The country is under attack, but we have shortcomings too
10:39, 22/11/2017, Wednesday • Yeni Şafak English News Center
There are many people in the country who produce conspiracy theories. Also, it is obvious that some things are not conspiracy theories. The country is under attack; they make new attempts every day. This is not a conspiracy theory anymore. However, while these are happening, there are other things happening that I do not understand.
Let me try to explain the situation.
The first thing that a country that is under siege and whose perpetuity is in danger, that faces an evident attack to its state and nation, must do is to start a mobilization of national solidarity. Is that correct?
Then, it calls every individual in the country to protect its flag and nation by forming defense lines without making any discrimination. I guess we all agree on this so far. So let’s look at what is being done against us and what we are doing.
In which areas do they attack a country without waging a de facto war? Let me line them up as far as I know.
Terrorism and security:
The dirtiest and most effective way of battering a country is to support terrorism.
They have been making Turkey pay the price with terrorism for years. Our loss is huge.
However, the fact that we do not have a social policy against terrorism narrows our fight against it into the field of security alone, and it clear that it is not a solution.
I do not understand why we do not have social policies against the Kurdistan workers’ Party (PKK), Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), Daesh and other organizations. Why don’t the ministry of internal affairs, the ministry of family and social policies, universities, institutes, think-tanks, foundations and associations work on this issue or why isn’t any work being encouraged?
Media and public diplomacy:
The easiest way to wear out a country is through the media.
There is news against Turkey in the foreign press every single day. Besides the anti-Turkey news, the U.S. media has gone even further by spreading FETÖ propaganda. The German media does the same.
Fortunately, a big fight is going on between Trump and the media in the U.S. and a government is not being able to be formed in Germany, so anti-Turkey news has decreased.
Do we have a media and communication strategy against this? No. Do we have a public diplomacy institute which can form this strategy? No. Do we have an international newspaper being read, television being watched or social media? No.
Why aren’t the leading names, groups and directors of our media brought together to start an international media and communication fight? Why isn’t the foundation of a global media being promoted? I don’t know.
Economic war:
The most effective way of war without arms pass through economy.
The war in the field of economy between states is a very old method.
The U.S. is getting ready to strike a heavy economic blow on us through Reza Zarrab. Fines and prohibitions to be given to Turkish banks can cause considerable damage to our economy. The danger of the course of events is obvious by the rise of the dollar.
Not only the U.S. but also Europe is shaking the Turkish economy through covert embargoes.
Has Turkey prepared a strong plan against this economic trap? New markets, new openings, production-consumption, the balance of imports-exports… I am talking about a strategy including all those.
I don’t consider that we can solve the problem by blaming the interest lobby and international powers while our economy has structural problems. Too many heads in economy management and the attempt to impose different policies are, I guess, among the most significant problems.
Social chaos:
The most important way to weaken a country is to destroy its national unity, national solidarity and social peace.
And this requires triggering society’s fault lines, touching its nerve endings, and increasing and deepening differences.
The first thing that can be done against this is to start national mobilization. In fact, we are going back to the beginning of this column.
If the country is under attack, we must close ranks, be in solidarity and spread the consciousness of the national unity.
Is this the case, though? No, it is not. As there is no campaign, project or strategy in this regard, it is as if there were a special attempt to separate the society.
Look at the most recent dispute caused by one impertinent person who insulted our Bosnian brothers and sisters. Tens of similarly incompetent people are occupying spaces in the greedy media and on screens. They attack people from their columns, screens and their social media accounts; they otherize people and break ranks.
It’s as if they are especially trying to prevent the formation of national unity.
From the most prestigious people of the country to businessmen, journalists and even Justice and Development (AK) Party ministers and members of parliament, everybody is their targets. They do insane things. Is there anybody asking them to stop? No.I would like to conclude by saying :
Yes, there is a problem of perpetuity, a security problem and a territorial integrity problem in the country. However, we cannot fight them with rhetoric alone. We need structural changes, strategies and planning. And we primarily need national unity.
Am I wrong?