PKK assures unsavory developments for all
It is time for all to understand that Turkey is serious about the PKK, and is being pushed into having to act, one way or another, even if it be without the support of its “friends”.
Domestic politics is spiraling into a battle of nerves. The increased PKK attacks against members of the Turkish security forces are not helping the situation since Turks are an easily agitated people who give in easily to their emotions.
Americans know this first hand because their inactivity over the past two years against PKK elements in Northern Iraq – where security is being maintained by U.S. backed Peshmerges, the local Kurdish militia – has fuelled across the board anti-Americanism in Turkey in a manner that is totally unprecedented.
Remarks emanating form the highest officials in Washington now, and indicating that a cross-border operation by the Turkish armed forces against PKK camps in northern Iraq would be highly undesirable, are merely fueling this resentment. This is even leading some retired generals – with support from many active generals no doubt – to declare that the time has come to dump the U.S. and opt for an alliance with Russia.
This is fantasy talk of course, but it reflects the depth of feeling and the scope of the growing animosity towards the U.S. in Turkey – which will make repairing the already seriously damaged ties much more difficult.
Given all of this one cannot help but wonder why Washington is allowing it all to happen, and why it is prepared to let the relations with Turkey – which it says it values very much - go down the drain this way.
Is it still the “March 1 syndrome”?
Is it as simple as some say; namely that there is continuing resentment in the U.S. capital because the Turkish Parliament refused (on March 1, 2003) to allow U.S. marines to invade northern Iraq from Turkish territory? In other words that no one in Washington wants to do Turkey a good turn.
Is it really the case then that Washington sees a more reliable ally in the Kurds of Iraq, and does not want to disrupt this relationship by acting against PKK elements that are being harbored by the same Iraqi Kurds?
If so then this will no doubt have further dire consequences in terms of Turkish-U.S. ties, which are in shambles at the present time anyway.
It is very difficult to explain to the Turkish public – especially in an election environment when everyone is worked up in a way that has not been seen before – why “the same U.S. which crossed an ocean to fight terrorism” in Iraq does not help Turkey against PKK terrorism when Turkish soldiers are being killed daily.
It is equally hard to explain to the public that if the U.S. is incapable of acting against the PKK, why does it not allow the Turkish military to act then given that there is a clear security threat aimed at Turkey.
We are of course aware of the U.S. position that says that there are PKK elements within Turkey – perhaps even more than in northern Iraq – and that Turkey should address this issue at home first.
This sounds like a reasonable argument. However if it is true then the U.S. side should spell this out and not utter it in private conversations to reporters or diplomats. Especially when the crystallized perception in Turkey is that the problem emanates solely from northern Iraq.
Likewise we are aware of the “path of dialogue” Washington says Turkey should pursue with Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdish leadership to solve this problem. This too sounds a reasonable approach worthy of being supported.
But even those who support this notion realize that it is hard at this stage to explain to an agitated Turkish public how the same U.S. that refuses to initiate a dialogue with Hamas or al Qaeda, even if it goes through their proxies, is prepared to exhort Turkey to do so with the PKK, “through it proxies.”
Barzani and the PKK
One has to recall here that the Turkish Armed Forces have said openly that Mr. Barzani is actively supporting the PKK, and this is why they refuse to talk to him. Given this, Washington should first show the Turks that Mr. Barzani is doing all he can to stop the PKK before calling on Ankara to engage in dialogue with him.
None of this is happening though, and the political mess continues to grow dangerously. If things keep on this course, with PKK attacks and killings continuing on a daily basis, then everyone, whether they are in Ankara, Washington, Arbil or Baghdad, should expect unsavory developments.
It is time for all to understand that Turkey is serious about the PKK and is being pushed into having to act, one way or another, even if it be without the support of its “friends.”