Turkey Again Strikes Against PKK in Iraq
By Michael van der Galien
Turkey continued its offensive against PKK strongholds in northern Iraq on Sunday. Turkish bombers struck against targets in the semi-autonomous region, in an attempt to root out militants and destroy their training camps.
PKK positions in villages near Amadi in Iraq’s Duhuk Province were hit.
The operation reportedly started at around 5.30 PM local time, and lasted 1.5 hours later. No casualties were reported, leaving the impression that Turkey did not try to kill PKK terrorists as much as destroy their tools, their hideouts, their camps.
Turkey’s main problem is that the Iraqi government refuses to do something about the PKK, quite likely because it considers itself incapable of doing so without destabilizing the entire region. That is a serious concern. If Iraqi troops would go into the northern part where the PKK rule, a massive civil war could in theory ensue.
Then again, Turkey cannot just accept PKK attacks on Turkish targets. Both civilian and military targets are hit by the PKK. All in all, more than 44,000 individuals have been killed by the violence started by the PKK, the Kurdish terrorist organization (recognized as such by the European Union, the United States and Turkey, among others). Only this weekend, police arrested a woman at the very moment she was planning to blow herself up in a police station in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city.
As happens so often, two countries, two interests, two policies. Both understandable (to a degree) from their own perspective, both at collision course with each other.
Although as you indicated Michael that the organization is accepted as a terrorist organization by US, this does not prevent CNN from acting otherwise. These terrorists are addressed as rebels fighting for their freedom by CNN and their so called cause is sympathized.
I am sometimes struggling to understand the logic behind the way of thinking of countries suggesting Turkey to compromise and negotiate with these terrorists.
PKK is a terrorist organization threatening Turkey’s soverignity in its own land meanwhile taking many innocent lives regardless of their origins.
I just want to say that politicians should improve their empathy skills for a change and should think how they would react if they were in Turkish politicians’ shoes and they were living in Turkey.
Turkey is lacking proper representation or for the lack of the word, it’s own “lobbies” in EU and USA. The arena is empty for anyone to comment or support what every they want. There are very few and far in between politicians, journalists, cooperations, lawyers, organizations that support the Turkish agenda in the West. Therefore, when it comes to PKK terrorism, solving the Cyprus issue fairly for all parties and of course the big Genocide issue will never be put on the table fairly and accurately. Turks still do not get the importance of lobbying and organizing! A few do, but most don’t. Hens the mess that we are in!
Nevin, as much as I appreciate what you are saying and I agree with you about the weaknesses of Turkey in lobbying especially in genocide allegations, Turkey should not be needing lobbying to make media understand that PKK is a terrorist organization especially when the country of that media acknowledged that it is a terrorist organization.
People are dying for nothing in Turkey, in our own land our soldiers and civilians are being murdered, leaving their families in pain and suffering.
We are here trying to protect our own land, our own borders. People are scared to visit friends and family in certain cities in the east let alone moving there. One of our cleaners in the office sent her son to east, Hakkari actually for obligatory military service and she is now counting down with her son for the day he finishes his service, hoping God sends her son back in one piece.
Turkey can not solve this problem alone with or without lobbying cos we are talking about Iraq here. The region is unstable and full of problems without PKK being added on top of that. PKK adventurism into the region is inevitable. Until the region is stable and free of war, Turkey will continue to suffer.
Elif, I recommend for you to read Andrew Mango’s book “Turkey and the War on Terror: For Forty Years We fought Alone”…
Nevin thanks. I will take a look at it but I hope you understand my point. I am not trying to say that Turkey does not need lobbying when many countries around the world are leaving Turkey alone in its battle against terrorism.
What I am trying to say is need of lobbying should not even be on the table since terror is terror everywhere and anytime. It should not have a race, a religion or a country. We should not be having double standards for terrorism and label some terrorists as ‘rebels’ because our political interests require us to do so and others as ‘terrorists’ as we see fit.
That was what I was trying to say. Thanks again anyway.
Elif, the book Nevin recommends is excellent and addresses many of the issues you raise.
More than lobbying, Turkey needs stronger leaders who will lay it on the line in no uncertain terms when it comes to countries that support terrorist organizations like the PKK, for example, Belgium, England and France. For example, the U.S. has impounded funds of nation states that it claims are terrorist states. Imagine what would happen if Turkey threatened to do the same now that EU countries who are known to support PKK activity have bought up so many of Turkey’s assets.
And, let’s not forget that the PKK and ASALA are related and are both alleged to the brainchild of a Soviet Armenian KGB agent named Karen Brutents. As Mango points out in his book, terrorist organizations cannot remain succesfully active without state sponsored support.
Kemal thanks, state sponsored support I believe goes down to countries’ self and political interests. That is where the double standards also arise.
But to me these all go down to economical independence. You mention of European owned enterprises in Turkey. US may be free to choose between funding and not funding terrorist states but Turkey is not. Lack of strong leaders with integrity explains why Turkey suffers from a lot of things, not only terrorism but in order for a leader to be strong, he / she has to be economically independent. Of course this is not a pre requisite or anything, being a strong leader shoud not come with strings attached but in today’s capitalist world, some things always come with some packages attached.
As you rightly mentioned, Turkey can not do anything when it is this highly dependant on other countries. That is why military ops to Northern Iraq will not solve anything as it did not in the past. There are lots of stakeholders in the region and lots and lots of interests.
Now that you in addition to Nevin mention about the book, I will most definitely read it though :)
I think we are all saying the same thing, but just expressing it differently. Turkey needs support from other countries in resolving the PKK problem, which has cost many Turkish and Kurdish lives. Our economy has suffered tremendously, lots of lives perished and has messed up the unity between the Kurds and the Turks. Every body recognized PKK is a menace in the region. However, it is the Western powers that do want this conflict to continue. First and for most, both sides buy arms from Europe and USA, economy of a potentially “precarious” Muslim country is damaged, namely Turkey and divide & conquer mentally is still prevalent in the West. So Turkey is alone! The way we need to deal with any issues concerning Turkish interests is to fight for it ourselves. Have our voices heard, scream louder if need be, organize, work with politicians who support our causes, interests and most importantly use the media! Turks never use foreign media…. That is what I mean by lobbing. If EU/USA will not help us, then we will make them help us. Because, it is obvious to me and to you both that we are alone in our fight in eradicating PKK.
Hear hear Nevin.
The EU speaks with a forked tongue. EU countries have never ended their effort to divide by ethnicity and conquer the people of Anatolia. The blood of over 40,000 in southeastern Turkey caused by those whom EU countries so affectionately refer to as rebels is on their heads.
Especially Belgium, those bastards still have Sabanci’s murderer. Imagine if Turkey did the same. All hell would break lose and Turkey vilified as a sanctuary for those who kill westerners. All those PKK terrorists that Turkey arrests should be put on a plane to Brussels with their weapons. Belgium can have them all.
Turks will be holding a protest against both the PKK and ASALA in NYC this Friday in front of the UN building.
By the way, all those anti-PKK protests in Turkey should not be taking place where the funerals of victims of PKK violence are held. All of those protests should be in front of the Embassies and consulates of countries that are known to support PKK activity.
I don’t know where they’d protest Armenia’s support of the PKK, maybe Cankaya so that Gul finally gets the message.
“But to me these all go down to economical independence.”
Think back to the early 1920s when Turkey’s economic condition was a disaster and the country in ruins thanks to the Greek, French and Armenian armies that had been occupying so much of the country. Ataturk did not have much money for the country, but he was cunning and a strong leader who used his brains to get the British, Italian and French occupying forces to leave the country.
The countries that have purchased so many assets in Turkey have now tied their economic well-being to events in Turkey. As long as they support a terrorist organization that indiscriminately murders Turkish citizens, those economic investments should be used against them. Our citizens’ lives versus their money… their response will reveal exactly where their values lay.
The consequences that those who support terrorists that murder Turkey’s citizens should suffer should not be negotiable. Not ever.
Kemal, I agree with you about 1920s but as I indicated, today’s world has a very different context than 1920s. It is a cliche I know but we live in a capitalist world, noone can deny it. We may not like it but that is the fact. Everything goes down to money and more importantly control over natural resources and this results in clashes of interests of several countries / nations and to me Turkey is in the middle of all this due its jeopolitical and cultural position. I am not a materialist person myself but in today’s world we become servants / consumers more than we become leaders / producers.
Once Nevin mentioned of something, if I am not remembering it incorrectly, Turkey not being able to belong to any groups, it is not wanted by Muslim countries cos it is a secular country (at least for the time being) and it is not wanted by west cos it is a Muslim country.
And the media, media has influence over millions of people, not judging just saying. Someone in France can easily be aware of an event / incident in Japan over net or mass communication tools and this does not necessarily mean they hear what is actually happening in Japan, they just hear what the media wants them to hear.
Therefore I agree with Nevin, we need to get our voices heard and according to me we can not do this alone. I still do not want to accept the logic of these countries (that we need to make people aware that terrorism is terrorism) cos I know one day terrorism that may have been initially created for political interests will come back and bite them in somewhere but that does not the change the reality, we suffer from terrorism, noone can know that better than us and we should be speaking up for ourselves and yes you are right this can only be done by strong, honest and future-oriented leaders like Atatürk but according to my humble opinion those leaders in today’s world should also be economically independent.
Elif, I hear what you are saying. However, in today’s reality, there is no country that is economically independent. Not even the U.S. whose economy is dependent upon cheap oil and cheaply manufactured Chinese goods.
If Turks wait for “economic independence” to take strong action against terrorism and those who support it, we will be waiting until the end of time. Lobbying alone will never end terrorism because lobbying does not “hurt” terrorists, or those who have incentive to support them, enough to make them change their behavior.
The idea here is that economic interdependence (due to investments made by foreigners) has given Turkey strength that it should use. Pressure should be applied against investments made by those from countries supporting the PKK, while rewarding with additional incentives investors from countries that are not supporting the PKK. Thus, Turkey’s economy is minimally affected, but those who need to change their ways are feeling some very real economic pain which will cause their corporate “citizens” to start insisting on some changes.
If there’s no pain, they will not listen–for example, the U.S. doesn’t care about historical truth when it comes to Armenian claims. The Turkish govt knows this and that’s why they said they’d shut down Incirlik if the U.S. Congress passed a resolution on Armenian claim-because that would have made the U.S. feel the consequences of its actions in a very painful way. Speaking of this, perhaps now might be a good time for Turkey to tell the U.S. to shut down the PKK, make Barzani shut them down or allow the Turkish military to route them out by their roots and forma buffer zone in northern Iraq or else Incirlik will be shut down. What has all the moaning, complaining and bitching the Turkish government has done about the PKK to date accomplished to date? Not much as far as I can tell.
If the government is waiting for economic independence to act, they’ll be waiting until the end of time.
It’s all about who can assert themselves in a more forceful fashion. Every country tries to get away with whatever they can to assert their self interests at the expense of others. Everything contrary to the hypothesis above is sheer political boilerplate and utter bullshit.
Unfortunately, acting like a bully *works* well for in this landscape, and everybody else is following the known examples. Look at Russia’s actions in Georgia, lessons in Bullying 101. In an ironic twist it appears as if Russian markets have been punished but that’s mainly due to the collapse of oil. Other than that, no embargo has been undertaken against Russia. There were not many political consequences. Investors withdrew their money NOT because Russia invaded Georgia but because of oil crash. Yeah, maybe that’s some kind of divine justice but be careful what you wish for, as the same thing may be said for the U.S. verbatim.
Of course it goes without saying that lobbying is also important in terms of shaping public opinions throughout the world. Russia tried hard - and partially succeeded - all while invading Georgia, aiding “rebels” and recognizing breakaway regions. Remember how the American Government along with the House and the Senate sold the Iraq war to the American public, ironically with the help of one of the most (supposedly) anti-war publications by the name of New York Times? At the risk of digressing from the topic I have to mention how skillfully certain groups have now washed their hands off of the Iraq mess by blaming it all on Bush. People, either purposefully or ignorantly read the financial crisis happening right now as a “punishment” on the US for having acted as the bully - I bet Obama supporters love that kind of reading - yes, Iraq war has a cost but the crisis was the result of a real estate bubble of cheap financing for people who shouldn’t have been buying homes in the first place.
In short, the world order has been somewhere along the lines of: Bully or die. OR: Export or die. OR: Grow or die. Or: Control energy and resources or die. Well okay I’ve really stretched this conversation here but the point is: If you worry about how others will react, you’ll accomplish nothing.
I’ve delved into some economic talk because economic interdependence arguments have been made above as an excuse for Turkey to not act in her self interests in a world of bullies. Personally I don’t buy them for any country, not only Turkey.
Coming back to lobbying and PR: It’s a fact that Turkey has not historically been good at lobbying, but it also has not been good at asserting its self interests on the negotiating table either. Another irony is that the more appeasing you are, the more you get taken advantage of. Look at how Obama is willing to talk to Iran without preconditions and Biden is willing to suggest to just write a “check” to them. And look at how badly both men have treated Turkey in all aspects, this despite Turkey’s long history of having been an ally of the US.
I’m finally turning this into partisan bickering about US politics but somebody commented in a Turkish forum that Obama is teaching all of us out there that during an Obama administration, it will pay better to be America’s “enemy” rather than its “friend”. Unless we suddenly start singing kumbaya to some chants of change as soon as the Messiah becomes president, that’s what will keep happening in the world of bullies and appeasers. Enemies will be sweet talked while allies may get a beating. So fasten your seatbelts, people, because after Turkey finally wakes up to that fact, it will perhaps show the kind of assertiveness it has been unable to show for the last 80 years. Okay, that’s just my imagination running wild but it would be quite a sight indeed.
Kemal, I am not saying waiting for economical independence is something we should do, what I am saying is that when it comes to firm stands and actions that our goverment should be taking in many issues, not just PKK, our country is not as free and ready for action as some other countries may be and therefore sometimes we see these misachievements of the goverments.
You are most certainly right about today’s countries being interdependent on each other and the capitalist system leaves you with no other option but I mentioned in one of my earlier posts about Turkey being this highly dependant on others narrows down the options. The degree of dependence is important here and as far as I am concerned and as you indicate Turkey is very highly dependant on others. What Turkey can afford to do alone is limited. And you made a very nice point about turning disadvantages into advantages for investors in Turkey but this even goes down to money and interests.
Shutting down İncirlik military base issue goes down to interests and money as well and unfortunately due to poor lobbying about Armenian claims, that even was used against Turkey although it well stopped US from passing the legislation from its Congress as you indicated. Whenever you chat about the so called genocide with an Armenian, he / she claims that due to Turkey’s political intervention, US does not pass the legislation and it would pass it otherwise. You and I know that it is BS and there is a very easy defense to that type of approach but there is no need for us to go into that here since the topic is different. But even there, weaknesses in lobbying make people around the world think still unfavourably about Turkey when Turkey is very much right in its cause.
I repeat, need for lobbying for these types of things is not something I approve, we should not even be talking about these, Turkey should not be needing all this just to get countries’ support in its very right cause of fighting against terrorism but facts are facts and interdependence is not working in favour of Turkey. As you indicated, until Turkey turns those dependence disadvantages into advantages and until the stakeholders in the region pack their backs and leave, Turkey will face similar problems.
Turning this dependence disadvantage into an advantage is even in one sense gaining partial economical independence. I may be wrong but that’s what I think.
So how does all I say above tie to PKK terrorism? I take it for granted that readers know my assumptions, which are very game-theory like, as the following:
1) Europe does not want a powerful Turkey in the Middle East
2) Remember that Europe *officially* accepts that PKK is a terrorist organization. BUT, Europe *unofficially* supports it. This is the best way to make sure that Turkey as a rare place of stability in the region does not get more powerful than it already is.
3) Europe encourages further division and polarization of Turkish society along ethnic lines while supporting PKK terror in a hypocritical boilerplate language of “human rights” and “freedom fighters”. While the governments don’t undertake this officially, they use their media to evangalize that propaganda.
While some will disagree with my assumptions above, they are important for the reader to understand the gist of my arguments in the previous post. So the cards already look very unfavorable from the Turkish perspective. Thus appeasement on the part of Turkey will accomplish nothing and is likely to make things worse.
Selin, bullying may be the answer for some countries in certain conditions and that was what Kemal was indeed saying about telling US that we would shut down İncirlik military base if it did not take certain actions about PKK terrorism but it does not solve the problem or to me it will solve the problem temporarily.
Turkey as I indicated before can not afford to do somethings alone although it may afford to shut down the military base in İncirlik. Russia can afford to do somethings alone but Turkey can’t. Russia most certainly relies on its natural gas when it bullies countries around but that does not hold for Turkey, at least I think so. Bullying did not work for Iraq for certain reasons and won’t workfor Turkey for other reasons.
I’m just saying that Turkey could be less appeasing. It would have to be a lot stronger - at least an export powerhouse - in order to turn tables around to get away with the stuff Russia gets away with.
But do NOT forget that in justifying their Georgian invasion, the Russians love to give the example of Cyprus AND play up the story of “saving their citizens”. Because that was exactly the basis for Turkish entrance into the Northern Cyprus. The only exception was that there were people of true Turkish ethnicity on the island whose lives were threatened whereas people in these breakaway regions are not of Russian ethnicity. The other exception was that Turkey could have invaded the whole island once the troops were there just like Russian invasion of various regions in Georgia but didn’t.
Of course, Turkey did NOT get away with that like Russia did, there were huge consequences of that action including an embargo. There still are consequences. BUT you get the idea that Turkey indeed does have some room to play here. Turkey is not as weak as some may think. I’m not suggesting that Turkey should go invade some place - maybe except to use ground forces to eradicate PKK camps in Northern Iraq.
Especially when it’s clear that appeasement is not paying off, countries in general should take these into consideration.
I am going to agree with Selin in her argument that Turkey needs to be a lot more assertive and to some extend aggressive. In current political climate, the more assertive you behave, the more respect you get. Iran is an excellent example. North Korea is another. North Korea demanded to be taken out of the list of “terrorist countries” and finally, the US bowed down and excepted their wish. Now they are no longer on that list! Having said that, I do not mean Turkey should attack another country. But I do mean Turkey needs to act with some “balls” and start showing its wild cards. It is true, Turkey may not have a lot of natural resources, but Turks live in a very expensive real estate. They have total control of the black sea, there are plenty foreign investors who do not wish for an unstable country and do not want another crazy Muslim country so close to European Union. There is Incirlik American base which should have been shut down long time ago and of course let’s not belittle the Army. They are extremely well trained and efficient in compact thanks to the help of PKK terrorism for the last 30 years! To sum up my argument, Turkey needs a lot more assertive and somewhat aggressive leaders when it comes to foreign policy. She needs to mobilize and organize around various lobbies in Europe and USA. She needs to start working with foreign media and start changing public opinion on issues regarding Cyprus, Armenian Genocide and PKK terrorism. Those are the 3 main sticklers for Turkey! Turkey has a huge potential but somehow she has been ruled by passive, back side kissing, weak, mediocre and lacking of self-esteem politicians, journalists, educators who only see no further then their noise. Turkey needs a proper functioning democracy, where the average guy on the street feels they are getting good enough education, have good enough health care, have good enough freedom of speech and good enough minority rights. Most humans are like sheep and if strong leaders who give them enough carrots will go far as a society. No one achieves anything by being weak, stupid and kind… We need strong leaders who are for the people of Turkey not for EU or USA! When will we have such a political party???? Instead of focusing on women’s hair, we should be focusing on bigger issues…. Much bigger issues!
Elif, by the way, It may sound like I am disagreeing with you, but I am not. I think I am agreeing with Kemal, Selin and you. Everyone has a very legitimate and logical argument. We are pretty much saying the same thing. But what gets to me is, when will Turkey create a grassroots political party that is for the people, by the people. I am sick and tired of these half baked, weak leaders who do not care much for the people of Turkey! Who care more about filling their pockets, covering their women and walking around without an iota of embarrassment of their bad achievements…
“But what gets to me is, when will Turkey create a grassroots political party that is for the people, by the people.”
Good question. I’m all for you three ladies leading the way… which one of you would like to register our new party and what should we name it? Dev Halk?
You three start lobbying and I’ll go kick some a$$.
If you think I’m joking, I’m not. Grassroots starts with people like us who take action rather than waiting for others to.
Elif, politics is like the world of business and a schoolyard playground, you are perceived by others as you perceive yourself. If you see yourself as weak, others will too. If you see yourself as invincible, others will too.
Any Turkish politician who doesn’t think Turkey has the political, economic or military strength and/or right to protect its borders and the lives of its citizens using whatever means are necessary should be thrown out of office. The safety of our citizens is not up for negotiation and there is nothing Turkey as gained in any respect from the EU or the US that is worth killing 40,000 Turks–nothing.
Everyone, starting right at the top with Gul and Erdgoan, should be screaming at the top of their lungs that there is nothing, absolutely NOTHING, that will not be done to protect Turkey’s borders and citizens. If that scares the U.S., then they should get their weapons out of the hands of the PKK.
Turkey would have to do that much to get the response it should from the west–certainly it would not have to act like Russia (whose justification for invading Georgia was entirely insincere).
And, now would be the time for Turkey to act since so many EU countries, the US and others actually condemned the last invastion of Turkey’s borders which left 17 dead–those condemnations give Turkey, if not strength, moral justification to push very very hard now.
clarification: Turkey would *not* have to do that much to get the response…
Obama is teaching all of us out there that during an Obama administration, it will pay better to be America’s “enemy” rather than its “friend”… So fasten your seatbelts, people, because after Turkey finally wakes up to that fact, it will perhaps show the kind of assertiveness it has been unable to show for the last 80 years.
No kidding. It’s clear that we’re going to be reliving the 1970s under the Obama-Biden administration. The AKP is starting to lose support (only 35% in favor now) and with the backlash from an administration in which the VP has always voted against Turkey at every opportunity, we’re likely to see some big changes in Ankara.
You know, if the US follows the Biden plan of dividing Iraq and providing support for an independent Kurdish region in northern Iraq, that could embolden the PKK to no end, leading them to attack more often and more viciously, which could lead to the point of no return as it did in Cyprus–and wallah, you have an invasion by Turkish forces to protect its borders and citizens (I say once they’re in they should go all the way to Mosul & Kirkuk), an arms embargo by the US which leaves Turkey to buy weapons from Russia and China using income from the oil rich states and EU investments. Who knows, an Obama administration might result in the boundaries that Turkey was guaranteed under the Armistice of Mudros and that was so unconscionably abrogated by France and England. And, if Russia’s been citing Cyprus for support of its invasion of Georgia, it’s likely Russia will support Turkey’s “invasion” and there could be the same kind of impotent response from the west… just brainstorming here.
When I read garbage like this that is so deliberately designed to mislead, I wonder how the Economist maintains any credibility.
http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12429572
Economist is notorious for it’s anti-Turkish coverage on various issues. They are extremely pro Armenian and Kurdish. I have not read a single article from the Economist that reflex the truth or shall we say “biased” analysis concerning Turkish politics. So I am not surprised by this article at all. However, this type of media manipulation is EXACTLY what I am talking about. This is what Turkey is lacking. To come back to my earlier point; Where is the Turkish opinion? Where is the Turkish point of view? Why do we not see this type of journalism that is pro-Turkish, instead of anti? This is where Turks need to pour their money into. Public opinion is not only essential and but it is crucial in putting across your side of the debate!
Guys, I never said Turkey should refrain from protecting its own borders. Indeed I thought I was just saying the opposite. What I am saying is while doing that it should take into consideration many factors in today’s world and clashes of interests and money and natural resources unfortunately form many of the important factors. Kemal you mentioned of strong leaders with intelligent moves, that is the whole point. Bullying people / countries may work well to some point but then intelligent moves should step in to support the bullying action. According to me, Iran will lose in the end although it may well seem that by bullying it is getting somewhere.
Turning disadvantages into advantages or using economical weaknesses in favour of our country require intelligence and not suppressed and ’scared of their shadow’ leaders. While doing all these of course, we should not be forgetting to get our voices heard and to change distorted public opinion, not because we give much importance to what people think of us but because this is necessary in today’s world that forces countries to act interdependently and because again in today’s world truth can not speak for itself. Not being able to do certain things alone does not necessarily mean that you are weak and yes I agree it is not necessary you to have a lot of money or natural resources to be economically independant, you can well do that with intelligent moves, at least you can gain partial independence. This is just my opinion.
So yes Nevin I think we are saying similar things here because our purpose is the same, to get a terror-free country. Turkey deserves much better than what it is settling down for and Kemal I hope you are right that AKP will lose support and will not be re-elected in the end.
As for the party, I am ready to join in anytime. I am also ready to join in any discussion that will allow exchanging ideas and brainstroming that will enable me to improve my perspective
Yes, understood Elif. I did not mean to imply that you suggested anything of the sort. I believe the only area in which our views diverge is whether Turkey currently has the economic strength to take stronger action that may offend other nations with which it has economic ties than it has to date.
Elif asked a great question. Is there an arena on the internet where we can get together and brainstorm? There are many brains out there that need to be utilized….
http://www.info-turc.org/article2418.html
Please read the above link. PS: It’s in Turkish….