SLEDGEHAMMER’S ECONOMIC PARADIGM
Hurriyet
Friday, January 29, 2010
In the "Balyoz" (Sledgehammer) Operation Plan revealed last week,
we read plenty of measures, opinions and suggestions related to how
an economy should work. I underlined the following views, first in
terms of economic history:
"Mustafa Kemal Ataturk emphasized the importance of economic
independence for an independent state and abolished capitulations. By
organizing the Economy Congress in Ýzmir in 1923, he determined that
there could be no compromise in the principle of national independence
and development of the country. The national development model applied
in the establishment days of the Republic became quite successful
in a few areas. With this model, Turkey reached a level of exporting
airplanes to Belgium. After 1945, however, our country was besieged
again politically, culturally and economically. Although they failed
in implementation during Ataturk’s period, Western states put the
Sevres Treaty in action via the European Union, the International
Monetary Fund, and the World Bank."
The Ataturk era was certainly a period of overall mobilization in
economic and other terms. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that
due to wars, Ottomans and then Turks engaged in a vast geography from
1912 to 1923, and due to the deportation and massacres of Armenians,
as well as the population exchange with Greece, there left only few
people in Anatolia who understand how to execute a simple task let
alone run businesses. Turkey was not only an underdeveloped economy
then, the economy was devastated in those days. Although there
was progress here and there, the real economic performance of the
country is the product of the last 25 years, which is mentioned as
the Sevres Project in the Sledgehammer Plan. How pathetic indeed, to
underestimate performance of the date and to dream about the atypical
economic development of the early republican era.
Regarding the airplanes exported to Belgium, the Airplane
Manufacturing Factory built in the Central Anatolian province of
Kayseri in partnership with the Junkers Co. was entirely due to German
technology and brainpower. It is ridiculous to reflect the export
of airplanes manufactured here to Belgium or any other country as
success of Turkey. Though it is totally against the national model
described by our bright military strategists, the Turkish Aviation
Authority, later on, got engaged in similar "non-national" deals
with the United States’ Curtiss, German Gothaer, Polish Panstwowe,
and British Philip&Powis companies to develop aircraft industry.
Let me give the following information, though I am not sure if the
drafters will be pleased by that:
Together with the giants of the airplane sector such as Airbus,
CASA, EADS, the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry, or TUSAÞ, on
behalf of Turkey, joins in design and feasibility studies of the
A400M Program, which aims to meet the next generation tactical,
logistic needs of military air transportation. Seven European
countries, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Luxemburg,
Spain and Turkey participate in the program. A total of 184 planes
will be manufactured in the initial stage. TUSAÞ’s partners are the
Turkish Aviation Authority, the Defense Industry Undersecretariat,
and the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation! While some national-minded
militaries make simulations on coup attempts, others are building
airplanes with foreigners!
Economic independence!
Let’s now consider the economic policy choices of our drafters.
"Economic independence everyday determines more and more the
independence of states. Some countries are dominated by others that
provide them credits. Through financial debiting economic, political,
social and cultural compromises occur; in short, a new unarmed war
period begins. Development policies, based on external aids and
borrowing, were put into effect following World War II, and these
turned the country’s efforts into void. Achieving economic independence
and defending the nation-state is a must for an independent state."
In Turkey there is a widespread opinion that the military is
well-educated and trained, and thanks to an in-depth knowledge,
they form the top elite of the country.
I am not familiar with military’s military education or training. I
hope they are good in that, considering the technical and financial
resources they possess. However, it is impossible for one not to be
horrified by the military’s views in other areas of their interest.
Issues they try to explain to us have nothing to do with the world
we live in. "Economic independence" for instance is a farce. Even the
most independent – and the poorest for the matter – North Korea depends
on rice support for being unable to feed its population. Not to have
the drafters ashamed, let’s say, "All this nonsense is because the
plan was just a simulation." Or in other words, bullshitting was free.
But at the end of the day, economic views of the drafters reflect the
non-economic world in which they live. Hairdressing for 3.5 Turkish
Liras and a full menu for 6; a huge budget that is spent without
serious external auditing; and, except for those in the field duty,
countless idle staff who apparently kill time with politics.