They will show their true colors one day

Let's leave Turkey aside and enumerate the countries that have joined the anti-DAESH military operations and provide logistical support to these operations: The U.S., France, the U.K., Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Russia. Let us ask what this giant coalition has done so far. If you ask how many sorties have been flown, how many bombs have been dropped and how many targets have been hit, you can easily find answers on the Internet. Moreover, you can calculate the cost of the operations and initiate an exciting debate among buddies, saying that the U.S. has spent $10 million a day to fly 3,000 sorties in a single month.

But, what is the result? Has DAESH been defeated or lost power? Definitely no. The operations harmed the opposition groups and strengthened the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the bloodthirsty regime, but they hardly touched DAESH. Moreover, they led to the belief that DAESH is invincible. Meanwhile, Turkey was suppressed via blackmail, implicitly saying that it will be presented as a DAESH supporter to the whole world if it provides ground support for the operations.

Now, let us talk about today. Recently, it was officially announced in an ironic way that NATO no longer has a border with DAESH. That border was cleaned up in a week, and operations are moving into Syria. This was achieved as Turkey did not act on their advice, but had the courage of its convictions. Turkey did this with a military that had received a blow because of the coup attempt. While Turkey was cleaning away DAESH, coalition aircraft did not take off in the most critical phase of the operations on the excuse of "adverse weather conditions," and U.S. authorities constantly quibbled. Turkey also threw the years-long lie of "international anti-DAESH fight" in their face and tarnished the prestige of NATO, which recently attempted to threaten Turkey.

Now, they have pressed the panic button, and the U.S. has begun discussing willy-nilly whether to seize Raqqa in October. The upcoming months might witness interesting developments and some challenges. But, have no doubt that the differences between those who butcher people in the miserable streets of Raqqa and those who shoot footage of this slaughter, surpassing Hollywood scenarios, will come to light.

One day the gap between DAESH's sociological base and its fictionalized top in the West will come out in the wash. Until then, Turkey must remain in the system and progress without compromising its independent stance.