Turkish commentator to 'Post': We are friends of Israel, America [interview]

Jerusalem Post ^ | Nov. 22, 2003 | ERIK SCHECHTER

[yonif]

The following is an interview with Jamal Hussein, political commentator of the Milliyet newspaper, in Istanbul.

This past week's bombings were directed against Jewish and British sites, but do you believe that Turkey was also a target?

JH: Yes, for the radical Islamic movement – and I'm putting this in slightly simplistic terms – Turkey is the No. 1 enemy. The radicals hate Ataturk (the father of the modern Turkish republic), hate the secular regime, and hate democracy. Turkey demonstrates that Islam and modernity can co-exist, so they believe it must be eliminated.

Will these bombings force Turkey to reconsider its pro-Western foreign policy?

JH: No. For years, our face has been turned to the West, not the East, and that will not change. This does not mean we have not criticized the policies of Bush and Sharon, but I think we should maintain our friendship with the US and Israel. We should not side with anti-Semitism or anti-Israelism. But not everyone feels that way.

JH: There are some circles who are trying to use the terrorist attacks to create anti-US and anti-Israel sentiment. But they are generally chauvinistic nationalists, old Marxists and radical Islamists who see a CIA or Mossad agent hiding under every rock.

Who do the Turks blame for the impasse in Palestinian-Israeli negotiations?

JH: They blame the policies of Sharon, which I believe, have not brought peace and security. But Arafat also missed an opportunity at Camp David with Ehud Barak. I think the region needs a quick solution for the conflict, and most Turks would say that it should take the form of a two-state solution with the Palestinians having their own capital in part of Jerusalem.

In the context of regional stability, how should Afghanistan and Iraq be handled?

JH: I think that the US should allow greater international involvement, but the EU and UN have to be careful as well. Should they let these areas descend into chaos, it would be a victory for the terrorists.

Turkey has faced terrorism before. Is there anything new with these recent attacks in Istanbul?

JH: After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, there was a transition period, but 9/11 has ushered in a new era. The world is facing the global threat of "green" (the traditional Muslim color) fascism, just as it faced brown fascism with Mussolini and Hitler in WWII, and red fascism during the Cold War.

What can Europe do to help Turkey fight Islamic terrorism?

JH: Turkey is in a critical period ever since it was first made an official candidate for the EU. We expect negotiations for full candidacy at the end of next year.

The EU should consider Turkey as a key to its own stability. If Turkey remains isolated and increasingly destabilized, countries like Germany, France, and Britain will experience this same radicalism infecting their own Muslim populations.

[yonif]

Ping.

[a_Turk]

>> The radicals hate Ataturk

They are not alone. We have dung on this forum who share that sentiment. They are all my enemy, and I will not discriminate by race, nation, religion, or creed. I am interested in the individual.

[Travis McGee]

I support our Turkish allies 100% in OUR battle against radical Islamic terrorism.

[a_Turk]

>> What can Europe do to help Turkey fight Islamic terrorism?

Thery can call the spade a spade and stop being a bunch of terrorist aiding fags!

[cmsgop]

that would make a great tag line dude.....

[a_Turk]

>> OUR battle against radical Islamic terrorism.

There I fixed it.

Doesn't matter what street corner one mafia or the other owns. You've gotto take them all on, or you're just wasting your time.

[Travis McGee]

A great start would be a series of secret extradition treaties. Turkish cops arrive one morning in a dozen EU cities and take custody of a few dozen of the worst terrorists. No more sanctuary in the EU for terrorists!

[a_Turk]

That will probably require a series of disasters to happen.

Not likely, if you think about it.

What comes first: the chicken or the egg? A terror attack on the EU, or EU agitation of Al Qaeda?

Not likely unless one or the other slips and acts non-Machiavellian.

[Wilhelm Tell]

JH: After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, there was a transition period, but 9/11 has ushered in a new era. The world is facing the global threat of "green" (the traditional Muslim color) fascism, just as it faced brown fascism with Mussolini and Hitler in WWII, and red fascism during the Cold War

That perfectly summarizes the world situation. It is instructive to see how the "red" fascists and the few remaining "brown" fascists are very vocal in their support of the "green" fascists. These fascists now the main part of the new radical left.

[Braak]

Perhaps we should help you guys reestablish the Ottoman empire? You guys had a way with the Arabs...

[a_Turk]

>> Perhaps we should help you guys reestablish the Ottoman empire?

No thanks. You wanted them, now you can keep them :))