What is really going on in here? Ep.1
Stories and perspectives from Turkey. Episode 1 Introduction.
Welcome to one of the world's most complicated regions. I will give you the information right from the center. Turkey. The country is a bridge between Europe and Asia. And The Balkans, the eastern front of Europe, are in the west of my country. Maybe you remember from the Bosnian genocide or the Kosovo war. Alexander the Great's Macedonia was also in there. The Byzantine (East Roman) Empire ruled this land for many centuries. Maybe you remember the ancient Greek-Trojan war. It can also give you an idea. After all, it is a place filled with sectarian fights of Orthodox and Catholic Christians. All the great powers have big plans here. It is also geography where Europe's most intense security concerns are based on real reasons.
North of Turkey is the Black Sea. Two of its border neighbors are Russia and Ukraine. As you know, two states are still at war. A few years ago, Georgia and Russia were at war in here also. Coal, oil, natural gas, the bottom of this region is very rich. But the surface of the water is so messy. Many people can not able to care what lies under the sea. Russia, which has already depend on all its economy and future to its rich natural resources, has no interest in what lies beneath this region. But his political and military efforts in the region are very intense. It is a thousand-year-old dream to sail from there to the warm seas. It is also a realistic fear of getting hits by this sensitive point.
Eastern part of Turkey in the Caucasus. This region is in the complete ethnic turmoil. The administration of the former Soviet Union has also deepened that kind of confusion. The peoples of the region are famous for their high pride and stubbornness in the world. The anger between Georgia and Russia has not subsided yet. Also, Armenia and Azerbaijan are still in a very hot war situation. Perhaps you remember this place from the famous Chechnya war, the resistance led by the former Soviet Commander and Afganistan Hero Cahar Dudayev. Asymmetrical warfare that has blown and humiliated the Russian army after the separation. Iran, on the other hand, does not want anyone to grow stronger and develop in this region. All sorts of confusion and war are useful for Iran, and therefore they support all kinds of confusion. Because half of the population is Azeri Turks in Iranian State, and they are very afraid that they want independence someday.
Turkey and Iran have a wide terrestrial border in the east of us. There is extremely mountainous and tough land. This border has not changed in three hundred years. But before and after this stabilization are both very troublesome. For long centuries, the Ottoman Empire represented the Sunni Islamic school. Iran is the current successor of more than one state that has also represented the Shiite Islamic school for centuries. (British invention Saudi Arabian Wahhabi Islamic sect is not founded in that time.) This border has seen many bloody sectarian wars. Much bloodier silent wars, political struggles, and asymmetrical wars. Iran has an enthusiasm to extend its influence beyond its borders. They always want to do that with the religious tools. You can see the color of the fire spilled by Iran in all the flames of the Middle East. Of course along with many other colors. Iran is one of the hot topics of international news bulletins. Therefore, you will not have any difficulty to found the region.
Half of Turkey's southern border is terrestrial. Iraq and Syria are neighboring countries in there. As you know, the world has been watching what America does in Iraq for the last twenty years. And maybe you had followed the Iraq-Iran war before. We are watching the Syrian civil war now. There is Israel just below Syria. Lebanon is a small and chaotic country above Israel. As half of the world news comes from this region, I think that names are must be familiar to you. Frankly, more than half of the world's religions originated from this region in world history. The Middle East like a long legend, tell as much as you want, write as much as you want, it never ends.
This confusion and depth continue in the vast maritime borders of Turkey. It's covering most of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. There is also the Cyprus Island in the middle of the region. Greek and Turkish populations live on this island. However, as in many parts of the world, Christian Greeks have attempted to commit genocide against Muslim Turks in the recent past. So in 1974 Turkey has provided the security of Muslims by military operations on the island. Since then, the island has been politically divided into two countries. But the only recognized part Christians South. Therefore the UN & EU recognize only the guilty and brazen Greek administration.
After all, when has a Turkish or a Muslim been victorious at the diplomatic table? Even if they are right. This fact has been a reminder not only to the elderly but also to young people. Therefore, Turks know well that they must protect their rights by paying blood and life prices. But they are a very patient nation. They also have a bad habit of saving up and cutting off their accounts en masse.
The Aegean Sea lies from the west of Turkey. It is also called the Sea of Islands. This waters has two sides. Turkey on the east and Greece on the west. In fact, these two nations are can be considered as a brother. Because most of the Greeks in Anatolian lands chose Islam and became Muslim Turks. Because the crusaders and the persecution of the Catholic church led them to take shelter under the tolerance and understanding of Islam. And most of them admire this religion over time. Turks believe that there is no compulsion in religion. For this reason, they have not harmed the religion and traditions of any nation that has lived within its borders for centuries. As you know, some people are very good to pay off your kindness with malicious intent and acts. Of course, not all Greeks have chosen Islam, some of them stay Christian. And this religious difference forms the basis of current Greece. For two hundred years they have been backed by Anglo-Saxon imperialism and continue to commit great crimes against humanity.
My ancestors fought against Greece during the Republic of Turkeys Liberation War. As someone who has personally listened to the Greek persecution, massacres, and war crimes they have seen, I would declare that I will not tolerate this spoiledness. Never again. You can be sure, the whole Turkish nation also has these feelings. We're very naif and honest people. We can forgive anything except treason. You can free to ask our old enemies we fought like UK, Australia, New Zeland, and many more. However, despite taking lessons in Cyprus and Anatolia, Greeks still assume that war is a computer game. And still, they act as a role of the lapdog of the hidden imperial hands. Therefore, it would make sense for outside observers to expect real action that can happen here, in the near term.
You may not know enough about this part of the world from the geographical and geopolitical aspects. Therefore, I wanted to make the start of Turkish geography and the environment by describing it with my own perspective. Everything you will read is information and analysis written from my point of view. I am human and I might be wrong. Things may look different from the other side of the coin. But I can say that you will hear things that you have not heard from others, you will see things that others have not shown. You will also reap benefits for yourself.
This region is very deep and very complex. There is so much to talk about. But I will go into all of these in time. In this series of articles, you will find clues about many problems here. International relations, politics, history, sociology, cultural change, faiths, defense, strategy, future insights, real-life experiences, perception, and covert operations. I will mix many things into this recipe, to create a balanced multi-disciplinary polymath's view. You will also gain military knowledge and benefit from real war experiences in here. I would like to welcome you as your tour guide. Stay healthy and best regards.
Aybars MER?? from Türkiye