Fakti, Skopje
Oct 19 2007

Is America Losing Its Turkey?

Commentary by Hajro Limaj:

It is a time, at which a question is being posed to the US official
circles and its research institutions: ‘Are we losing Turkey as a
friend and historical ally?’ In fact this is a discussion that
started after the Turkish Grand Assembly’s decision on 3 March 2003.
It was a decision that did not allow US military troops to cross
Turkey’s territory to attack Iraq. Afterward, their disagreements
continued on the problem with America’s stance on the northern Iraq
issue and on Turkey’s increasingly close relations with Iran, and
Syria, which eventually turned into criticism from the Turkish media
over the US policy on Iraq and the Middle East.

After the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee’s
approval by 27 votes in favour and 21 against the resolution on the
genocide of the Armenians, this question, which the Americans
personally ask themselves, became an item on the agenda. Turkey,
which has already lost hope of US active support, especially on
northern Iraq, is seriously preparing for a cross-border military
operation . . .[as received]

In this period, the USA and Turkey are genuinely standing against
each other each other on two fronts: one of them is the front of
Armenia due to the ‘motion’ that was passed in the Congress . . . and
the other is the front of northern Iraq, due to the ‘immobilization’
of the Bush administration. In fact, these are two separate problems,
differing from one another, but their confrontation at the same time,
as a conclusion has created a complete connection between them. The
first front. [as published]

The decision that was made by the committee in relation to the
Armenian genocide, will undoubtedly reach the Assembly’s General
Council. Assembly Speaker Nancy Pelosi is resolved to approve the
decision in the General Council. The Bush administration, through the
help of the National Assembly Speaker of that time could have
prevented the approval of a similar decision in the Assembly Security
Council, which was approved by the committee in 2005. The Bush
administration will strive by using all its forces to not let this
happen again. Turkey, however, will play using its ‘strategic card’
and it will try to influence the assembly by giving some real signals
about what is it going to do in the future. Nevertheless, if the
House of the Representatives is to pass this bill, it will leave
Turkey no other choice but to show ‘its strategic force’.

Every step to be taken in terms of the equity of reciprocal answers,
it will not remain only with hard knocks to political and military
cooperation, but, at the same time Turkey might spoil all its wishes
for cooperation and security with America. If we add ‘the second
front’ to this, that is, if the USA is to maintain its stance on
northern Iraq as it did in the past, and opposes a Turkish
cross-border military operation on northern Iraq’s territory, Turkey,
then will consider America as a ‘lost friend and ally . . . ‘ So far,
the Bush administration has been unsuccessful either on the overall
policy in Iraq and the fight against the Kurdish Communist Party’s
terrorism in northern Iraq. Actually, Turkey is dissatisfied since
Washington, apart from its rhetoric, has not acted to destroy the
aforementioned terrorism that acts against Turkey.

Therefore, Turkey is now resolved to take over this assignment and
finish it on its own. The bill on a military incursion into northern
Iraq, where 3,000 thousand terrorists have found refuge, has been
submitted to the Turkey’s Grand Assembly lately. But, still, one
should underline that, Turkey has already engaged in 24 cross-border
operations of this kind to eradicate the terrorism, which is being
fed and located in northern Iraq. Since 1984, these terrorists have
killed 35,000 Turkish citizens, many of which have been soldiers;
therefore, Turkey is forced to do this. In these circumstances, is it
possible that the Bush administration will turn against the Communist
Party’s organization in northern Iraq and cooperate with Turkey in
this matter?

The real steps that America takes in this direction, at this time,
when the mutual relations have become critical, will indicate whether
or not, the US is standing on Turkey’s side.

Owing to these developments, Ankara has withdrawn its Ambassador from
America "for consultations."