Column: Where is the world headed to, where is the U.S. headed to?

Yasin AktayBY: Yasin Aktay*

As I said before, what we highlight in the Middle East, especially in our relations with our neighbors, is an investment in life, peace, coexistence, sharing, unity and solidarity. Such long-term projects can only be achieved under peaceful circumstances. Moreover, when investment is made in such large projects, peace becomes even more inevitable.Prior to the start of the Syrian crisis, Turkey began to implement joint trade and cooperation with Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. In this context, visas were abolished and the four countries almost reached a position to hold joint cabinet meetings. In a very short time, this practice led to great vitality in the economies of all four countries. Later, however, the process failed.

In fact, the people of the region are ready to embrace each other and attract each other like a magnet. But for interventions between them, the centuries-old unity of the people of the region has built a common spirit and culture that runs like a magnetic field between them. The order of states built with the Sykes-Picot Agreement was operated to destroy the effect of this magnetic field which drew them together, but it failed.

It is often said that the U.S. has been behind all coups and clandestine operations in Turkey and the region especially after World War II. Of course, the U.S.’s official discourse never accepts such operations. After all, it never eyes a PR ad that can be obtained by assuming responsibility for such activities. Even if it plays a role, a perception that everything is happening in its own way better suits to its PR rhetoric.

Even if it comes to light that “they” staged the coup of Sept. 12, 1980, it will never be admitted. Even though the members of the Fetullahist Terror Organization (FETÖ) have free reign in the U.S., the ringleader and all senior staff of the July 15, 2016 coup attempt are in the U.S., and nearly $1 billion is provided to terror activities through FETÖ’s schools every year, the U.S. says it was never behind the July 15 coup attempt. All it does is refuse to extradite the FETÖ ringleader to Turkey because, “Turkey has not submitted enough evidence against him,” as a practice of the independent judiciary. There are numerous examples showing that the U.S. has a double-dealing rhetoric, double standards and malevolence in its plans regarding Turkey and the Middle East. Indeed, its overt support to the Democratic Union Party (PYD) goes against the way it has adopted so far. It also goes beyond itself.

While all countries in the region invest in life and peace, the U.S. invests solely in death, chaos and war in Syria. In doing so, it does not stick to any agreement with its allies. It acts in its own way. You may just say this is the pertness given by the excessive force. The U.S. is expressing its power in this way by showing that it is not subject to any rule. However, the weakest point of its power is that it does not see that it is preparing a, disaster especially for itself, step-by-step in doing so.

The U.S. is coming to save the people of the region from Daesh, but no one has called on them to do so. The people of the region requested and still request help from everyone against Assad’s crimes against humanity, but that help is not given. Moreover, it allies with another terrorist organization for its war against Daesh. What does it promise, will it be able to fulfill these promises and, if so, what will it bring to the world and its own security?

After all, it does not rescue anyone through its intervention, but preparing a catastrophe that only ruins everyone’s lives.

Its interventions help neither Syrian people nor Kurds who it uses against Daesh. First, it pits Kurds against each other by using the PYD and leads to a spite and feud among Kurds themselves in the long run. Then, it creates new Bashar Assads from the PYD-led Kurds by promising a kind of Baath-style rule in the regions they will occupy. Unfortunately, the best project that the U.S., which is called democratic and a superpower, can offer to the people of the region, is a horizon on the level of terror organizations, chaos, civil war, mass deaths and a “Baathist dictatorship” at best.

While the U.S. seeks to pursue new opportunities through chaos, the people of the region are seeking ways to live peacefully and coexist through the new belt and road projects. So, they say, “Don’t cast a shadow on my sunlight.” This is because it does not bring true help, peace, counterterrorism and democracy.

*Yasin Aktay is the vice chair of the ruling Justice and Development (AK Party) in Turkey.

(Published in Yeni Şafak Turkısh newspaper on May 15,  2017)