Turkey: AK Party’s message to the Islamic world

No one can forget his silence as the Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi started blasting Turkey. Not only his visits, but his body language and statements at his meetings with leaders of Islamic countries annoyed many. Turkey was perceived as being on the defensive and was going out of its way to please these countries.

When the pasts of the AK Party leaders were examined, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul’s attitude towards Muslim countries were thought to be pretty much the same as Erbakan. Erdogan and Gul were expected to seek the blessing of Muslim countries.

That didn’t happen.

AK Party emerged with a new attitude.

Its stance was very different.

Gul’s unexpected warnings were not made only once. The same issues kept being raised in Tehran, Kuala Lumpur and Amman.

Erdogan also followed the same line in Saudi Arabia recently.

Both are warning the Islamic world and their messages are very striking:

*You need to change. You cannot reach anywhere without changing the system and accepting democracy. The system you created will also destroy you.

*Instead of keep blaming the West, we should put our own house in order. Without putting our house in order, we cannot ensure the needs and aspirations of our nations.

*Don’t make religion a part of daily politics. Mistakes made and innocent misunderstandings are damaging religion. That’s why religion should be separated from the state and politics. Refrain from words and actions that would equate our religion with terror.

*Turkey is a country that both protects traditional values and practices a democratic system. This shows that Islam and democracy can go together.

*The results achieved by Turkey could provide an example to all.

In other words, the Gul-Erdogan duo keeps warning Muslim countries, without describing the solution as a "Turkish model." They tell them their system would collapse soon, if they don’t accept democracy.

The picture they paint is not expected. They are following a new line. They are not doing it for show. Of course, we can still refuse to understand their approach. We can continue to accuse them of trying to establish a religious system, but there are objective facts on the ground.
Everyone besides Ozkok should learn how to keep quiet

The latest speech made by Aegean Army Commander General Hursud Tolon was greeted strangely by the media.

Those who depend on the army’s support praised it. They are right up to a point, because they write according to the commands of their superiors. They have to protect their jobs. If civilians come to dominate the military, they won’t have a leg to stand on. In other words, they are in a panic.

Those who respect the military, but think that the army should stay away from daily politics, said that they did not find Tolon’s statements appropriate.

However, these statements and arguments should end. The current environment is weakening both the military and the country. Deputy chief of general staff makes a statement and soon after an army commander comes up and criticizes the other’s stance in public.

The Land Forces commander, sometimes anonymously and sometimes openly, holds interviews with newspapers.

Such things should end. When looked from afar, the military is perceived as divided. In other words, some top officers are openly harming the army.

We, on the other hand, want no one other than the Chief of General Staff Hilmi Ozkok to talk.

No matter who they are, whether an army or the Land Forces commander or some other officer, they should stop talking. They should refrain from stating their political opinions and follow the traditional military hierarchy and discipline. If not, they should retire before August.