Turkey has become a mere spectator as region changes, former diplomat says

"The right policy is neither Arabist, nor Kurdist," according to Murat Özçelik, Turkey’s former ambassador to Baghdad.

Özçelik has never been one of Turkey's best known ambassadors, but he was always one of the trusted confidants that top level government officials knew and worked with. He served as Turkey’s special representative in Iraq from 2007 to 2011 and then as an ambassador to Baghdad. During this period, he was in the close circle that contacted the Iraqi Kurds and prepared the platform for the Kurdish “expansion” reforms in Turkey itself.

Özçelik was appointed as the head of the Public Security Directorate just before the public announcement of the talks between the government and Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in 2011. He only served in that office for six months, and rumors of him clashing with Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay echoed in political circles in Ankara after his removal.

He has been silent for the past two years, and only accepted the offer of an interview on the condition that the interview will be limited to the current situation in Iraq.

After its hasty withdrawal from Iraq, the United States seems to be back in the region with the recent airstrikes. However, according to recent statements from Washington, they are hesitating to be a part of any further involvement. What is the U.S. trying to accomplish?

The United States is well aware of the consequences on global terrorism of having an Islamist state establist. The U.S. will continue to search for a solution to resolve this problem, but for now, it has a palliative approach. If we are to take the Yazidis and the Turkmens of Tal Afar into account, the...