‘Let’s send troops to Iraq, but why?’

"Why do we have to send troops to Iraq? What will they do there? How will our troops be financed? When they would be back? This issue is a tough equation with so many unknowns," said Dulger, concluding with one more question: What the 20,000 Turkish troops are supposed to do that 140,000 American troops could not?

Stating that the U.S. only wants Turkey to sacrifice its own troops instead of the Americans, Dulger said that he can’t say ‘yes’ in these circumstances.

Dulger illustrated the situation with an anectode: a vizier that the Ottoman sultan really loves dies. After his death, the emperor receives so many applications for the new post. Then he says that the one who eats his dirt will be the new vizier. Everyone eats the dirt without questioning it but one of the candidates says, "I’ll eat it, but why?" Then, he becomes the vizier.

He concluded by saying that the Turkish nation is different and the rules of Texas do not work here. He said that Turkey did not say ‘no’ to the motion of March 1, but said a ‘yes, but…’

Dulger added that Turkey’s hesitation Turkey shows that Turkey is a real friend. He said that the main reason of their uncertainty is the unacceptable terms presented by the U.S., such as the arrival of 100,000 troops and opening of a number of land and air bases. He stated that Turkey has never hosted such a large foreign military force in its histoy.