Re: [A-List] Turkey: military eager for war?

["Tariq Mahmood" <zaogir@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sabri,

I see some hope in Turkey with the political change. Abdullah Gul, the new
PM went round the countries bordering Iraq. He spoke against the dangers of
war to the countries in the region. Now he is calling a conf of Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Syria and Jordan to discuss the possibility of averting
war.

He told reporters that both the US and UNO are appreciative of his
activities. I have my genuine doubts about that.

Next to Iraq Turkey will suffer the most if war is perpetrated. Turkey will
incur economic, social and political losses of great magnitude. Turks who
are very nationalists as long as it pertains to Turkish nationalism but not
when it means Kurd or Armeina nationalism. Gul is aware, if Iraq breaks up,
Kurds in the north will have some kind of sovereingty, which the Kurds
inside Turkey may also like to copy.

However, whenever, an Islamist government takes over in Turkey their
attention turns eastward. Arbakan formed the D-8, comprissing the most
populous and rresource rich Muslim countries. The idea has not been
continued there after.

Now Gul has made a tour of Arabs and Iran, countries that were traditionally
not friendly. It is a good sign. I look forward to a change in Turkey's
foreign policy of making up in more easterly direction than continuing to
lie on the doormat outside the EU. Turks are a proudful  people, as I know
them. The same should be reflected in their policies, both external and
inside home. We have a lesson of: "Ash'shidawo al-al Kafiroona, wa ruhama
bainahum."

Tariq


"Sabri Oncu" <soncu@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

 I said:

 The only "war party" in Turkey is TUSIAD (TIBA,
  Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
  Association) ..

 Just read at BIANET <www.bianet.org> that yesterdeay, several members of
the Anti-war Platform meet in front of the TIBA building in Istanbul and
handed a letter, a pair of army boots and uniform to be delivered to the
TIBA president Tuncay Ozilhan.
 Although the building security refused to deliver the boots and the uniform
to Ozilhan, they took the letter.

 In that letter, it was said that if Ozilhan, who called for Turkey's active
military participation in Iraq to support the US, expected any benefits from
the bombs that will rain on the people of Iraq, from the Iraqi families who
will fight with hunger and from the Iraqi children who will learn about
death, he should put these boots and the uniform on and go to war himself.

 Sabri