Editorial: NATO owes Turkey its full support

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2003 | 8:51 a.m.

Belgium, France and Germany, all long-standing members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, broke ranks Monday with the 16 other members when they blocked planning for the defense of Turkey in the event of a war led by the United States against Iraq. Their veto of the planning for Turkey's defense contradicts the whole purpose of NATO and poses a grave threat to the organization's existence. France and Belgium were among the original 12 nations who signed the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and formed the organization to enforce it. The treaty was in response to the growing power of the Soviet Union after World War II. When West Germany joined in 1955, the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries formed The Warsaw Pact and the Cold War began in earnest. Throughout NATO's history, until now, its founding principal -- an attack on one of us will be me t with armed response from all of us -- has been inviolate.

Turkey, a little larger than Texas and straddling southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, is a predominantly Muslim country with a secular and democratic government. It joined NATO as a European member in 1952. It has always fulfilled a pivotal role in NATO's mission, defending a full third of the organization's land border during the Cold War and involving itself fully in agreements and pacts designed to promote peace and security in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Turkey, which has more people in its armed forces than any other alliance member except the United States, stood firm against Soviet aggression in the days when it was a genuine threat. The whole region, including Belgium, France and Germany, benefitted from its commitment. With such neighbors as Iraq, Iran, Syria and the Soviet Union, it had to be strong and it chose to use its st rength to guard not only itself but also Europe and Western interests.

Today, because of that decision -- it permitted the U.S.-led coalition to use its air space and military bases during the Gulf War -- it is susceptible to attack from Iraq. During the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein attacked another U.S. ally, Israel, with Scud missiles, and Turkey fears it could be a target if war breaks out again. After 50 years of unflinchingly protecting Europe through NATO, Turkey is owed full support in its time of need. Germany, France and Belgium are all opposed to a war against Iraq, but they should not consider defense of Turkey to be incompatible with that position. If they do not honor their commitment to NATO they are undermining the very organization that has allowed them to flourish.