19.04.2007

Launched with the excuse, “there must be weapons of mass destruction (WMD) there, so they must be destroyed”, the occupation of Iraq is in its fourth year. The result: Ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his associates were hanged, and it is a country in chaos now.Thousand hundreds Iraqis and about 4,000 American and allied soldiers have been killed. Billions of dollars have been spent and still continue to be so.Initiated for humanitarian and democratic objectives, the Greater Middle East Initiative as a matter of fact turned into an occupation to seize all crude oil sources in the region. Iraqi oil forms 40 percent of the Middle East oil reservoirs. The region having 43 percent of natural gas reserves goes through a chaos before the very eyes of the world, so much so that the daily average of Iraqis killed is 50 to100.

The oil game:

With its unilateral strategy of domination, the U.S. initiated this occupation based on alleged existence of WMDs in Iraq. The world on the other hand hoped for the freedom of Iraqis, which had been traumatized by the despotic regime of Saddam, and willed that they would benefit from the blessings of democracy. The Saddam regime was toppled in Iraq but the Iraqi government under the shadow of forced democracy is not successful. And it is difficult indeed to tell how it will be.Is it possible that the world brushes aside this tragedy, since the quality of Iraqi crude is high and its cost is cheap, and since the crude oil North America plans to buy from the Middle East will increase 85 percent in 2025, that of Japan's 50 percent and that of Europe's 57 percent? Besides, the growth rate of industry and agriculture in America increased more than necessary, its need for new markets grows and therefore there are circles making the argument that it is inevitable to follow “aggressive Foreign Policy” for all these reasons. Accuracy of such assessment brings some questions to mind.American public opinion is not in content with the developments in Iraq. Polls reflect diminishing confidence in President George W. Bush. The U.S. Senate insists on withdrawal from Iraq. Republicans as well join the Democrat majority in that sense. American people prefer their money to be spent for education and health issues. The war in progress is viewed as the future's energy war rather than a war against terror and to bring democracy into the Arab and Muslim world. Slogans used for the occupation were to redefine the borders in the Middle East, to spread democracy and strike at the root of terror. The question of for how long such re-definition will take points that chaos in the region will continue.

Civil war in Iraq:

A civil war in Iraq today is at issue. Kurds, Turkmens, the Shia and the Sunni are played against each other and they kill each other. This civil war is watched from a distance with the mentality, “let them die, the remaining Iraq is enough.” What seems currently is that the Middle East is a total chaos. Moreover the escalating Iranian crisis in the Gulf also bears risks. The decisions by the Arab League for a solution in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict bear opportunities, and it is crucial to use this chance well. Pressure on both parties is needed. As a country of the Middle East, Turkey stands right in the middle of these events. Turkey looks cold to what is expected from it as part of the Greater Middle East Project. The important point here is that how long will Turkey stay out of the events?In short, the civil war escalates in Iraq. The occupation of Iraq was based on wrong premises, and that is the reason for the failure in this country. As more insistence will only increase loses. It also bears the risk of spreading the chaos to the whole region.