Speaking with al-Maliki via the US

The AKP government has not posed any serious opposition to all the massacres and rapes during and after the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Like a loyal ally, it has supported every step the U.S. has taken in Iraq and every arrangement it has made. It has supported Barzani, stayed close to the Kerkuk thesis and abandoned the Turkmens to their fate — because that’s what the United States wanted.

Prime Minister Erdogan has set a mission for himself as the regional leader with U.S. support. Accordingly, as the “co-president” of the Grand Middle East Project, he has gone against Turkey’s 80-year policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of the states in its neighborhood. While Iran sided with the Shi’ites, Saudi Arabia with the Sunnis, and the U.S. with the Kurds, Turkey has chosen to side with the U.S.

While Turkey, tagging along with the U.S., formulated criticism against the Tunisian, Libyan and Egyptian governments during the “Arab Spring,” Iran has not wasted time. It has increased its influence over the Shiites, especially in Iraq and Syria. By allowing the “missile defense” in Malatya and dubbing Syria as a threat and a “domestic issue,” Iran has turned both these governments, and the Shiites in these countries, against Turkey.

By taking onto itself the responsibility of ensuring the change of the Bashar Esat regime in its neighbor, Syria, it has unified the axis of Shi’i Islam in Iran, Iraq and Syria. Following Turkey’s economic sanctions against Syria, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-al-Maliki has put in place similar sanctions against Turkey. Al-Maliki has not given permission to Turkey, who wanted to shift a trade route from Syria to Iraq. It has become clear from developments that Syria and Iraq’s attitude against Turkey was shaped in Tehran. With the U.S. pulling out of Iraq, al-Maliki has followed a policy alienating the groups in Iraq that had good relations with Turkey. For example, al-Maliki issued an order to arrest the Sunni [Vice President] Hashimi and therefore left him out of the administration. On the other hand, Iran has made it clear that it will not allow Turkey or Saudi Arabia to become influential in the area after U.S. troops leave Iraq. Prime Minister Erdogan has therefore gotten in touch with both the U.S. and Tehran. Secretary of State Davutoglu has gone to Iran for the same purpose.

Secretary Davutoglu said the following on the way to Tehran: “Iran’s only reflex cannot be triggered by denomination. Geography is a deciding factor. It considers all the religion and denomination factors … It is not correct to base Turkey-Iran relations on the Sunni-Shiite rivalry. We know our mutual strengths and weaknesses. But we will never cease our relations. Even if we disagree, we will openly state this…”

During his meeting in Tehran with the Iranian Secretary of State Ali Ekber Salihli, Davutoglu said: “In the NATO Missile Defense Project, Iran was not especially emphasized … We do not consider Iran to be a threat … And they should not perceive the radars that will be installed as a threat to them.”

With Sarkozy’s public statement that “We call a cat a cat,” is it possible for Davutoglu’s acquaintances to believe him? Especially if this is Iran, which is constantly being threatened by the West; it would perceive these consolation and delicacies as mockery. Prime Minister Erdogan has met with Vice President Joe Biden on the latest developments in Iraq. Erdogan said to Biden during this meeting that “Prime Minister al-Maliki’s implementations are worrisome. Iraq is heading towards a cliff. Put your hand under a rock.” Biden responds: “al-Maliki does not have any alternatives!”

This is how to talk with Tehran via the missile defense and with al-Maliki via the U.S.