Oversimplification of issue?
Reader comment on item: Turkey, Still a Western Ally?

Submitted by John Feather (United States), Dec 6, 2007 at 23:12

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not nearly as qualified to discuss this as Pipes. But it seems to me that he oversimplifies the situation, especially about the May 2003 Turkish Parliament vote to disallow the US from attacking Iraq through Turkey.

First of all, a majority of those who voted supported the proposal. It was just three votes short of getting the majority of votes needed, and 19 had abstained. It was not a coup for the anti-American forces by any means. I mean, look at the ill effects of helping America invade Iraq.

They feared it would destabilize the entire region, and it did.

They feared it would resurrect the dead PKK organization, give them the autonomy, anarchy, and motivation, to renew attacks against Turkey, and it did. Thirty thousand Turks have already died fighting the PKK, and they're tired of fighting these Marxist traitors.

The French declared that they would not allow Turkey admittance to the EU. That happened anyways, but there was a brief moment of hope for the Turks.

And there are other reasons that I can't currently think of, or have the time to write.

So, the Turks had every reason to oppose this invasion, yet still JUST about passed it. If two-thirds of our country is against this war, and we've lost so little, then think about the Turks. They know the region, they know the chaos that can come through war, the anarchy and chaos. They knew what the Iraq War would entail, yet a majority of voting members supported it. I can't say the same thing about the Democrats here, once they realized that war is not just some cushy way to bolster local support.

Just my two cents, from a kid.

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