Can the USA interfere in Turkish internal politics or can Turkey help the war on Iraq? In recent proposal, permit was delayed to later date despite the tremendous pressure from the USA. As we know, Turkey and the USA have had a good relationship for ages.They helped each other in the past, maybe they will help each other in the future. In my opinion, the war on Iraq will be the turning point of the relationship between Turkey and the USA. However, we don�t know how it will affect the relationship between the two countries.

The USA will cut off the relationship and offering money to Turkey. The USA is able to find new solutions and new ways, and they will show their different faces if Turkey doesn�t join the war with the USA. First of all, the USA had been waiting for a long time. If Turkey doesn�t accept the proposal later despite the offered money from the USA, the USA may try to use different institutious such as NATO, UN, etc. For example, the USA will try to send the proposal to the U.N. The U.N. is able to control relationship in the world, and the USA is one of the strongest members of the U.N. Because of this, the vote for war on Iraq will be accepted in the U.N. If the U.N. accepts the vote aginst Iraq, all of the members of U.N such as France, Germany, Russia, even Turkey have to enter the war. Thus, Turkey will have to join the war without the money(15 billion $) which was offered by the USA before.Also, in the future Turkey may continue their way without the US�s help. Moreover, the USA will try to send the proposal to NATO. NATO is the largest allied millitary forces in the world, and it is managed by the presidency of USA. That is to say, the USA are able to control the NATO and its decisons. As a result, if NATO accepts the proposal , Turkey will have to join the allied forces as a one of the members of NATO except taking any financial help. In addition, the USA will show its different face in order to force Turkish government to open their bases and to join the war because of Turkish side�s debts. As we know, Turkish economy depends on the debts which have been taken from IMF and the USA. They give Turkish side different offers such as deleting some debts and giving 15 billion $. However, Turkish parliament did not accept the proposal although they are debter. After all of these, the USA shows its angry side to Turkish side and forces Turkey to join the war on Iraq and to open Turkish bases to themselves without giving extra funds. As a result, this may cause a new crisis for disorganized Turkish economy since Turkey is developing country and it will need the support of powerful country. This should be the USA. Consequently, the USA will not help Turkey anymore.

There are some unsolved problems around Turkey as a result of its stragetical importance. Throughout the history, Turkey has had the support of the USA in some problems such as Northern Iraq Kurdish problem and the problem of Cyprus. However, Turkey may lose the friendly support of the USA, and the USA may help the enemy side in these problems. The first problem is Norhern Iraq Kurdish problem. For years, Kurdish society in Northern Iraq have wanted to establish a country in Northern Iraq although there are many Turkish citizens in there. Also some of Kurdish people claim unreasonable beliefs such as �The South East Anadolu belongs to us�. Nowadays, they have started to propagandize to reach their goals as they rely on the USA. Moreover, the USA started to support them to reach their objective against Turkish side and the USA might help them to establish a new country if the USA won the war. Turkish side might be alone in this matter. The other one is independence of KKTC. As we know from the history, Cyprus is the most contradictory issue between Greece and Turkey. In this little island, both Turkish and Greek side says that they are right, but Turkish side seems to be right because the island was the Turkish land during Ottoman Empire management. Before the war, the USA want to solve the problem fairly. However, Turkish side didn�t accept the proposal for the war on Iraq, so the USA will support Greece aginst Turkey for the solution of Cyprus� problem although the Turkish side is right. Moreover, even Turkey would be unsuccessul to defend their rights over Cyphrus. All in all, the USA has the power to control the problems around Turkey, and it can solve the problem according to its target.

On the other hand, relationship may continue well as in the past between the two countries.Especially, the explanations on Monday from US State Departmant are relaxing for Turkish Government. First, White House spokesman said �Turkey is a NATO ally, and will always be a NATO ally�. Second, US Ambassador, Robert Pearson expressed �We are disappointed, we had certainly hope for a favorable decision by the Turkish parliament, and I want to emphasize our relationship and the importance of the work.�In addition, the USA will wait for another proposal from the Turkish parliament. The USA can be more patient until the Turkish parliament approve a new proposal which will gain a majority vote. After the silence of disappointment, the USA will come with new offers to Turkey. Maybe they can offer more than initial offer. However the USA will come with the same offer which they were given before.According to Turkish side explanations from Turkish prime minister,Abdullah G�l, president of Justice and Development Party,Recep Tayyip Erdogan and president of General Staff, Hilmi Ozkok gave a guarantee to the USA. First, Abdullah G�l said �Friendly relationship with the United States would not change despite our parliament�s rejection of a proposal to let 62,000 U.S. troops operate from Turkish bases and ports in the event of a war with Iraq.� and added �We may send a new proposal to TBMM. This time, it may be accepted�. Furthermore, Recep Tayyip Erdogan said �We have an unbreakable relationship with the USA. It is very hard to break out a war on Iraq, but we have to prevent themselves from the fire on the neighborhood. If we can�t, we will play our last trump to join possible war.�Finally, Hilmi Ozkok said �We should join the war on Iraq to secure our rights in the Middle East and Northern Iraq.�

In brief, there will be a possible war in near future. This war will be inevitable for Middle East and the world. America have started to war on terror to catch Bin Laden in Afganisthan. Their second goal is to defeat Saddam Huseyin and his dangerous weapons such as biological, chemical and maybe nuclear wepons. In this time, the relationship between Turkey and the USA will probably change, and it will get worse.However, there is a little chance, but the relationship may continue the same as in the past. During the ppossible war, I hope that innocent people may not die. As we know, the war is not a permanent solution for the world�s problems.Furthermore, Wars were valid in the past but not now. Current days are the time of technological war.

Works cited: http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/02/sprj.irq.turkey/index.html