12 Martyrs Return; Can the Heart Take Any More?

God should really give this country patience. And we don’t just need normal patience, nor normal strength, we need the patience of a saint. Whose heart can stand the return of young men who were counting the days until their return home, the loss of 12 young Turkish soldiers at once, from the country to which they were sent, Afghanistan: a country that people would be unable to point out on a map if asked?

You wake up in the morning and, from the moment you read the paper in your hands, the news immediately turns you into a bundle of nerves. I don’t know about others, but I have reached the limit of my patience, and now I am rebelling. Everywhere, violence and sadness are seen as commonplace, and this is done on purpose in every corner, from television to the parliament. It is intolerable. Nobody stops and says, “I shouldn’t use violence in the media for ratings or to gain votes.” Nor do they say, “I should not use violent images every chance I get.” These people say that they will continue for their own benefit because the person after them will not stop this torrent.

Turkish Soldiers Have Been in Afghanistan for 11 Years!

Well, of course, it’s not easy for the conscience and nervous system of people who have been wilted by illegality and terror to put up with this many brutal atrocities, or with the loss of 12 martyrs* in a country that is not of interest to us. Moreover, even without these events it would be difficult for any nation to put up with this. The U.S. first strengthened the radical political, religious terrorist group in Afghanistan, the Taliban, and used them against Russia. Later, when those groups gained the strength to ignore the U.S. and started carrying out terrorist actions, the United States saved itself by bringing other nations into the fray. In response to its fear that Sept. 11 will be repeated in their own nation, the U.S. is causing similar attacks in other countries.

NATO and the defense forces of many nations should come and save the U.S. from sole responsibility — their soldiers should not be the only ones put in harm’s way. When the opposition party asked, “what business do we still have there,” the prime minister’s spokesman replied, “we are not a government that is living on an island alone, like Robinson [Crusoe]. We have obligations.” This sentence could be used in the case of other NATO interventions, too. Turkey has been involved in Afghanistan for 11 years and is at the point where it has done too much.

At the Will of the United States …

The Turkish ambassador to Kabul said, “the Turkish military in Kabul is being met with appreciation.” Of course, what else would happen? He said that the Turkish soldiers are training the Afghan army and police force, and that Turkey’s strength is needed. Have the problems of our military and police force ended so that we are now going to coach Afghanistan? We have 1,800 soldiers there and, out of the security forces of all the other nations, Turkey is the only nation that has undertaken three tours in Kabul. Does not the question, “why did we do three terms when the others have not,” immediately come to mind?

On the topic of Syria, America says, “since you are a Muslim country, the lead role falls to you, Turkey. You can do a better job.” With this phrase, “since you are Muslim,” they are trying to persuade Turkey into the effort there. How is it that we accept this and send our young soldiers into harm’s way. It’s not possible to think about this after seeing 25- and 26-year-old soldiers who were about to marry in a month, or who were recently married, who — martyred — left children behind.

The Turkish military’s mission in Afghanistan is going to end in November, but there is still a chance that it could be extended. Since we have done what was necessary for 11 years, the deployment of our soldiers should be stopped. This national matter should not be turned into a ruling party-opposition party contest. In the end, everyone is being hurt by these events, whether they support the ruling or opposition party.

*Translator’s note: members of the military killed in action are referred to as martyrs in Turkish.