Foreign press feels free to say anything about Turkey
The level of criticism Turkey faces in some foreign media outlets, which are trying to drag the country into the Syrian civil war and the attacks by the PKK, go beyond the worldwide rules of media ethics and poses a threat for the country's national security
It seems the foreign media is determined to point a finger at somebody about the states of war they claim that exist in Turkey. Articles or opinions published in the international press suggest that Turkey is at war on the inside, and in another war in neighboring Syria.
We must say that qualifying what is going on in Turkey's southeast as a war reflects a political choice. A similar struggle would probably be labeled terror or a fight against terrorism in another country. Besides, Turkey is not officially at war with any country, including Syria or Russia. We know, however, that what is going on in Syria and in Turkey's southeast are somehow linked, but it is interesting that the foreign media prefer not to emphasize this link and instead claim there are two separate war situations.
It is obvious that the PKK and affiliated organizations have been used by some in order to keep Turkey away from the Syrian equation. In other words, the PKK and Russia did everything they could to weaken Turkey at the Syrian negotiating table. It is true that Turkey did not seize every opportunity correctly during this process, but it is also true that many players have worked for Turkey to become unable to use those opportunities. Let's remember the process of the Kurdish opening. It was not only about Turkey's Kurds or about peace and democracy in Turkey, it was also about Iraq and Syria's Kurds, and the ultimate goal was to build a friendly, peaceful and close relationship between Turkey and the Kurds of the entire region. Nevertheless, while Turkish authorities were trying to implement this project, the other side preferred to stock weapons in Turkey's towns.
About Syria, it is relatively easy to put the blame on the region's divergent players, on the leaders of the Middle East or on a number of organizations. Blaming specific people is also a part of the political game. For example, when the press of a particular country seems to be obsessed with somebody or some political team, it is a hint that this country's government has some kind of problem with this person or political group. If this person or group has seized power undemocratically, these foreign forces feel free to do anything they can to overthrow them, but if they had seized power through elections, it is not that easy. In that case, those foreign forces simply send the message that you are not doing what we expect you to do, so don't ask anything from us.
The level of criticism of Turkey in the foreign press proves that some people do not like Turkey's current policies. This is not because they are full of love for the Kurdish people or they share their suffering. If it was only about humanitarian feelings, the world is full of sad situations. The problem is they are willing to use the Kurds in order to block Turkey in certain areas. Maybe that is why they try to pull Turkey into the Syrian war. Maybe DAESH or Democratic Union Party (PYD) attacks, Turkey downing the Russian jet and the refugee flows were tests. Turkey has been invited to join in the Syrian civil war several times, but it resisted.
Some players expected Turkey to enter Syria to balance Russia while others have used the PKK so Ankara could not think about Syria. Anyway, Ankara has decided, until now, not to directly, militarily intervene in the Syrian theater. Even if Russia and the U.S. somehow agree that it is preferable that Turkey stays out of Syria, there are others who dislike the idea. Maybe they even believe that the U.S. is being fooled by Russia. Do you wonder who that might be? Just take a look at the foreign press.
We must say that qualifying what is going on in Turkey's southeast as a war reflects a political choice. A similar struggle would probably be labeled terror or a fight against terrorism in another country. Besides, Turkey is not officially at war with any country, including Syria or Russia. We know, however, that what is going on in Syria and in Turkey's southeast are somehow linked, but it is interesting that the foreign media prefer not to emphasize this link and instead claim there are two separate war situations.
It is obvious that the PKK and affiliated organizations have been used by some in order to keep Turkey away from the Syrian equation. In other words, the PKK and Russia did everything they could to weaken Turkey at the Syrian negotiating table. It is true that Turkey did not seize every opportunity correctly during this process, but it is also true that many players have worked for Turkey to become unable to use those opportunities. Let's remember the process of the Kurdish opening. It was not only about Turkey's Kurds or about peace and democracy in Turkey, it was also about Iraq and Syria's Kurds, and the ultimate goal was to build a friendly, peaceful and close relationship between Turkey and the Kurds of the entire region. Nevertheless, while Turkish authorities were trying to implement this project, the other side preferred to stock weapons in Turkey's towns.
About Syria, it is relatively easy to put the blame on the region's divergent players, on the leaders of the Middle East or on a number of organizations. Blaming specific people is also a part of the political game. For example, when the press of a particular country seems to be obsessed with somebody or some political team, it is a hint that this country's government has some kind of problem with this person or political group. If this person or group has seized power undemocratically, these foreign forces feel free to do anything they can to overthrow them, but if they had seized power through elections, it is not that easy. In that case, those foreign forces simply send the message that you are not doing what we expect you to do, so don't ask anything from us.
The level of criticism of Turkey in the foreign press proves that some people do not like Turkey's current policies. This is not because they are full of love for the Kurdish people or they share their suffering. If it was only about humanitarian feelings, the world is full of sad situations. The problem is they are willing to use the Kurds in order to block Turkey in certain areas. Maybe that is why they try to pull Turkey into the Syrian war. Maybe DAESH or Democratic Union Party (PYD) attacks, Turkey downing the Russian jet and the refugee flows were tests. Turkey has been invited to join in the Syrian civil war several times, but it resisted.
Some players expected Turkey to enter Syria to balance Russia while others have used the PKK so Ankara could not think about Syria. Anyway, Ankara has decided, until now, not to directly, militarily intervene in the Syrian theater. Even if Russia and the U.S. somehow agree that it is preferable that Turkey stays out of Syria, there are others who dislike the idea. Maybe they even believe that the U.S. is being fooled by Russia. Do you wonder who that might be? Just take a look at the foreign press.