Bombing and destroying cities only perpetuates a damaging war, said retired Turkish Colonel Süleyman Şadi Gür, in his critique of Turkey’s ongoing attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency’s Delal Akyüz on Thursday, Gür questioned the legality and rationale behind claims of infiltration by Turkey into other countries’ territories and emphasised the need for peace and the redirection of military resources to aid the poor. “Instead of producing UAVs and combat drones, if we allocate resources to the poor, we will be a happier society,” he said.
Regarding the allegations of ‘infiltrating’ into Iraqi Kurdistan, Gür clarified, “For an ‘infiltration’ claim to be valid, the army must be positioned within its own territory”. He emphasised that the area purportedly ‘infiltrated’ does not belong to Turkey but to the Kurds, expressing his inability to understand how ‘infiltration’ into the territory of another country can occur.
The retired Colonel highlighted the destructive nature of war for all involved parties and the ineffectiveness of military actions in conveying messages or achieving peace. “Bombing mountains, destroying cities is not a solution. The way to find the solution is to tirelessly voice the demand for peace and spread it among the society,” he emphasised.
He pointed out the resistance against peace talks by those in power, saying, “In response to our desire to discuss peace, the government will continue to build walls in front of us”.
Gür questioned the beneficiaries of wars, indicating that they primarily serve capital interests, and described the dilemma of war, saying, “One side is incited and divided via nationalism, while the other side becomes defensive. This results in a tedious and damaging war for both parties. Neither killing with landmines nor ‘infiltrating’ and causing harm can effectively convey a message.”