and asked us to what extent we would be able to meet these.

These included the following: troops to ensure law and order, technical personnel, nuclear weapons experts and technicians for repairs. In other words that was a very long list.

The government has said that it supports this initiative and that it has told Washington that it is prepared to make a contribution.

If I am not wrong there is, in the air, the impression that we are taking our time on this issue, that we are waiting so that we could grab from the Americans money to offset the cost of the contribution we will make, that a bargaining process is underway to this effect.

If that is indeed the approach adopted by Ankara this is a big mistake.

If Turkey wants to bolster its position in the region even a little Turkey must leave aside the money issue and take part in this campaign with all its might as extensively as possible.

There will be those who will say this contribution would amount to "giving the occupation forces support." There will be even those who will say, out of ignorance, that this would require a new parliamentary decision. However, this time the old mistakes must not be repeated. Without losing time a decision must be taken.

Let us not forget that in the past Turkey played a similar role in Bosnia, Macedonia and Afghanistan and that, contrary to what certain circles may claim, those moves inspired confidence in the people in these countries. Turkey has become more influential as a result.

Let us leave aside this outdated, unrealistic sentimentalism which has no place anymore in international relations — so that no more goals will be scored against us.

Neither the AK Party nor Turkey can afford to make fresh mistakes.