Pentagon speaks its mind in the end

When the Turkish Parliament rejected the U.S. troop deployment in Turkey motion that gave Washington a shock, causing enormous disappointment and indignation. However, an effort was made not to make these sentiments public. Care was taken to express these sentiments only behind closed doors.

However, in the end, all hell broke loose. Paul Wolfowitz, currently considered to be one of the most powerful figures in the U.S. Administration, has now revealed in a crystal clear manner Pentagon’s views on this issue — more boldly than any other American official had ever dared to do.

Frankly, though I had expected some reaction, I had not expected it to be so bold. The fact that these bitter words come from Pentagon, the establishment that had always protected Turkey and spoken in its favor, indicates the gravity of the situation. It also indicates the depth of the problem.

It is extremely important that Wolfowitz uttered these words — which were of a kind heard in Ankara for the first time.

ADMIT YOUR MISTAKE AND CHANGE YOUR STANCE
Click onto MANSET at www.e-kolay.net if you want to read Wolfowitz’s own words. Here I will relay to you what the deputy U.S. secretary of defense "meant" or, to put it correctly, "what I think he meant". The messages he gave were along the following lines:

* Wolfowitz expressed the conviction that the Turkish government, the Turkish General Staff and the Turkish society have adopted an openly anti-American, pro-Saddam line. He is suggesting that Turkey admit its mistake and change its stance. He underlined the need for Turkey to take the kind of steps that would place it in the U.S. camp once again. .

* According to Wolfowitz Turkey is not among the "countries that make up the Iraq coalition". He pointed out that because of that — and, more importantly, because of the "Iraqis’ reaction", Turkish troops will not be included in the peace force to be created. However, his choice of words also gives the message, "If you get closer to the USA the situation will change."

NORTHERN IRAQ NO LONGER YOUR BACK GARDEN
* Wolfowitz chose his words with utmost care. However, reading between the lines I get the following message: Northern Iraq is no longer Turkey’s back garden. You cannot get into it and exit from it according to your wishes. You cannot act freely there. You have to notify us of your activities, obtain permission from us. And, in the long run, it would be hard for you to remain in Northern Iraq — even if we managed to rebuild our relations to their former level. Stop being preoccupied with the Kurds.

THE GENERAL STAFF SHOULD NOT HAVE KEPT QUIET ABOUT THE ‘MOTION’
* What surprised me most was Wolfowitz’s remarks about the Turkish Armed Forces. Pentagon used to see the Turkish military as its best ally and never criticized them. This rule too has now been broken. Wolfowitz stressed, for the first time and with special emphasis, that they were bitterly disappointed by way the Turkish General Staff kept quiet when an issue vitally important for Turkey — that is, the U.S. troop deployment in Turkey motion — was about to be put to a vote in Parliament. When certain Pentagon officials called Ankara and received the following answer: "Sorry, we are not the proper interlocutor. Call the government," the American military reportedly went crazy.

DO NOT GET CLOSER TO SYRIA OR IRAN
* Wolfowitz made it all too clear that Turkey gives the impression that it is very close to Syria and Iran. I read his message in the following manner:

"If you are going to Syria and Iran in the framework of our policy and in order to relay our views, then there will be no problem. If not, your stance will create the impression that you are against us."

This is Pentagon’s approach. Tomorrow I will find out about the State Department’s views.