Filiz Koçali, head of the Socialist Democracy Party skeptically points out the coincidence of the recent surge of nationalist hysteria and the military agreements concluded with the US.
Whilst public attention was channeled into the ongoing nationalism frenzy, first the government decree providing broader US use of the southern Incirlik air base is was issued to be followed by the F-16 upgrading agreement.
A mutual trade-off: Bush refrains from pronouncing the word Armenian genocide, and gets Incirlik and 1,1 billion in return.
A joint US-Turkish military installation in the Incirlik district of the Southern town of Adana, Incirlik air base has been a major US facility during the Cold War. Its operation for major military undertakings, by a 1979 Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement (DECA) between the US and Turkey, is conditioned with special Turkish parliament decisions. Turkish parliament in March 2002 refused involvement in the US war on Iraq, thus closing Incirlik base for US air force flights directed at Iraq.
A recent Turkish government decree, introducing a more liberal interpretation of the DECA, provides legal framework for broader usage of the base for US forces operating in Iraq.
Some analysts, like Koçali, are of the opinion that, the abrupt upsurge of nationalist hysteria across the country, particularly after official denouncement by Chief of Staff General Hilmi Özkök of burning of a Turkish flag during, the Kurdish New Year, Newroz celebrations by kids in the Mediterranean port city of Mersin has distracted public attention from fundamental issues.
Military analyst Serdar Sen is of the opinion that the recent tightening of ties with the US should be interpreted within the Bush governments scheme of Cooperation for a Mutual Future and Progress for the Extended Middle East and the North Africa (CMFPEMENA).
Formerly dubbed as Greater Middle East project the initiative was designated by the Bush government as a reply to the 9/11 events for introducing peace and democracy to the Muslim world, then reassessed to include North Africa as well.
Meanwhile, Cengiz Aktar an expert on the European Union integration process, says that the relations between Turkey and the US cannot be viewed in the same context since the beginning of negotiations with the European Union for membership.
Strategic attitudes never changed!
Recalling that the Turkish Armed Forces modernization continues for some time now, Sen believes that a recent speech by Gen. Özkök at the Military Academy provides significant insight for Ankaras attitudes. Şen affirms that Turkey assumes a vital role in the Greater Middle East scheme and the claims that Turkey was giving the cold shoulder to the US is nullified with Özköks latest speech.
When we levy the main theme of the speech, we can say that Turkey is moving ahead towards globalization through regionalism. This firmly fits the US strategy of the Greater Middle East project. The US, through this strategy via the military reinvents its historical relations with Turkey once more.
If Turkey is to become the fairy tale land
For Turkey to become a strong country asserting its might in the Middle East and Caucasus, its military infrastructure must be complete and made comprehensive says Sen, and adds, If Turkey is going to be the fairy tale land anticipated in the project, it will require such mighty infantry.
Sen points out that CMFPEMENA project is not totally peaceful, but foresees a certain dose of conflict. He views this dose as mostly armed deterrence, but not war. According to Sens point of view, Turkey is the most suitable candidate for warding off possible threats in the framework of its new defense plan, which the US formulates as a remedy for combating terrorism and security issues.
Underlining Turkeys role in the process of integrating Syria and Iran to the world market, Sen says that If this course of action cannot succeed as planned, the use of force might come into the agenda. Hence, the modernization of the Turkish Armed Forces might have critical importance in intervening to a possible chaos arising in the Caucasus and the Caspian region.
There are no problems between the US and Turkey
The leader of the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) Filiz Koçali states that the The course of events shows that, just as the Chief of Staff Özkök says, we do not have any problems in our relations with the United States.
First the government decree on Incirlik is issued, and now the F-16 issue is on the agenda. This is mutual trade-off. In return for opting out of saying the word Armenian genocide, Bush gets Incirlik base and 1,1 billion dollars.
In Koçalis perspective, Turkey does not stick to peaceful policies in neither its domestic nor foreign policy.
There are secret agreements between Turkey and the US. For example, the Incirlik decree will not be published in the Official Gazette. Among the topics these secret handshakes concern, there is not only Armenian question, but the Kurdish one as well. We demand such clandestine agreements become public.
Turkey cannot step back from the EU path
"The relations between Turkey and the US, which commenced in 1918, could not continue along the same trail, as negotiations with the European Union began in 1999.
If Turkey would retain its position a prime US ally, it would not have gained the support of the European countries. The EU would not tolerate another Britain within its boundaries analyzes the European Union integration process expert Cengiz Aktar.
Articulating that Turkey must have another look at its foreign policy priorities, Aktar appraises that the US is not a country that one can ignore. However, Turkey must maintain fine balances between the two foremost sources of global power he believes.
In Aktars opinion, the new circumstances arising out of Incirlik and the modernization of F-16s, are of a tactical not a strategic nature. Turkey does not have strong arguments for shifting towards any other target than the European Union membership, he told bianet.
In reply to the question regarding Turkey presumed role in the Greater Middle East project and prospective increase in its military strength, Aktar says: Could Turkey ever have uphold its political and economical stability by such policies in its history? How can it do so now? The Turkish Armed Forces and successive governments must have realized this reality by now.
Arms purchases from Israel
In the wake of the F-16 modernization agreement of USD 1,1 billion dollar value with the US, Turkey is reported to conclude a USD 200 million dollar accord with Israel for purchasing unmanned war planes. The agreement will reportedly be signed by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in May when he pays an official visit to this country. (AK/EÜ/EK/SAÖ/YE)
