Mehmet Y. Yilmaz: We should have thought more clearly before getting angry with Israel
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Temmuz 19, 2006 14:33
Those who, taking the example of Israel, think that the government should take a more active role against the growing threat of PKK terror, have been disappointed. The meeting from which the Prime Minister promised "important decisions" would emerge turned out to produce only warnings for the US and Iraqi administrations.
In reality, trying to compare whatever actions Turkey might take against the PKK to what Israel is doing against Hamas and Hizbollah is really not that right. Because as we know, bombing from the air just doesn't do anything much. The only way Turkey could actually be successful would be with a land operation, and in order to proceed with this, they have to be ready to enter into clashes with US and Northern Iraq Kurdish forces.
In this case, our question is this: Will Turkey, which is very nearly every day now burying soldiers killed by PKK forces, sit and wait for the US and Barzani to come to better judgement?
Of course, Ankara should not wait for such a thing. Even if it doesn't bring about very concrete results, starting an air campaign against PKK bases in Northern Iraq might be an action which would at least indicate Turkey's determination on this front.
We have to take some steps which will make Barzani sorry he has sheltered the PKK on his lands; and these need to be serious steps.
At this point though, I need to point out that the administration's current hand is not a very strong one: What, after all, will the world say about such an action when the Turkish government has come out clearly against Israel's actions against the Hizbollah in Lebanon? Hasn't Turkey, which has opposed Israel's actions more strongly than many Arab countries, now limited its own area of activity?
In this case, our question is this: Will Turkey, which is very nearly every day now burying soldiers killed by PKK forces, sit and wait for the US and Barzani to come to better judgement?
Of course, Ankara should not wait for such a thing. Even if it doesn't bring about very concrete results, starting an air campaign against PKK bases in Northern Iraq might be an action which would at least indicate Turkey's determination on this front.
We have to take some steps which will make Barzani sorry he has sheltered the PKK on his lands; and these need to be serious steps.
At this point though, I need to point out that the administration's current hand is not a very strong one: What, after all, will the world say about such an action when the Turkish government has come out clearly against Israel's actions against the Hizbollah in Lebanon? Hasn't Turkey, which has opposed Israel's actions more strongly than many Arab countries, now limited its own area of activity?