22 September 2001, Copyright © Turkish Daily News
Opinion by Mehmet Ali Birand
Turkey to play an active role in the war
The huge war machine of the United States is now working in full swing. Aircraft carriers and jet fighters are taking up their positions. Lists are being made about logistic requirements from friendly countries and their responses are noted.
President Bush has said what he plans to do in his address to the Congress. Now the count has started.
I participated at the press briefing of Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. "You can ask anything, but I cannot give you anything concrete," he told us.
The American public has understood the general program set by President Bush but there are reservations on how these will be applied.
As far as I could make out from the talk of administration officials there is a short and long term program.
In the short run the U.S. will launch a military operation, but this will not last long and will be aimed at easing American public pressure.
In the medium and long run there will be military operations from time to time but these will be supplemented by economic and diplomatic pressures on countries suspected of aiding the terrorists. The military will be used in raids against terrorist hideouts.
So priority will be given to "special forces."
Well trained special military units like the famous Delta Force will be sent in to hit terrorist targets and their leaders will be detained.
Rumsfeld told us he had signed the orders for the operation and the wheels were rolling.
The name of the operation
The name of the operation was "infinite justice" but it was translated in the Islamic world as "divine justice" and the Arabs opposed the name saying, "if you come to us with such a label people will think you are acting as God and that will attract opposition. Change the name of the operation." When the White House was bombarded with such calls officials decided to rename it and will probably reveal it when the operation is launched.
Biological and nuclear weapons
The Bush administration is not only targeting Osama Bin Laden or the Taliban. They have deep concern about countries that hold biological weapons. They fear these countries could give these weapons to terrorists that they have been sheltering and encourage them to hit Western targets.
There is also the risk that terrorist groups may use nuclear weapons. So countries that posses such weapons will become targets.
Iraq is on the list.
Officials draw attention to the fact that Saddam did not hesitate to use weapons of mass destruction against the Kurds.
Requirements from Turkey
Washington has prepared a detailed list of expectations from Turkey and has even received response from Ankara to much of the requests.
My discussions with American officials and other leading personalities who are close to the administration like former NATO commander Wesley Clark showed in general terms what these expectations are.
1. Information of Afghanistan
The Americans believe both the Turkish Intelligence Agency (MIT) and the Turkish General Staff have very valuable information about Afghanistan. They say their own information coupled with the intelligence gathered from Turkey and other sources will be of great importance for the U.S.
The U.S. says the operation to be launched will rely on good intelligence and thus they are very sensitive about reliable information.
2.Iraq and the Bekaa Valley
The debate in the U.S. is whether or not Iraq should be included in the targets to be hit in the first instance. The hawks at the Pentagon feel the U.S. should exploit the current situation and finish off Saddam Hussein. Others feel Iraq should be second or even third priority.
When you mention Iraq, Turkey is the first country that comes to mind. In every operation against Iraq they need Turkey's active support or at least verbal backing.
There is also some attention given to the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon controlled by Syria. There are still militant groups being trained in the Bekaa Valley. These groups are reportedly sheltered by Syria and the U.S. wants to clear them out.
A Bush administration official says Turkey would know the Bekaa better then anyone else. "The PKK was trained at the Bekaa for years, they flourished there. It is important to wipe them out the terrorists in the Bekaa."
3. Military support
The most important item among the American expectations from Turkey is the military support.
They do not only want to use the Incirlik air base but also all other bases whenever necessary. Besides opening up of the Turkish airspace to the Americans there are also some "unspecified" requests which "cannot be disclosed."
4- Diplomatic support
Another area where Turkey's backing is needed is the use of our diplomatic resources. The fact that Turkey has influence over countries in the region adds to its importance. The visit of Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to Israel and the Palestinian authority is seen within this context.
Turkish role
The U.S. gearing up to a long term war.
The aim is to halt terrorism and force countries who support terrorists to abandon this.
Turkey which has suffered so much from terrorism is seen as one of the leading players in this game.
The Americans do not understand why Ankara is so hesitant about proposals to hit Iraq.
The medium and long term plans are still being shaped and will be finished in time. Thus people can't see too much into the future.
What can be seen, however, is that a new period is dawning with positive and negative aspects for Turkey.
Mehmet Ali Birand's article is translated by TDN staff
mailto:mbirand@ibm.net
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