Those who oppose the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) believe that nothing could be worse than the dialogue which took place between Bush and Erdoğan. We must not evaluate situations based on our preconceived expectations. Some groups have attempted to plant expectations in the public’s understanding. These groups, whose identities and motives are known by almost everyone, initiated a wave of nationalism, saying, “There must be a cross-border military operation” as they had done just before the elections. When attacks by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization martyred our soldiers, they said: “This government can’t cope with terrorism. The army should enter northern Iraq. The PKK has to be terminated. But that isn’t enough. We should also capture Massoud Barzani and go forward into Kirkuk. Kirkuk and Mosul were included within the Misak-ı Milli (national pact). Should the US object, we must reject it, fighting it at close quarters. A new border has to be drawn. Besides, it was the British who drew the current border. We must draw our borders ourselves.”How strange that those who say this were also the supporters of Westernization, urging Turkey’s foreign politics to embrace the West in accordance with Atatürk’s principle, “Peace at home, peace in the world.” Now these same groups oppose joining the EU because to do so would expand the scope of freedom in Turkey and the country would slip out of their hands. Most disturbing to these groups was the rise to power of the AK Party, by a 47 percent vote. They could not accept that the AK Party -- which championed the EU accession process -- received such approval from the public.
The AK Party had to be stopped. It would have to be made to take its leave under extraordinary conditions. At this point, a strange contradiction emerged. The PKK was also hoping for Turkey to embark on a large-scale military operation into northern Iraq. It was almost calling to Turkey, “Come, come.” The PKK had also been disturbed by the AK Party’s success in the East and Southeast during the elections. The democratization that EU membership will usher in will be the end of the PKK. Turkey had to enter northern Iraq and spark a Turkish-Kurdish war that would spread to the Southeast so that the PKK could become freedom fighters in the eyes of the international arena and Turkey could be seen as an intruder by the UN. The EU accession process had to be stopped.
The Bush-Erdoğan meeting has upset this plot and prevented Turkey from embarking on a dangerous adventure. Participation in the meeting by the deputy chief of the General Staff precluded attempts to create conflict between the government and the military. Bush praised the AK Party’s success in the elections and suggested Turkey as a good example for Pakistan to follow. This was a way of saying “we [the US] are aware of what is going on in your country” to those who wish to see the military prevail over the government.
Now, instead of a unilateral cross-border military expedition, Turkey will now make cross-border operations with the help of intelligence provided by the US. Those opposing the government will see: Turkey will do it soon, either today or tomorrow.
Of course, Turkey can’t solve the terrorism problem or the Kurdish issue by simply relying on the US or on anyone else. We first must have confidence in ourselves because no one can solve our problems for us.
We should deal with the PKK terror and the problem in the Southeast ourselves by focusing on the inside. Meanwhile, special operational teams should immediately step in to fight the war against the terrorists on the mountains of northern Iraq.
As I have previously said, the AK Party gained a significant opportunity to solve the “Kurdish problem” after receiving the meaningful support of the Southeast in the July 22 elections. Services, democratic reforms and steps towards EU membership must be immediately accelerated without any further delay. The civilian government must determine the agenda.
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