07/17/2002
TYPE=EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-10010
TURKEY'S CRUCIAL ROLE
Turkey is a longtime friend and NATO ally of the United States. This friendship is a powerful force in the war against terrorism. As U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz said, "With its legacy of secular democracy, equality for women and a vibrant market economy, [Turkey] has a crucial role to play in bridging the gap between the West and Muslim world."
After the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Turkey offered unconditional support to the U.S. Turkey is now leading the international security force in Afghanistan. That force is allowing the new government of President Hamid Karzai to operate in a stable environment.
But perhaps Turkey's most important role in the war against terrorism is bridging the gap of mistrust and misunderstanding between the West and much of the Muslim world. As Mr. Wolfowitz said, "To win the war against terrorism, we must reach out to the hundreds of millions of moderate and tolerant people in the Muslim world. . .who aspire to enjoy the blessings of freedom and free enterprise. Turkey offers a compelling demonstration that these values can be compatible with modern society -- that religious beliefs need not be sacrificed to build modern democratic institutions."
It is clear that the terrorists target not only Americans but also their fellow Muslims -- upon whom they aim to impose a new kind of violent tyranny. The fight against terrorism is not just a war being fought by the Western countries. It is a war that must be fought by all those who aspire to peace and freedom. "The way to fight terrorist extremists in the long run," said Secretary Wolfowitz, "is to demonstrate that the. . .benefits of a free and prosperous and open society -- are available equally to Muslims."
In the words of Turkey's Ambassador to the United States, Faruk Logoglu, "Turkish society is living testimony to the proposition that Islam, democracy and modernity are compatible. Our secular society is one where civilizations do not clash, but where indeed they embrace. As we fight terrorism," he said, "we must at the same time strive for inclusion and participation, trying to win the hearts and minds of people everywhere for the values we together cherish."