Ankara ready to say ‘Yes’

Because of the cost of the previous authorization motion (empowering the government to sent troops abroad and allow Turkish territory used by the Americans in attacks on Iraq) and afterwards, the Justice and Development Party government, is trying to eat yoghurt after cooling it (a Turkish expression meaning ‘extremely cautious’). Both within the party and outside, actions are extremely guarded. Excessive discussions are being avoided. Discreet efforts are being made to let the opponents not speak out their views. Thus, either because of a request from the prime minister or because he has realized that the risks are greater this time, even Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc is not speaking.

There is not much difference on the military flank either.

It was the Office of Chief of Staff that paid most of the bill of the rejection of the last authorization motion. It has lost the "special relationship" it was having for long years with the Pentagon… It has lost the Pentagon, its strongest supporter. In time, balances might be reestablished and special relations might be re-forged. The prime condition of this passes through avoiding yet another motion crisis.

The military signals a green light
The AKP executives, who have said a while ago the military gave a green light for the need of dispatching troops to Iraq, said "Compared to the period before the last motion, they have a much clearer opinion" and particularly pointed out that the Office of the Chief of Staff was "very much positive and willing."

Military sources, also, point out that if Turkey decides not to send troops to Iraq, Turkish-American relations would suffer irreparable damage from all aspects. They point out that even the Land Forces commander, who was not refraining from expressing his opinions full of heavy criticism, was now opted to stay silent because of that.

It appears that it is understood at military cricles that there are drawbacks in talking to much and sounding messages on political matters. They have seen that leaving these issues to the civilians is a more rational approach. As a consequence of the mistakes made, the RED LINES Turkey had declared dissappeared and the efficiency of Turkey in northern Iraq have come to the point of oblivion.

Indeed, there are more risks now
If the pre-war situation and the conditions pervailing during the rejected motion time are compared with the situation now, it could easily be seen that Turkey has taken over more risks now.

If we put aside "Our democracy became stronger" and such evaluations that lack content, we could see that Turkey had turned its back to a greater opportunity and great advantages it could garner while now it is assuming a far dangerous endevaur for much limited political and economic advantage.

While those who were saying NO yesterday must have say NO more louder today, we see that they as well have seen some realities, or could not brush aside the realities and thus silenced themselves.

Would not it be better had they demonstrated the same rational approach in the past. They would have more integrity and acted more rational.

We wish the AKP had shown the sensitivity it is demonstrating today at the last motion period also. After seeing all these developments onme could not stop himself from asking "Hey friends, was it required to put sacks over your heads to see the right path on the Iraq issue?" With its military and diplomats Turkey failed in this exam.

Turkey was very convincing at the start
Had Turkey told the Washington at the very beginning "We have suffered a lot from Iraq. We request you not get us involved in this. We shall open our airspace, but don’t take through Turkey your troops and open a front from our territory. We cannot afford that" Turkey would not live what we have been through and our losses would be much lesser.

Complications started with Turkey giving the green light to the Americans right from the very beginning.

Even Erdogan, told Bush at the White House, where he was accepted extraordinarily although he was not yet the prime minister, whatever the American president wanted to hear.

Then, the first motion was accepted and modernization of the bases and ports in Turkey started. Turkish and American authorities conducted weeks long negotiations on "military cooperation agreement" and covered every tiny aspect. All these were signals that Turkey would eventually say YES. The Americans devised all their plans according to these signals they received from Turkey.

Then, all of a sudden Ankara said NO. Naturally this situation led to a great reaction in Washington. The developments lived then onwards (the statement of Wolfowitz and covering of the heads of our soldiers with sacks) are known by everyone.

Ankara again pledges ‘troop’ contributions
Whatever has happened, happened.

After the war, Turkey has started seeking ways of mending the ties with an understanding "Whatever has happened, happened. Let’s close this chapter", sent a delegation to Washington and expressed in a list its possible contributions to the American forces as stability is restored in Iraq.

One of the pledges of Ankara was the article that "We may send troops." That is Turkey was once again blinking to the Bush administration and pledging: I CAN SEND TROOPS.

The Bush administration was in need of some additional 10,000 troops which would particularly come from an Islamic country. But, because of Turkey’s bad record, it initially did not want to believe.

But, when during his July trip Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul gave once again a positive signal on the troops issue, Ankara was once again taken seriously and a waiting period started.

At this point Turkey cannot say NO
After all these were lived, new pledges were made and despite sacks were placed on our heads we preferred to swallow the development and refrained from making strong reaction, in short after this hour the AKP government can no longer say No.

A No reply, put aside Turkish American relations, would spare neither Turkish military-Pentagon relations, nor the hopes of Turkish economy, already walking on razor’s edge, of getting out of the crisis.

Do you know why the Turkish Parliament will say YES?

Because the AKP does not want a fresh crisis for the Turkish economy. The Turkish military does not want its last ties with Pentagon be cut. We should noty deceive ourselves.

We must see the bare realities.