Opinion Editorials, October 2007
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To Whom It May Concern: Turkey Is Not For Dinner, Nor Is It The Last Supper
By Ali Al-Hail
ccun.org, October 22, 2007
It's not a stretch to assert that, the West's recognition of the Armenian massacre allegedly, carried out by the Ottomans in Turkey during 1915, is conceivably, a hate resolution. For ; the Justice and Development Party (JDP), an Islamic orientated government won decisively, the vote twice in Turkey.
Since this party came to office, the West, with varying degrees began to lobby against. It had utilized numerous weapons to pin the JDP down. All remarkably, failed. Just as a quick reminder ; these weapons ranged from women head scarf, to mistreatment of minority Jews and lately, the issue of an Armenian massacre.
For sometime now, France first and now the U.S.A. have unreasonably, been using the Armenian weapon. Questions arise such as, why were this and other games not used against past secular governments?
In Turkey, it has clearly, been becoming a common place fact that, the JDP had not been polled for by Turkish voters for its Islamic brand. Rather, because it had delivered upon its promises.
In other words, it's not the brand of the JDP that, made a breakthrough, it's actually, its performance in daily, handling of politics in Turkey. Additionally, the JDP managed skillfully, to balance Islamism with secularism.
Many in the West including those French and US parliamentarians don't seem to realize that, the JDP's voters represent almost entirely, all across the Turkish spectrum. Seculars, Christians, Jews and even Kurds was the JDP their preference.
In interviews conduced by Al Jazeera Doha-based TV, prior to the JDP's win, in different parts of Turkey, with random but representative sample of Turkish voters, nearly, 10 members in the sample mentioned hat, though they were not Islamists, they had voted in favor of the JDP, because it succeeded in providing political, economic and social reforms that, former parties failed to achieve.
Simply, because it's a good and reliable party, not because it's Islamic and certainly, not because it's key members' spouses wearing the head scarf. Arguably, it's the West's problem that, it doesn't try to comprehend the essence of Islam.
As it's a religion, Islam equally, a way of life properly, understood. Perceivably, the JDP is brilliant in doing both.
As a matter of fact, the JDP in Turkey introduces a row-model for Muslim World. Features of this row-model are; moderation and the capability of a Muslim party not just to govern, but also, to prevail, to continue, to sustain and to survive into the wind despite all the surrounding odds, domestically, regionally (think the PKK) and globally (think the West's intensifying campaign).
One presumes, as do many that, the Israeli Lobby in the U.S.A. and France in particular, have ignited and fuelled the attack on JDP-Turkey, for fundamentally, three reasons.
First; a Jealousy and an envy at a JDP-led-successful Islamic democracy in a key influential Muslim state. To many in the Israeli Lobby, contemporary Turkey is a remnant of an Ottoman Empire, whose one of its sultans, Sultan Abdulhamid The Second, once rejected a Zionist plea to have Palestine a home for the Jews.
Second; since Turkey has had a 2010 date with the EU to negotiate Turkey's membership in the EU, the Israeli Lobby and other anti-Muslim forces in the West, attempt to prevent or in a best case scenario, to hinder Turkey's membership. Speculations and rumors have flown since 2004 that, labeling Turkey negatively, is obviously, associated with a potential Turkish future role within the EU. Had Turkey joined the EU, it would have become the only, Muslim state in the EU, which is an almost quite sensitive issue to many in the EU. Mainly, as previously, mentioned the nostalgia linking Turkey-Ottoman Empire with Muslims, Islam, pro-Palestine and more importantly, perhaps, its key role in the two World Wars, as a strategic ally with Nazi-Germany, against the West-led-allies.
Third; an observed solidarity by the JDP with Hamas-Palestine, whose freely, elected democratically and whose government has, disgracefully, been aborted by an international community's conspiracy, aided by internal factors.
Many argue that, had the Turks been not aware and conscious of the West's double standard policies, their JDP would have faced the same fate as Hamas.
Hence; the JDP-led-Turkish government's prompt response to the US resolution to recognize the Armenian massacre was as vocal as was their response to the French's. Presumably, the US whose pride as a superpower couldn't let it swallow the Turkish threats, gave the PKK a green light to hit Turkish army located at Southern Eastern Turkey from Northern Iraq.
As the author has said before, the West, including the U.S.A. needs Turkey far much more than Turkey does need the West. Turkey, according to Robert Gates, the US Defense Secretary holds 90% of US military logistics for the US war in Iraq. As a result, such purportedly, a hasty resolution could have a far reaching devastating impact upon the US function in Iraq.
Thus, Turkey, as it got serious and decisive with the French, ought to (if not must) be even tougher than that with the US. The US, since its inception was violent and established on power abuse. Accordingly, the US only, understands a language of force. Consequently, Turkey mustn't hesitate to apply the measures declared by its PM, to proven to the US that, Turkey can hurt, too (should it determines so.)
Professor, Dr. Ali Al-Hail, Professor of Mass Communication, Twice Fulbright
Award Winner, Fulbright Visiting Scholar and Board Member of AUSACE, ASC, IABD, NEBAA, BEA, IMDA and EAJMC American Associations.
Can be cotacted via alhailali@yahoo.com
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