Despite the big risk we cannot remain indifferent

Contrary to the expectations the AK Party administration has acted with common sense, adopting carefully an extremely cautious attitude.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) seemed more relaxed in the aftermath of the Supreme Military Council (YAS) meeting and, unlike the first time, the TSK too gave off positive signals, facilitating the AK Party’s job.

These days Turkey is giving the world the message, "We are getting prepared to undertake a role in the Middle East in a positive, constructive manner. We will not be merely watching the developments."

By sending troops to Iraq at this stage Turkey is taking a big risk. No one is in a position to have a pipe dream about that.

However, as a country that claims to be the leader in its region we cannot remain indifferent to the developments. We cannot say, "The Americans have made a mess of it. Let them sink. Why should we too take a risk?"

Such an approach would, in the long run, cause Turkey to be "marginalized." Despite all the difficulties and risks involved, it is inevitable for us too to put our hand into the fire from now on.

Regardless of the "justifications", it is a fact that we are now faced with a brand new Iraq, one that is finding it increasingly difficult even to preserve its territorial integrity.

There is a seriously growing risk that Iraq will be split into three while the possibility of a democratic Iraq with a unitary administration diminishes.

All these assumptions compel Turkey to intervene. We have no choice but live "intertwined" with the changing conditions and the newly-emerging Iraqi reality and this we can hardly do from a distance.

The terrorist activity in the Middle East is now focusing on Iraq. During the coming days there will be a big reckoning.

Turkey will either oppose that terror or merely watch it. If Turkey takes the second option. by the time the same terror knocks on our door it will be too late.

The US cannot leave Iraq
Some observers believe that the U.S. will not be able to last in Iraq, that it will withdraw its forces after a while.

I think differently.

With or without the Bush Administration, Washington cannot withdraw from the Middle East easily. It cannot depart without changing the Middle East, without setting up a new order in the region. It cannot repeat the Somalian experience.

If it did it would lose its position as the world leader, its prestige, all its gains. The U.S. cannot afford that.

The fact that the U.S. has failed to prove as successful in creating a new order in the aftermath of the war — as it did in winning the war — does not necessarily show that the U.S. will meet with a fiasco.

This may prove to be an uphill struggle which may last for 20 to 25 years, a very costly struggle, but im tje end the balances in the Middle East will definitely change.

The decision will be Turkey’s.

Would it be more rational to turn one’s back on the developments or to take a role in the new order?

It is for such times that the soldiers exist
Those who read this column know that I repeat insistently that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) is the most important bargaining chip Turkey has in the international arena. Thanks to its discipline and the nature of its general approach, the TSK has proven highly successful wherever it undertook tasks.

This country devotes a significant part of its national budget — more than TL 12 quadrillion in 2002 — to its army. It is for times like this that such sums have been spent all these years.

Our troops’ lives are as precious as yours or mine. However, the military profession does have its risks. As other countries do we must use that deterrent force abroad from time to time.