• Iraq insurgency: EU and Turkey Iraq insurgency: EU and Turkey By the Jordan Times, Amman – December 21, 2004 The horrendous car explosions in the Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala had all the markings of desperate efforts to
• Iraq insurgency: EU and Turkey
Iraq insurgency: EU and Turkey
By the Jordan Times, Amman – December 21, 2004
The horrendous car explosions in the Shiite cities of Najaf and Karbala had all the markings of desperate efforts to not only abort the projected national elections but, even more ominously, trigger a religious, sectarian conflict between the Sunnis and the Shiites of Iraq. …
The U.S. invasion of Fallujah was intended to break the back of the Iraqi insurgency, especially the one initiated by the Iraqis in the so-called Sunni Triangle.
But we know that the capture of Fallujah did nothing of the sort and that the Iraqi insurgency is going as strong as ever. …
It could be therefore concluded that whereas the U.S. is determined to win the war in Iraq, the Iraqi insurgency is equally determined to deny the U.S. any real victory. This means that there can be no real winner or loser in Iraq for as long as one can see.
What makes the situation even more alarming is the increasing prospect of warfare between the two major religious factions. Should this happen, Iraq would end up being effectively divided along sectarian and ethnic grounds. …
The international community should not wait, yet again, before becoming involved in the conflict. Kosovo and Rwanda are but two appalling reminders of what inaction does.
The U.S. is obviously incapable of controlling the country. Therefore, the situation in this Arab country should be referred once again to the U.N. Security Council for consideration and resolution in accordance with the principles of the U.N. Charter.
From Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Munich, Germany, December 20, 2004
Despite showers of confetti and fireworks, enthusiasm in Turkey about the decision at the EU summit in Brussels seems strikingly muted.
The euphoria over the fact that the EU has opened the door to Europe is still mixed in with the old anxiety that the Europeans could in the end say ‘no’ to faraway and alien Turkey.
Hardly any commentators are disregarding the warning that the most difficult stretch on a long road for Ankara is only just beginning.
The near-crash of the Brussels summit over the Cyprus dispute saw to it that there was a reality check. …
Without a solution to the conflict on the island, a sword of Damocles hangs over Ankara’s talks with the EU.
The Greek Cypriot president … can at any time seek allies in the EU to slam the brakes on Turkey. It won’t do the Turk at the table any good to jump up and walk out of the room.
