MaxedOutMama
Friday, February 25, 2005
Metal Storm In Turkey
The mood in Turkey is dark, unstable and confused. When the prospect of the UK sneaking a few charter flights into north Cyprus (thereby bypassing the Greek half's flight control) is seen as an important recognition, we can safely take this as an indicator of desperation. The country reminds me of what I have read of Japan in the late 1920's and 1930. They want war, they need war, they cannot imagine any way to obtain respect except through arms, and it is hard to see how Erdogan's government can survive without moving towards the Islamic/jingoist factions.
There is a progressive faction, but it seems stymied and seems to know it. There is a mildly desperate tone to the writings of the moderates. One of the cabinet ministers resigned recently. His resignation is thought to have come as a protest of a recent decision to pardon the radicalist students who have been expelled from school. Since some of those were expelled for wearing headscarves, this is seen as an appeasement of the Islamists.
Turkey would probably have gone to war already if they could have developed the slightest pretext coupled with a chance of success. The intensity of the popular desire to reestablish their position among nations is such that I think the generals are probably now scared; their position will soon be similar to that of the German General Staff in the late 1930's. It's possible the generals could actually soon become one of the more conservative forces, but I doubt they will prevail if so.
Perhaps something will occur that will defuse this flame before we must confront it, but I don't see what. Perhaps one of the ex-Soviet Muslim republics will get in a fight and Turkey can sally forth to defend their relatives and regain their lost honor. It would have to come soon. With every story of raids in Germany and expulsions of Muslim immigrants (many of whom are Turkish) from Germany and other EU countries the popular pressure to strike back grows. Add this to the reality that they have learned Saddam's lesson - that Europe is afraid of war, cannot fight one, and will do anything to cater to those who brandish arms, and you see their cultural and diplomatic logic.It is very possible that some factions feel that Turkey can only gain clout in Europe by displaying her willingness and ability to fight a genuine war.
In any case, the best way to understand the mood of the country is perhaps this AFP article discussing the groundbreaking sales of a novel describing an American attack on Turkey and the violent war that ensues. Of course America claims that Turkey attacked first:
There is a progressive faction, but it seems stymied and seems to know it. There is a mildly desperate tone to the writings of the moderates. One of the cabinet ministers resigned recently. His resignation is thought to have come as a protest of a recent decision to pardon the radicalist students who have been expelled from school. Since some of those were expelled for wearing headscarves, this is seen as an appeasement of the Islamists.
Turkey would probably have gone to war already if they could have developed the slightest pretext coupled with a chance of success. The intensity of the popular desire to reestablish their position among nations is such that I think the generals are probably now scared; their position will soon be similar to that of the German General Staff in the late 1930's. It's possible the generals could actually soon become one of the more conservative forces, but I doubt they will prevail if so.
Perhaps something will occur that will defuse this flame before we must confront it, but I don't see what. Perhaps one of the ex-Soviet Muslim republics will get in a fight and Turkey can sally forth to defend their relatives and regain their lost honor. It would have to come soon. With every story of raids in Germany and expulsions of Muslim immigrants (many of whom are Turkish) from Germany and other EU countries the popular pressure to strike back grows. Add this to the reality that they have learned Saddam's lesson - that Europe is afraid of war, cannot fight one, and will do anything to cater to those who brandish arms, and you see their cultural and diplomatic logic.It is very possible that some factions feel that Turkey can only gain clout in Europe by displaying her willingness and ability to fight a genuine war.
In any case, the best way to understand the mood of the country is perhaps this AFP article discussing the groundbreaking sales of a novel describing an American attack on Turkey and the violent war that ensues. Of course America claims that Turkey attacked first:
US warplanes relentlessly pound Istanbul and Ankara, killing hundreds, while the rest of the country is in flames: Washington has just launched operation "Metal Storm" against its former ally, Turkey.Here you have the dichotomy - Turkey resents Europe's rejection, but needs trade and economic concessions from Europe. But Turkey does not fear Europe, it fears the military power of the US. Europe, the paper tiger, can only be defended by the US, the UK and Australia.
The futuristic novel of the same name by two young Turkish writers has sold more than 100,000 copies since it came out in December -- a huge run in a country where most books get printings of a few thousand at best.
"Metal Storm" also seems to be riding a wave of strong anti-US sentiment in this country sparked by the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which resulted in unprecedented tensions between the two NATO allies.
Comments:
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I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by 
: 3:59 PM
: 3:59 PM
I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by : 3:59 PM
: 3:59 PM
I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by : 3:59 PM
: 3:59 PM
I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by : 4:00 PM
: 4:00 PM
I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by : 4:00 PM
: 4:00 PM
I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by : 4:00 PM
: 4:00 PM
I don't know why but when I was reading your ideas abut Turkey I tought that we are living in other worlds and we all grow up in the light of different historical knowladges.
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
The main toughts about Turkey are so wrong. How can a book make you to think like this. First of all you must understand this, history is a shadow for the future. You must know historical realities very well. The middle east population and Turkish population is totaly different. You can't evaluate Turkish people and Arabic people in the same case and in the same way. America's middle east war ofcourse have negative effects at Turkey, we all wish that Iraqi poeple to be free. Don't we? But the year 1991 is the key year that Turkey's problems used to start. Loosing an important export market and the pkk and its raising terorist attacks to our innocent people. Now these terorists are setting up a goverment and we are all so sorry about this view.
And you must not compare Turkish İslamic Behave and islamic terorists. Turkeys comment about the religion is so different, maybe there is something to read for you about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and its revolution.
And last one is a question,
Why Turkey needs a country or any countries to afraid ?
# posted by : 4:01 PM
: 4:01 PM
A. Sencer Toprak:
Thank you for commenting on my post. I agree, we do all have different backgrounds. That is one reason that the chance to talk with one another is very important.
What do you think the book's unprecedented popularity in Turkey means? Why do you think people are buying the book in such large numbers? I am very curious about how you see this.
I do not see Turkey as being directly threatened by any other country either. Certainly the US, which has been an ally of Turkey for so long, will never attack you. If Turkey wanted a war with the US, it would have to start it. So why the book?
I have several good friends who are Muslim. I respect them very much. They are good people. I see their religion as being their religion, not their culture, nor do I believe we worship a different God. I have defended Islam before in this blog and I will again.
I don't think that the middle east population and the Turkish population is at all similar, nor am I confusing them. I think that some of the radical Islamic teachings in the middle east grew out of oppression and misery. I don't believe it is an accurate and full version of Islam either. We have had plenty of odd sects in the US. It happens.
I have read about Attatürk. He was a great tactician who also revolutionized Turkey as a nation. He was the one who banned certain cultural practices such as headscarves, for instance. In no university in America would a Muslim women be dismissed for wearing one. We have freedom of relgion here. I can understand why the young people want to have it in Turkey.
I am deeply sympathetic to the problems that the Turkish workers and their families are facing in Germany; I think it is wrong for the Germans to dismiss a teacher who wears a headscarf because of her religion. I think some of their measures are creating more problems then they solve.
Why do you think Turkish scientists are renaming species to delete latinate references to Armenians and Kurds? See this.
Yes, the PKK killed many people. It was the US that got one of their leaders out of the Greek embassy and turned him over to Turkey for trial. But to say that all the Kurds in north Iraq are PKK is just not true.
While there was a no-fly zone they established a type of regional self-government that is quite representative. As long as they don't oppress other ethnic groups in the area I can see nothing wrong with it. If the PKK starts mounting attacks on Turkish nationals using the region as a base, the US will certainly agree that Turkey has the right to defend itself.
I do believe violence and misery come from oppression and peace and prosperity can only thrive in an area in which individual and property rights are respected. The Kurds in northern Iraq suffered bitterly under Saddam Hussein's rule. I can't forget that either. In south Iraq also the Shiites wish a degree of regional independence for the same reason.
To have peace the rights of all must be respected. We have had terrorists in the US (like McVeigh who bombed a federal building in Oklahoma). But that does not mean the entire US population is composed of terrorists. You can never hold an entire population guilty of the acts of the few.
Do you blame the US for Turkey's economic difficulties? It seems to me that most of the world is having problems. I know the Iraqi war did not help, but hopefully returning peace will. When the pipeline is fully reopened into Turkey it will help. The US has always supported full EU membership for Turkey.
I hope you come back and can answer some of my questions to help me understand more.
Post a Comment
Thank you for commenting on my post. I agree, we do all have different backgrounds. That is one reason that the chance to talk with one another is very important.
What do you think the book's unprecedented popularity in Turkey means? Why do you think people are buying the book in such large numbers? I am very curious about how you see this.
I do not see Turkey as being directly threatened by any other country either. Certainly the US, which has been an ally of Turkey for so long, will never attack you. If Turkey wanted a war with the US, it would have to start it. So why the book?
I have several good friends who are Muslim. I respect them very much. They are good people. I see their religion as being their religion, not their culture, nor do I believe we worship a different God. I have defended Islam before in this blog and I will again.
I don't think that the middle east population and the Turkish population is at all similar, nor am I confusing them. I think that some of the radical Islamic teachings in the middle east grew out of oppression and misery. I don't believe it is an accurate and full version of Islam either. We have had plenty of odd sects in the US. It happens.
I have read about Attatürk. He was a great tactician who also revolutionized Turkey as a nation. He was the one who banned certain cultural practices such as headscarves, for instance. In no university in America would a Muslim women be dismissed for wearing one. We have freedom of relgion here. I can understand why the young people want to have it in Turkey.
I am deeply sympathetic to the problems that the Turkish workers and their families are facing in Germany; I think it is wrong for the Germans to dismiss a teacher who wears a headscarf because of her religion. I think some of their measures are creating more problems then they solve.
Why do you think Turkish scientists are renaming species to delete latinate references to Armenians and Kurds? See this.
Yes, the PKK killed many people. It was the US that got one of their leaders out of the Greek embassy and turned him over to Turkey for trial. But to say that all the Kurds in north Iraq are PKK is just not true.
While there was a no-fly zone they established a type of regional self-government that is quite representative. As long as they don't oppress other ethnic groups in the area I can see nothing wrong with it. If the PKK starts mounting attacks on Turkish nationals using the region as a base, the US will certainly agree that Turkey has the right to defend itself.
I do believe violence and misery come from oppression and peace and prosperity can only thrive in an area in which individual and property rights are respected. The Kurds in northern Iraq suffered bitterly under Saddam Hussein's rule. I can't forget that either. In south Iraq also the Shiites wish a degree of regional independence for the same reason.
To have peace the rights of all must be respected. We have had terrorists in the US (like McVeigh who bombed a federal building in Oklahoma). But that does not mean the entire US population is composed of terrorists. You can never hold an entire population guilty of the acts of the few.
Do you blame the US for Turkey's economic difficulties? It seems to me that most of the world is having problems. I know the Iraqi war did not help, but hopefully returning peace will. When the pipeline is fully reopened into Turkey it will help. The US has always supported full EU membership for Turkey.
I hope you come back and can answer some of my questions to help me understand more.
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