The situation is unlike previous cross-border operations because Iraq is still under US occupation. Turkey’s real addressee is the US. From the perspective of Turkey, there is a Kurdish state in northern Iraq and this state has declared its refusal to any military operation. A military intervention would be accepted as a declaration of war instead of a cross-boarder operation. This war will not be like the Cyprus peace operation, supported by international agreements. This war will mean taking everyone on. Turkey’s southeastern issue will become a full-scale Kurdish problem and irreparable cracks will occur between Turks and Kurds. Turkey will sink into the Iraqi quagmire and fall prey to the US’s new Middle East plans. Turkey’s EU process will come to a screeching halt and Turkey’s democratization and liberation process will be postponed.
A few days ago the prime minister was asked about prevalent conspiracy theories of whether a cross-border operation would be launched, causing elections to be delayed as a result. The prime minister said, “I don’t think so, but if an operation is launched the public must stand strong and the elections must continue.”
Each election in Turkey has been marked by differences. This year the two most important differences are: 1 -- a democracy weakened by the April 27 memorandum but struggling to survive the elections period; and 2 -- concerns about war.
Hawks seeking to push Turkey into a war have already started to issue signals on TV. It is unclear if the bombings and the increasing number of soldiers martyred has made the hawks’ front stronger. Neither is it clear if the timing of leaked secret state plans by an ambassador running as a candidate for the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) was to support the same front. Why aren’t those who use Atatürk as a shield in unnecessary times remembering Atatürk’s speeches on war and politics?
Let us help them remember:
“Politics with war and war with politics are the same thing. The parliament is the platform for politics and the government is the channel for the execution and implementation of politics. Only for the sake of protecting the nation, its public and its freedom can war be an option. A war should be the public’s war. The public must approve of war and the reasons to go to war must be enormous and powerful. There must be commitment among the public for war.”
For those who’ve turned the presidential elections into a crisis and paralyzed the power of Parliament as well as for those who perceive themselves to be above Parliament, here are more of Atatürk’s words:
“The Turkish Parliament is the most powerful, official and national source created by the people and for the people. It is every citizen’s great debt to follow and respect its decisions.”
