Pitfalls in Turkey’s involvement in the Middle East

VIEW : Pitfalls in Turkey’s involvement in the Middle East — Mohammad Ahmad

Turkey needs to ensure that all its actions are towards safeguarding the fruits of the Ataturk revolution and preservation of its image as a free and modern democracy

The war for Syria has a
hidden dimension. The extremists make it appear as if the fight is for Syria but the strategic goal is Turkey. Unfortunately, the west in its zeal to ultimately take away from Russia its only naval base outside of the former Soviet Union on the Mediterranean at Tartus (Syria) is falling into the trap laid down by extremists by making Turkey the conduit to route arms to the Syrian rebels. Despite its deplorable human rights violations against the ethnic Kurds, the Turkey of today is the flag bearer of human rights in the region and its social values are in total conflict with the Saudi values that are led by Salafi theologians who dream of political victory in Turkey one day. They have very intelligently been able to make Turkey feel threatened by the strife in Syria and made it believe that it is helping the west by helping the resistance in Syria fight a government that is friends with Iran and Hezbollah.

In reality though, it is involuntarily helping the Saudis and Turkey to fall into the same trap that Pakistan fell into when its radical President Ziaul Haq fought a proxy war for the west in Afghanistan. That war was led by mercenaries mostly under Salafi influence from around the globe. To support the proxy war seminaries that advocated extremism were promoted. After the Soviet withdrawal these mercenaries who had come with a grander purpose stayed back in Pakistan paying back their hosts with sectarianism and interfaith strife as the reward. Shiites, Ahmadis, Christians, and to a lesser extent, the majority Barelvis remain at the receiving end of the onslaught by this group and their local allies, the extremists from amongst the Deobandis. Does Turkey want its Alavis, who constitute 18 percent of its population, and the around three percent Asna Ash’ari Shiites, Christians and Jews, to start living a life of fear? Remaining mindful of this consequence, Turkey needs to ensure that all its actions are towards safeguarding the fruits of the Ataturk revolution and preservation of its image as a free and modern democracy for a long time. It must realise that all its economic progress could soon be lost if violence spills across its borders and it loses the image of a secure region to which business and money can flow.

Modern Syria has a history of moderate Islamic practice and has long prided itself on peaceful inter-faith relations since its citizens have seen the repercussions of sectarian strife as civil war destroyed two of its neighbours, Lebanon and Iraq. It is unfortunate that continuous antagonism by the west made the Alavi-dominated government align itself with Iran and Hezbollah in this situation. This has made the Salafis lead the uprising, which they see as their chance of getting political control of Syria. It is true Hezbollah was a Syrian ally in Lebanon even prior to this civil war but this relationship seems to be based on the desire to find support in a hostile environment and is not based on ideology. It should be realised that around Syria were hostile governments allied to the United States, which the former perceived as the backer of its worst enemy Israel that had made peace with Egypt but was not prepared to make peace with Syria and give it back the occupied Golan Heights. In this backdrop, the whole civil war can be seen as an attempt to weaken any Syrian threat to Israel in the medium and long term. This complex issue requires more space and may be dealt with in another column.

Turkey has the right to be concerned if there is trouble in its neighbourhood. However, if it really means to help its neighbour it is imperative for it to learn from the mistakes Pakistan made, engage Syria positively and provide its regime the relationship that can bring it out of isolation and allow it to reform from within. The Ba’athist ideology has the capacity to change and recognise the basic ability of all individuals to contribute and does not discriminate on the basis of faith. As long as a society does not discriminate on the basis of faith and at least in letter believes in responsibility commensurate with ability, it has the potential of evolving peacefully.

These positives needs to be built upon rather than putting the Syrian people into the hands of a new regime that would usher into Syria religious extremism that has the potential to subsequently also consume Turkey. Turkey being part of Europe, a member of NATO, close to the United States and having a working relationship with Israel could use its energies positively towards resolution of the Golan Heights dispute between Syria and Israel. Using its influence in making Israel give up the Golan in return for peace with Syria and Lebanon where Syria has considerable influence will do the region real good. Turkey in the early part of the 19th century was the leader of the Muslim world and it would be appropriate for it to try to assert itself positively, not in the Ottoman style but as a responsible and powerful contributor. If somehow it can use its influence with the United States and Israel to make the latter realise that making peace with its neighbours by giving up occupied lands is in its interests and that life in perpetual fear of war is not, it would be fulfilling its true potential. The next Middle East peace initiative should therefore come from Turkey and not Saudi Arabia.

The economic turnaround Turkey has achieved and its geo-political positioning combined with its progressive Muslim population makes it the best suited to bridge the gap between the west and the Muslim world. It is time it realises its true potential. With a 2011 GDP of $ 773 billion against Saudi Arabia’s GDP of $ 575 billion, it is not less fortunately placed when it has to offer trade to other Muslim countries. Turkey is a neutral trading partner whereas Saudi cooperation with countries has the tag of doctrinal influence attached. Growth of extremism is the bitter fruit of Saudi cooperation. It only needs to make others aware of this. The world would be a better place if Turkey were to play its true role.

The writer can be reached at [email protected]