Editorials
Allies Against Terror
Charge d'affaires Nancy McEldowney
August 6, 2005 - Milliyet
Today 14:00 Turkish heroes head home from Afghanistan. The Turkish Armed Forces have commanded –with great success and distinction -- the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) for the second time. In so doing, Turkey has made an enormous contribution to the international community. After the terrorist attacks in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, the entire world focused not only on the threat emanating from Afghanistan, but on the plight of the Afghan people, ravaged by 20 years of war and a brutal fundamentalist dictatorship.
The United States and Turkey joined together to make good on our pledge to the people of Afghanistan. Where there was dictatorship, there is now hope. Where self-appointed mullahs laid down barbaric dictates at the point of a gun, Afghans now are served by an elected president, and will go to the polls in September to elect a parliament.
Yet we have done even more than bring down a murderous regime and bring hope to the Afghan people. The Taliban supported and sheltered al-Qaeda, the terrorist network which carried out the Sept. 11 attacks and continues to threaten America, Turkey, and many other countries around the world. These terrorists murdered Turks in Istanbul in November 2003. And as we have seen in the vicious attacks in Madrid, London, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Iraq, this battle is far from over.
The battle also continues here in Turkey with the PKK resumption of its murderous terrorism. The United States has struggled together with Turkey against the PKK for over two decades. We have worked assiduously, through concrete actions and assistance to the Turkish government, to stop the violence that has ravaged Turkey for all these years. And we will continue to do so. We have condemned unequivocally the PKK, its leadership, and its terrorist activity. And we will continue to do so.
The United States and the sovereign government of Iraq are determined that a free and unified Iraq will not be a base for terrorism directed against any country. Our three governments – America, Iraq, and Turkey -- are working toward that end and are committed to achieve that goal.
There can be no double standard on terrorism. Terrorists threaten us all, because their aim is to break the resolve of free societies. We cannot, we will not allow that to happen. Turkey’s resolve in the face of these challenges has been unwavering. Turkey has sent soldiers into the field in Afghanistan. Turkey is training Iraqi soldiers under the NATO Training Mission. Turkey is patrolling the Mediterranean in the Alliance’s Operation Active Endeavor.
Over the coming days, Turkish soldiers who have served in Afghanistan will be safely reunited with their families and friends. There will be joy and laughter and tears of happiness. Let us celebrate together and continue the hard work ahead of us.