10 questions we are too afraid to ask in Turkey

The Turkish Republic, just like the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago, is heading into its longest year. It?s such an irony that the more things change, the more they practically stay the same. Turkey?s president wants to ignore a highly popular election result and start all over again, and reformists and the secular opposition parties are too shy and too incapable of changing the dynamics.

So here is my bucket list of questions before everything gets more complicated:

1) Does the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) really believe in peace? The answer is no. The existential motivation behind a terrorist organization is its force to fight and human casualties are a side issue. According to a very informed source, the PKK has turned into an ?absolute terrorist? organization. Before, it was a regional Kurdish terrorist group. Now it has a bigger base and bigger brand recognition.

2) Has the Turkish state been caught off-guard? Again no. Turkey?s intelligence received a very detailed report on how to deal with the peace process in 2008. Former Deputy Undersecretary Emre Taner personally received that report. It is either kept in one of the drawers or buried somewhere in Yenimahalle. The brains that created the report are no longer alive. Surprise!

3) Can Turkey go to a normal election? Once again the answer is no. Technically speaking, currently there is very little voting security in the southeast. Under these circumstances, elections should be held around spring time. The question is will there be peace by then?

4) Is there a way out of this? Yes. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) can sign a declaration to provide limited support for the Justice and Development Party (Ak Party) until the elections or otherwise choose to...