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Turning swords into bankshares in
Turkey
By Hilmi Toros
ISTANBUL - Turkey is speeding up its war
preparations for fear that sitting out a United
States-led military strike against Iraq may prove more
costly than active involvement.
Turkey's motives
are far different from those of the US. The overwhelming
fear is that the presence of a strong Kurdish entity in
northern Iraq could embolden Turkey's own Kurds in
demanding a separate status. Disarming Iraq or a regime
change is secondary, even though Turkish cities are
within striking range of Iraq.
Turkey is
considered an indispensable gateway in any military
strike against Iraq because an assault from Turkey could
buttress an attack from other sides. US and British
aircraft already use the Incirlik air base in southern
Turkey to enforce the no-fly zone in northern Iraq.
Now additional troops have been dispatched to
the border with Iraq, according to local reports.
Officials are drafting emergency plans. Thousands of
additional security personnel are being assigned to
protect potential Iraqi targets.
US military
officials have already inspected land, air and sea bases
as the Bush administration pushes for an early decision
to allow its troops to operate from Turkish soil. But
over the weekend the National Security Council decided
to seek parliamentary approval before granting the US
request, or allowing Turkish troops to be deployed
abroad.
The move followed evidence of
overwhelming anti-war sentiment. Opinion polls show
about 80 percent of people opposed to war. Anti-war
demonstrations are held daily.
Turkey's infant
government, in power only three months after an
overwhelming mandate to the Justice and Development
Party, is engaged in a series of delicate balancing
acts.
With its strong Islamic roots, the party
has more affinity with the Islamic world than any of its
predecessors. But Turkey, the only Muslim member of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization has also had to ask
the alliance for protection in case of an Iraqi attack.
And it needs US goodwill for loans for its ailing
economy.
Turkish leaders have said the economy
could not withstand another blow, after claiming that it
lost as much as US$100 billion through the Gulf War. But
the Turkish demand for compensation in the event of war
appears on its way to a resolution.
Turkey is
reported to have asked for $20 billion, while the US
offered $4.5 billion. After tough talks with US
representatives, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul announced
that the two had agreed a "methodology" that would make
compensation proportionate to economic loss.
US
negotiators also suggested that the Turkish economy
stands to gain from a democratic Iraq through expanded
trade between the two neighbors.
A leading
commentator says the public could accept Turkish
participation in a war if it is seen to be in national
interest. "We do not want war," says Ilnur Cevik,
editor-in-chief of the Turkish Daily News. "But when
something becomes inevitable we have to tend to our own
interests and confront the challenges with courage
instead of hiding in a corner and praying that it will
all be over soon."
Turkey must prepare for the
worst, Gul announced Sunday night. "Peace efforts will
continue, but we also have to think of our national
interests," he said.
(Inter Press Service)
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