Sending Soldiers to Iraq

Deputy Chief of General Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said on Sunday, ‘There is a fire burning at our neighbor’s, and we can’t just watch it and do nothing.’ What was the cost of the fires within our borders and Iraq in the second half of the 1920s? What could be the cost of the fire today? At this point, a broad strategic vision is necessary. I agree with Professor Ozdag, who told me, ‘Turkey should have a serious political role in Iraq’s reconstruction. We should send soldiers to Iraq and drive a hard bargain, not for the US’ military guardianship, but in order to carve out our political role in Iraq’s reconstruction.’ However, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer has already stipulated that a United Nations resolution would be necessary. However, as Ozdag pointed out, the more countries get involved in Iraq, the more Turkey’s role will shrink. France and Russia, both of which have vetoes on the UN Security Council, were able to control 40% of Iraq’s oil during the Saddam Hussein era. As a result, the US doesn’t want these countries to be strong in postwar Iraq and in turn, they are trying to thwart American interests at the UN. Can Turkey stake its long-term interests on future votes by France and Russia?

I asked constitutional lawyer Erdogan Tezic about this thorny situation. ‘The Constitution addresses situations considered legal under international law, such as lawful defense, security and national interest,’ he said. ‘A UN resolution would strengthen this legitimization. However, even without a UN resolution, Parliament will decide if [sending troops] would be legal.’ If in our negotiations with the US we can ensure the political and military conditions required by our security and interests, we should send soldiers to Iraq. Of course this also carries risk, and our soldiers may face attacks. However, as Gen. Buyukanit said, ‘The Turkish Armed Forces [TSK] is able to carry out a wide range of duties.’ Indeed, one of the most important factors of Turkey’s strength in foreign policy comes from its army.”