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[jtw analysis] what should turkey's role in afghanistan encompass? |
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Tuesday, 8 December 2009Since last week, the world has been abuzz with news of the Obama administration’s new strategy in Afghanistan: a troop increase and surge in the country’s mountainous terrain. America is divided over Obama’s announcement and a plethora of harsh words have been churned out over this latest policy initiative. His strategy not only includes sending 30,000 American soldiers into further battle but incorporates a request geared towards NATO members to send further aid and manpower into what is labeled by some as a new American quagmire. Amongst those states the Obama administration is urging to rally around U.S. efforts in Afghanistan is Turkey, with the American ambassador to Turkey, James Jeffrey, confirming that the country has been asked to commit more troops and hinted that their participation should be "more flexible"; the latter innuendo referring to what has been deemed a limited contribution in a combative role for Turkish soldiers.
The consensus in Turkey is not one of support for this new initiative that Obama believes will "bring this war to a successful conclusion;" rather, it is one of outright irritation. His appeal arrives after Turkey already increased its deployments last month by 958 soldiers according to Turkey’s defense minister, Vecdi Gonul. The commentary found in Turkish media outlets ranges from, "Let Obama send his own troops," to the simply put "you broke it, you fix it." It is apparent that these are not the words or feelings of a public which support the American President’s request for a surge in Afghanistan, they are words of anger and frustration, especially after the disastrous state of affairs that had befallen Iraq, Turkey’s neighbor, and the consequences that the ambitions of the Bush administration’s endeavors in Iraq have left in Turkey’s lap. Turkey has emerged from the war as a key regional player but this has not been done without facing the harsh realities in the aftermath of the war.
Once again, Turkey finds itself in a distinct position. Due to the fact that it is a Muslim majority country, it can do what the United States cannot in terms of understanding and garnering respect. Dr. Sedat Laciner, Director of the International Strategic Research Organization believes that "The U.S. and NATO should use Turkey’s special position not to increase combat soldiers, which it could easily do, but be given a role to gain the hearts and minds of the Afghanis." Instead of arming additional Turkish soldiers with guns and ammo, NATO should use them to provide training and supplies to the Afghan army which is under equipped in every sense of the word. The United States/NATO occupation, although begun perhaps under good intentions, has not improved the situation of the Afghani’s or left them at a stronger standing. Laciner believes that a social foundation must be established in Afghanistan with a working base economy, and security and stability should be the top priorities. Obama centers his argument on ridding the country of Taliban forces but the above mentioned problems plague the state too and cannot be overlooked.
Sprinkled throughout his speech, the President made several references to the "cancer," or Islamic extremists, that are spreading over into the border region of Pakistan. He addressed the issue of establishing an effective partnership with Pakistan, a relationship that Turkey already shares with the country. Turkey and Pakistan share unique relations with each other, with the latter looking towards the Turks as Muslim brothers. Pakistan has been a friendly country to Turkey and a powerful influence in the region. A stable Afghanistan is detrimental for a secure Pakistan, and Steve Coll, President of the New America Foundation, recently provided Senate testimony on the importance of Pakistan. He stressed that the Obama administration must have a more sustainable strategy that would "seek and enforce stability in the Afghan population centers and emphasize politics over combat, urban stability over rural patrolling, Afghan solutions over Western ones, and it would incorporate Pakistan more directly into creative and persistent diplomatic efforts to stabilize Afghanistan and the region."
Turkey can play a significant role to improve relations and perhaps increase trust between the United States, Afghanistan and Pakistan by ensuring those efforts be made and reassuring Pakistan that the U.S. will not simply forget about its troubles and what it faces from further Taliban or Al Qaeda insurgents after Obama begins a troop withdrawal in 2011. Obama wants to improve America’s ties with Pakistan, he said, "we are committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built on a foundation of mutual interest, mutual respect, and mutual trust," and using Turkey in this mission might just be the ticket.
If further Turkish troops are sent to Afghanistan on behalf of the ongoing American/NATO initiative, Turkey should not be pressured to take up a combative role or criticized for hesitating to supply troops for battle. The Turks should be placed in a position where they can be the most effective and provide the most support. They can relate much closer to the Afghanis and Pakistanis then those in Europe or America, their role should have social impacts rather than those made on the battle field. The endeavors and resources to support civilian reconstruction and rehabilitation in Afghanistan are lacking. The Turkish aid agency TIKA has been responsible for massive school and hospital construction, these are the types of assistance that should be increased to continue gaining the hearts of the Afghani people and Turkey seems eager to fill this gap rather than a combat one.
The Obama administration might have good intentions in regards to the surge and the call to aid they have extended to their allies, but the path to hell is often paved with good intentions. Let their intentions with Turkey not be limited in scope, but have a broad spectrum of ideas and plans that Turkey can be a part of to show their allegiance to Article 5 of the NATO organization, and not force them in an aggressive role, but a more useful one for their exceptional position in friendly relations with both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Written by Stacy Maruskin, a researcher at the International Strategic Research Organization (USAK).
Timur, Safak. "Turks to Obama: "You broke it, You fix it"" Web.
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Tuesday, 8 December 2009
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