Of course, most of those ‘well-wishers’ were fooled by the reporting and analysis of some Turkey analysts ‘embedded’ in Washington’s think-tank community. They too thought that the well-orchestrated, large-scale rallies prior to the elections signified a turn of fortunes in favor of the ultra-secularist statist camp in Turkey. They too failed to read the situation correctly and were led to believe that history was going to repeat itself and that the stern, exclusive state elite would once again ‘correct’ the course of events in this strategic country. Well, as the evening of July 22nd progressed and the true picture of the electoral run became clearer, solemn disbelief started to set-in in these ‘well-wishing’ camps. Needless to say, if some of these Turkey ‘analysts’ were able to rid themselves of their ideological baggage -- that seems to have overtaken any analytical capability they may have possessed -- they also would have been able to write in their policy briefs that there is significant democratic maturity in this country which rejects strongly any sort of intervention into the democratic process. They would have been able to warn their audiences that while Turks have a special respect for their men-in-uniform, they just as strongly dislike for them to be part of daily politics. These ‘analysts’ would have done better service to their institutions had they articulated that Turkey is no longer the old Turkey that can be manipulated by a small, exclusive state elite and one or two media groups. In fact, as this column has been arguing for some time now, Turkey is going through a historic democratic opening and transformation that should be welcomed by our friends in Washington. Instead of hoping that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) will vanish from the face of earth, they should embrace the modernizing and progressive political movement that inspires hundreds of millions of moderates beyond Turkey’s borders. However, embracing such a wise perspective would require ridding oneself of the ideological blindness and peculiar obsessions that seem to have also been present when these people were ordering the invasion of Iraq.
Now, we know that the days of the neo-conservatives are limited and that the countdown for their perennial demise started long ago. Yet, the ill-intentioned ‘analysis’ about Turkey is likely to flourish under the caring eyes of those who do not wish Turkey well. These are the same people that live under the illusion that history can be undone; that Turks can suddenly loose their religion overnight and return to some artificial state that allows Turkey to be steered by a small and privileged community. These are the same people that have difficulty grasping that Turkey has become a European democracy; that we conduct free and fair elections; that our people determine who should run he country; that our country does not approve of blatant interventions into our democratic processes; that the will of the people is the most supreme legitimate power in Turkish politics.
No wonder they ponder…Confused we stand!
