Page 254 - A Call for a Turkish-Islamic Union

A CALL FOR A TURKISH-ISLAMIC UNION

All countries, especially America, must strive for peace and

protect and support it at all cost. Circles that push the ideas that
"might is right" or "the use of force will solve the problems in di-
rect proportion to its use" are, in reality, driving their country
into a dead-end situation. One aspect of this is the risk of esca-
lating terrorism. Many strategists point out that America has
begun to lose its economic as well as political power. American
military might may well have its advantages, but the ongoing
threat of war, as well as the continuous state of alarm and readi-

ness for war trumpeted by the hawks, will deal a serious blow to
its economy.
Furthermore, if this country is always at war somewhere in
the world, people will no longer perceive it as the guardian of
human rights, democracy, and freedom. As a consequence of its

hawkish policies, America will become a nation feared by, in-
stead of respected by, the world community. Even if some mili-
tary objectives are achieved, America will suffer economically
and damage its international image. So, it would only be a very
limited success for the country. In reality, the American govern-
ment also does not want to end up in such a situation, and so it
must be cautious and measured when taking the hawks' flawed
views into account and do its best to follow rational policies.

Moreover, these circles should consider the example they
are setting for other nations and calculate the potential costs of
other countries behaving in the same way to protect their inter-
ests. It is fairly obvious what kind of disorder and conflict the
world would experience were such nuclear-armed countries as

Russia, China, India, or Israel to adopt the strategy of preemptive
attack. Even just the possibility of such a scenario represents a
great threat.

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