Turkey should stand together against terrorism

Last week Turkey witnessed the largest terrorist attack in it's modern history in Ankara, which claimed 97 people's lives. Most people have found scapegoats and groups to blame after the attack, but what Turkey really needs is to come together, face this horrific terrorist attack and stand together



Last week, I wrote about memorials in Washington, D.C. Memorials to great generals; memorials to fallen soldiers. In America there is a move to say "enough. No more memorials."However, I would like to suggest one more memorial: Perhaps, it is time to create a memorial in Turkey. A memorial to all the police who have lost their lives in terrorist attacks. A memorial to all the soldiers who have lost their lives in terrorist attacks. And a memorial to all the children, the young people, the men and women who have lost their lives in terrorist attacks. Maybe by making such a memorial we can put a stop to the horror inflicted by terrorist organizations, organizations that stop at nothing, who continue to kill, maim and murder the people of Turkey. Perhaps…There have been many discordant voices this week. But one voice rises sweet and pure above the cacophony: The call for unity. There are voices calling for all citizens of Turkey – Turk, Kurd, Alevi, Armenian, Greek … to come together. Put down the sharp cutting words of political discord. This is no longer a matter of political discourse. What happened on Saturday cannot be used for political gain. On Saturday, democracy was violently attacked by terrorism.If we don't want terrorism to win, then the bodies of the dead should not be haggled over; the unfortunate victims of this heinous crime belong to all. We must embrace them together; we must commemorate them together. Together we must stand up and say ENOUGH. We must stand up and say NO MORE.The PKK is blamed by some, while others blame ISIS. The police say that the evidence seems to point to ISIS. ISIS is an open and clear enemy to Turkey; in July a video was released in which an ISIS spokesperson urged Turks to "conquer Istanbul, which the traitor Erdoğan works day and night to hand over to the crusaders." Two weeks ago the head of the PKK swore to bring the battle to the cities, to take one life for every PKK death.ISIS and the PKK used to work together in Syria, administering the city of Haseki; now they are sworn enemies, determined to eliminate one another. And the victims of the ISIS and PKK battles, of their terrorist attacks inside and out Turkey, are just "collateral damage."Turkey is fighting ISIS on its borders. Turkey is fighting the PKK along its borders. Turkey is threatened by ISIS domestically. And it is fighting the PKK domestically.Turkish citizens need to stop looking for whom to blame. Who is to blame is clear: A terrorist organization. Of course it makes a difference which extremist terrorist organization – the security forces have to find them and try to render them ineffective. But for us? For you and me? ISIS is a terrorist organization. It is an extremist organization. The PKK is a terrorist organization. It is an extremist organization. I don't want ISIS putting bombs around my home, and I don't want the PKK putting bombs around my home. Maybe for the first time in history one country is fighting two terrorist organizations, two organizations that have different belief systems, at the same time. And two terrorist organizations are fighting one another and Turkey.This is an unprecedented situation. Turkey, as a member of NATO, is under attack by the PKK and by ISIS. It is time that other countries come and stand side by side with Turkey, shoulder to shoulder to push back these terrorist attacks. The people of Turkey must stand together. My message to the media is do not pull the people apart. Enough with your polarization. Forget the elections, forget your calculations of a point here or a point there. There are no more points to be won. Only by coming together, only with compassion and unity, only with empathy and understanding, can Turkey get through this.Without Turkey, halting the advance of ISIS will be almost impossible. Imagine what Turkey could do if it wasn't having to fight the PKK on one flank? ISIS would not have been able to get this strong. The PKK is sapping the strength and resolve of Turkey to fight ISIS.The message is simple – all citizens of Turkey need to come together and stand against terrorism. And those nations that stand against terrorism need to come and stand with Turkey. Only if we face this onslaught of horrific terrorist acts together will we, those who stand against terrorism, be able to overcome extremism and terrorism.