TURKEY: Thursday's attacks challenge both Ankara and the international community, writes Ilnur Cevik
The international community must co-operate with Turkey to face the al-Qaeda terrorist challenge that has plunged the people of Istanbul into disarray.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said recently Turkey would not be intimidated by the message the terrorists were trying to send when they launched the initial bomb attacks in two synagogues that killed 25 people and wounded more than 250. "We will disregard the message they are trying to give," he said.
So it seems al-Qaeda decided to issue a new challenge, with a bloodier message. This is not a simple terrorist organisation defying a country or its government. It is a challenge issued by international terrorists against the international community, especially to the United States and Britain.
Al-Qaeda has been attacking targets throughout the world. In the wake of 9/11, it has hit targets in Bali, Yemen, Morocco, Iraq, Kenya, Riyadh and many more places. But it has never hit the same city twice in five days. So it seems the organisation is in a defiant mood and is capitalising on the relatively lax security situation in Istanbul.
This should be a lesson to the Turkish government, and the Interior Minister should approach the issue with more seriousness.
This time Turkey is not facing the challenge of PKK [Kurdish separatist\] terrorism or any other forms of local terrorism. It is dealing with an assault by a cruel and calculating international organisation that has chosen Turkey as its battlefield against Britain and possibly the US. It is clear that al-Qaeda first targeted the Jews - to give a message to Turkey and Israel - and has now turned its wrath against British interests.
The Turkish government has to assemble all its security and intelligence resources and face the challenge in a concerted way.
It must enlist the help of the people, who should be on the look-out for any suspicious movements. Then Turkey needs all the help it can get to counter this vicious assault. Al-Qaeda uses sophisticated means, so sophisticated measures must be deployed. The US, Britain and Israel are all capable of extending this kind of vital aid.
The US must realise that while it was busy toppling Saddam Hussein, the international community lost the urgency and motivation to fight international terrorism. This struggle has to be revived so that a concerted effort can be made to combat terrorist groups.
The European Union member countries must also realise that this assault is against the free world and that one day the bombs may start going off in their own capitals. Thus they should help Turkey overcome this menace. With its predominantly Muslim population, Turkey has been punished for struggling against al-Qaeda, opposing Taliban-type regimes and opting for a democratic regime that cherishes Western values. Can the EU countries appreciate that? Do they understand the value of Turkey in their fold?
This commentary first appeared in the Turkish Daily News which may be accessed at www.turkishdailynews.com