Author: Geoff Dickson
Publication: Islam-Watch.org
Date: November 11, 2009
URL: http://www.islam-watch.org/iw-new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=247:losing-secular-turkey-to-islamic-fundamentalism&catid=89:other-authors&Itemid=58
Turkey is the much-touted outpost of secular-democracy
in the Islamic world. It has been a common exercise for Islamic apologists
to refer to Turkey as an example to Islam's compatibility with secular-democracy
against those, who argue that Islam is incomptaible with democracy and in
a cultural or civilizational clash with the rest of humanity. It's seems those
apologists are headed to a dead-end.
Turkey today stands at the cross roads between
fundamentalist Islam and the secular democracy introduced by Mustafa Ataturk
in 1924 after he abolished the Caliphate of the Ottoman empire.
Turkey also stands at the geographical crossroads
between Europe and the Eastern Islamic countries, and up to now Turkey has
acted in a mediation capacity between Israel and countries like Iran. However
President Recep Erdogan dreams of a revived Caliphate and the past glory of
the Ottoman empire. Erdogan has been implementing a policy of stealth Jihad
in Turkey, quietly replacing pro-Western figures with fundamentalist leaders,
especially in the military which has always been pro-Western. Since 1960,
the military has intervened in Turkish politics three times in defence of
secularism, which is enshrined as the bedrock of the nation's political system,
laid out in the preamble of the republic's constitution. According to the
Turkish Daily News, in 1995, Erdogan was quoted as having said: "Democracy
is like a streetcar. You ride it until you arrive at your destination and
then you get off." [2] From his body language and recent actions, Erdogan
is signalling to the world that Turkey is ready to disembark from the streetcar
called Democracy.
In this article, we will examine the policy
changes and government statements that underline a realignment of Turkey to
Islamic countries like Syria, Lebanon and Iran, and the implications both
for Israel and the West.
Turkey's changing direction
Formally, Ankara remains committed to joining
the EU, but the idea of joining has lost much of its appeal after years of
rejection and additional European demands to repeatedly prove that it is worthy.
Indeed, Germany and France remain adamantly
opposed to Turkey's entrance to the EU. At a recent joint television appearance
in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy
made clear their opposition to Turkish EU membership.
Turkey, however, has made efforts to develop
better relations with Arab states and such other countries as Russia, Syria
and Iraq - and even Armenia, a traditional foe.
Consider now a poem written by Recep Erdogan
which reflects his true feelings:
"The mosques are our barracks, the domes
our helmets, the minarets our bayonetes and the believers are our soldiers.
This Holy army guards my religion. Almighty, our journey is our destiny, the
end is martyrdom". [2]
Hardly the words of a secularist!
Arab countries which never were enamoured
with the post-Ottoman leadership now look with admiration to what is referred
to as the "Turkish model."
In addition, Turkey is looking to re-establish
its historical influence in the Turkic countries of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In this Central Asian region, Turkey
sees itself in a peacekeeping role where it either ruled or dominated for
centuries.
The apparent change in course for Turkish
foreign policy may be due partially to a new generation of advisers surrounding
Erodogan. Turkey's new foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, is one such influential
adviser who has outlined what he calls a "multidimensional policy"
contrary to what has been practiced. [2]
His predecessors have focused entirely on
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Europe and the U.S.
Observers point out that Davutoglu's origins are from what is called Central
Anatolia which encompasses most of modern Turkey, the Caucasus and Iran. He
is said to be heavily influenced by Islamic thought and has no hesitation
in embracing Turkey's past Ottoman empire which included countries over which
Turkey seeks to regain influence. Given his eastern education, Davutoglu believes
that Turkey should not be so committed only to a western orientation.
Davutoglu readily approaches countries deemed
to be bad guys in the eyes of the U.S. - Syria and Iran, and such groups as
Hezbollah and Hamas which the U.S. has labeled as terrorist groups.
The Turkey Israel alliance
Turkey, a secular country ruled by an Islamic-oriented
party, had long been Israel's best friend in the Muslim world. But ties have
cooled sharply over Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's sharp criticism
of Israel's winter war in the Gaza Strip.
News flash: Turkey bans Israel from military exercises.
The Israeli military said the Oct. 12-23 drill was delayed indefinitely "because
of Turkey's decision to change the list of participating countries, thus excluding
Israel."
The exercise was to have been the sixth annual
manoeuvre of its kind. The military said it was to have included U.S., Italian
and NATO forces.
Israeli defence officials said Ankara cancelled
the drill after the U.S. pulled out over the Turkish decision to blackball
Israel. [3]
Turkey initiates military exercises with Syria
NATO member Turkey and Syria hold first joint
military exercise [April 26, 2009]
The joint Turkish-Syrian tank and armoured
infantry exercise backed by air power begins across the Turkish-Syrian border
Monday, April 27, and lasts three days.
DEBKAfile's military sources stress that it
is the first joint military manoeuvre any NATO member, including Turkey, has
ever carried out with Syria. It appears to have received a nod from the Obama
administration and another first: Never before has an important NATO power
staged a joint exercise with any Arab army.
Ankara's decision to launch the drill on the
day Israeli commemorates its war dead - in league with Iran's leading ally
- is a measure of how far Turkey's longstanding strategic pact with the Jewish
state has fallen by the wayside of recent changes.
Washington's approval underscores its new
policy of boosting the strength of the Syrian army as partner in a strong
a three-way military coalition with Turkey and Lebanon. [4]
In Summary
Recep Erdogan and his Islamist AKP party have
been moving closer to a fundamentalist position by purging the Military of
its secular leaders and stacking the courts with Islamists. The second fall
of Constantinople will be peaceful, and is almost complete.
In addition, Turkey is no more an ally of
Israel and has broken Military ties as well as forging new Military alliances
with Israel's enemies, including Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Hamas and Hizbollah.
Turkey has the second largest Military in
NATO and has been supplied advanced weaponry by both the USA and Israel. A
military alliance with these Islamist countries, which could also include
Pakistan soon is an enormous threat to World peace.
Lest We Forget - the Armenian genocide
Many westerners today are intrigued by Turkey
and its culture. However we must never forget what this nation is capable
of. Over 1.5 million Armenians were killed in what can only be called a genocide
through the deliberate actions of the Turkish government. Even today, Turkey
denies this genocide ever took place!
