Home >> Middle East >> Turkey

     Email   Print 

Is the Enemy’s Enemy a Friend?

Imran Khan - 11/28/2011

When I was in school, it was extremely confusing for me to remember the math equations for +X+=+ (Plus multiply by plus = plus), +X- = - (Plus multiply by Minus = Minus), -X+= - (Minus multiply by Plus = Minus) and –X- =+ (Minus multiply by Minus = Plus). But then a teacher told us a fantastic and simple example to remember all these equations. He told us to consider that Plus is a friend and Minus is an Enemy, put the same in those equations and think what you will get. So +X+=+ (Friend’s Friend = Friend also), +X- = - (Friend’s Enemy = Enemy also), -X+= - (Enemy’s Friend= Enemy also) and –X- =+ (Enemy’s Enemy = Friend also). The examples were so logical and easy that I never forgot those equations in my life and still remember them as I was taught about it yesterday.




The above equations work always in Mathematics and mostly in daily life. Hummm… So it means Enemy’s Enemy is a Friend!!! In recent years Turkey has developed bad relationship with Israel, and Syria always had bad relations with Israel, then Turkey and Syria must be friends. And mostly we see that the so called diplomatic relations among various countries of the world are based on the same equations, where relationships are established on common interests rather than on fair principles of justice, honesty and truth.




But Recently Turkey has developed unfriendly relations with Israel and Syria simultaneously when both are sworn enemies of each other. The real question come to mind that why it is like that?




Israel’s dire atrocities against poor Palestinians from last 60 years are not hidden and well documented, but Western support for it never vanishes. Although West vocally champions the agenda of human rights, democracy and justice for the whole world but they become blind when it comes to Israeli brutalities against a whole nation. Democratically elected Hamas is not acceptable, but Military and Autocratic rulers in many countries are acceptable to West, if the rulers can guard there interests. With United Nations intervention South Sudan, East Timor can become sovereign States because of human rights violations against the people there. But Kashmir and Palestine issues remained unsolved in United Nations for over 6 decades despite the same atrocities against people there.




Haqqani network and other militant organizations in Pakistan and Afghanistan were greeted with red carpet and termed as great freedom fighters by the West when they were fighting against the Soviets but now those all are terrorists and enemies of the world.




Double standards, hypocrisy are the fundamental basis of modern diplomacy wfemale bodrapped in colorful propaganda of Human Rights, Justice and Truth.




So why Turkey is not a friend of Syria -so what if Syrian-regime is killing the protesters- when the whole world is following the same enemy’s enemy is a friend formula? But then comes the real norms that Justice is Justice no matter whoever it is.




Turkey in past ignored the Israeli actions against Palestinians and was considered its trusted and best friend in the region. But the government of Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan stood against the cruelties of Israel and severed Turkey’s relationship with it. He also showed the courage to criticize United States policies for the Middle East.



Turkey in recent years enjoyed excellent relationship with Syria, but when Syrian regime started brutal human rights violations against its own people, Turkey’s leadership raised their voice against the cruelties, jeopardizing the cool relationship of Turkey with Syria.




It shows the real character of Mr. Erdogan and Turkey’s leadership that if one stands for principles of justice then those principles should be uniform for everyone. But we see mostly counties would simply ignore it for their own advantages. It also proves that enemy’s enemy does not become a friend automatically if rules of engagement are based on norms of justice, equality and truth.




Turkey and its leadership surely deserve appreciation for its principled stance in world affairs and I hope that Turkey will follow the same in future also.




If other counties specially West start following the uniform Principles of justice, equality and truth for everyone then many problems of the world would end more quickly and easily.