With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Nowadays, many Turks wonder how they could reasonably consider policy makers in Europe and the United States their friends and allies. Since the July 15 coup attempt, a number of military officers with links to Fetullah Gülen, who orchestrated the assault against Turkish democracy, have sought asylum in the West. Meanwhile, Washington and Brussels continue to support the PKK and the People's Protection Units (YPG), the group's Syrian franchise, even though the terrorists claimed thousands of Turkish lives over the years.
The fact that Turkey, along with the U.S. and a number of European countries, is a NATO member, only makes things worse. After all, Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty clearly stipulates that an armed attack against one of the parties would be considered an attack against them all. "Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking such action it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area," the text continues. "Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security."
In recent months, the Turkish people learned the hard way what fellow NATO allies really meant by assisting a party under attack. Apparently, many member states interpret this clause as condemning the legitimate actions of a government against terrorists and coup plotters.
Another irony is that the North Atlantic Treaty requires the organization to brief the U.N. Security Council about actions taken against aggressors. When has the Security Council actually promoted peace and security? When was the last time they resolved an international conflict? Looking at the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq today, we are reminded of the limits of the U.N. Security Council's power and effectiveness.
We are not just frustrated with international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO either. To make matters worse, the U.S. government continues to harbor Gülen, the failed coup's mastermind, despite a formal request by Turkey for his extradition.
Looking at the deplorable behavior of our self-proclaimed allies, many people in Turkey are asking the same question: With friends like these, who needs enemies?
The fact that Turkey, along with the U.S. and a number of European countries, is a NATO member, only makes things worse. After all, Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty clearly stipulates that an armed attack against one of the parties would be considered an attack against them all. "Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking such action it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area," the text continues. "Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security."
In recent months, the Turkish people learned the hard way what fellow NATO allies really meant by assisting a party under attack. Apparently, many member states interpret this clause as condemning the legitimate actions of a government against terrorists and coup plotters.
Another irony is that the North Atlantic Treaty requires the organization to brief the U.N. Security Council about actions taken against aggressors. When has the Security Council actually promoted peace and security? When was the last time they resolved an international conflict? Looking at the humanitarian crisis in Syria and Iraq today, we are reminded of the limits of the U.N. Security Council's power and effectiveness.
We are not just frustrated with international organizations such as the United Nations and NATO either. To make matters worse, the U.S. government continues to harbor Gülen, the failed coup's mastermind, despite a formal request by Turkey for his extradition.
Looking at the deplorable behavior of our self-proclaimed allies, many people in Turkey are asking the same question: With friends like these, who needs enemies?
Last Update: November 29, 2016 22:53