Turkey, however, has not wavered. Since September 11 their political will to fight terrorism has only gained strength. On January 16, President Bush rewarded this courage by welcoming Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit as a friend, and pledging to take steps to improve U.S. relations with Turkey. Following through on this pledge may prove vital to America's future in the Middle East, and a quick look at other "allies" in the region shows why.
Iran, who denounced the September 11 attacks early on, is now under suspicion of harboring Al-Qaeda fugitives. Saudi Arabia, a nation American soldiers have died in defense of, is paralyzed by militant Islam and has offered little help in the current campaign. And Pakistan, despite courageous efforts so far, is still in danger of being overcome by domestic pressure and its conflict with India.
Several factors make Turkey a more suitable ally. All stem from the nation's commitment to maintain a strictly secular state, a movement started by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who was a determined leader during a desperate time.
Ataturk rose to power from a military command during WWI, inheriting the core of a crumbling Ottoman Empire. Centuries of mismanagement by religious figureheads, coupled with years of world war and foreign occupancy, had left the empire decimated. From the tatters of the old empire, Ataturk raised an army and from 1918 to 1923 fought to expel the foreign invaders and end the rule of the Ottoman sultans.
Ataturk's military victories were dramatic, but what he did next was revolutionary. Having seen the devastation that religious rule and constant territorial expansion had brought upon his country, Ataturk rejected calls for him to rule absolutely. Like George Washington in early America, Ataturk hung up his uniform and returned the country to the people in the form of a republic.
As Turkey's first president, he spearheaded reforms that respected religion but removed it from politics. This philosophy became the cornerstone of current Turkish politics. It is also the reason Turkey has so much to offer, both in defeating those who threaten the United States today and in ensuring that the Middle East is a more peaceful place tomorrow.
Part of this potential comes from the strength of the Turkish armed forces. Because Turkey's leaders have embraced cooperation with the West, Turkey's military is one of the region's finest. This commitment to professionalism is so strong that Turkey often holds joint exercises with Israel, a state their Muslim neighbors have sworn to eliminate. As a long-time member of NATO, their equipment and training are similar to that of the United States, making closer cooperation possible in a short period of time.
In addition, Turkey has years of practical counter-terrorism experience from battling the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), a group designated by the U.S. State Department as a foreign terrorist organization.
Turkey's quick participation in coalition operations in Afghanistan serves as evidence of U.S.-Turkish cooperation. Turkey has deployed over two hundred soldiers to the current peacekeeping force, and has offered to eventually take command of the entire multi-national mission.
Having Turkey on board has diplomatic benefits as well. Over ninety-nine percent of the country's 65 million plus citizens follow the Islamic faith. Muslim leadership in the tense but necessary work of peacekeeping could help defuse anti-American sentiment and keep marginal coalition members on board.
Despite the importance of these contributions now, Turkey's greatest potential for good lies in the model they present the Arab world. With several Arab leaders standing at the same crossroads once faced by Turkey, the decision to make secular reforms will be easier if Turkey is viewed as a success.
This is why the Bush administration should translate words into action and support our ally as much as possible. In addition to greater military cooperation, there is much that can be done to help Turkey economically. By undergoing some of the same trade reforms that we prescribe to others around the world, Turkey and other allies will have fair access to our markets. With a still fragile Turkish economy and turmoil throughout the region, failure to act now might transform incredible potential into a missed opportunity.
And embracing Turkey is an opportunity that the United States can ill-afford to miss. By supporting a Muslim nation that rejects the dangers of fundamentalism, the next battle in the campaign against terrorism can be as successful as the last.