News & Comment
Bravery is Within a Man's Means

News

Turkey faces the US threat of giving up the Russian S-400 air defense system. In the US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan’s letter to the Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar dated 6th June, there are statements regarding the issue that Turkey will be cut from the F-35 program if it does not give up the S-400 missile system, that the pilots who get training on these fighter jets will be sent back by 31st July, that the CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions will be imposed on Turkey, and that Turkey will have irrevocable, big losses in its national income and international trade. (Agencies)

Comment

The US considers interests and benefits significant rather than friendship and alliance. It can be seen that these last developments between the US and Turkey are ascribed to some political movements and economic developments rather than serious fragilities. Thus, when we take a look at the historical adventure of the Turkey-US relations, despite the fact that much heavier processes have been gone through, in no period are the ties broken up. The main reason for this is that Turkey never goes out of the axis of the US.

55 years ago, in 1964, the US Lyndon B. Johnson had sent a heavy threatening letter to the Turkish Prime Minister Ismet Inonu. The following was stated in the letter; “In the event that Turkey intervenes in Cyprus which will cause a disturbance in its relation with a NATO member Greece, the NATO could abstain from intervening in case of a Soviet occupation in Turkey. Moreover, Turkey cannot use the weaponry of the US in such an attempt”. The US is encouraged today with weak and epic discourses which do not have any deterrence against threats and ultimatums, as it were the case then, as these threats were ignored and the US was awarded.

It is not possible that a country, which is this much dependent on the US in political and financial sense, purchases the S-400 missile system. It will not be a surprise that the issue is solved according to the demands of the US in the following period. Two years ago, the developments in Syria could make the S-400 agreement between Turkey and Russia possible. However today, Russia as well as Turkey are made to feel sorry so to speak for making this deal, as the Syrian issue has entered its final stage. I do not want to analyze this deal here due to the fact that the subject was explained in detail in the question & answer Turkey's Agreement with Russia on the S-400 Deal and its Implications dated 4/4/2019 CE.

The point to be emphasized is that in face of the humiliation of the ummah by the arrogant kuffar in the person of our rulers, these same rulers are incapable of giving those kuffar the response they deserve. The rulers today are the same as those who 55 years ago gave in to threats. The US threatens, our rulers seek a way of consensus with them, give an ultimatum, and this monster is being enlarged by more economic compromises. They shed the blood of oppressed Muslims in this geography, and the rulers who tail after them seek the power and glory beside them. The US establishes the system of exploitation in this geography, and our rulers supply the water which ensures the spinning of this wheel.

Despite the fact that days have passed since this threatening letter reached the Turkish officials, not even a line for show can be dropped, let alone giving an actual answer. They leak the threatening to the whole world by giving it to the press, while our rulers take offense at the disclosure of the letter rather than the threatening statements.

I want to exemplify an event that took place centuries ago, so a comparison between yesterday and today could be made. This event is exemplary as well in the sense of recalling how the rulers of Muslims made history by showing a glorious and honorable stance.

Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros Phokas refused to pay jizyah to the Khaleefah, he reclaimed the jizyah they paid during Empress Irene’s reign by a letter he sent to Harun al-Rashid in 803.

Nikephoros said in his letter; “From Nikephoros emperor of the Romans to Harun King of the Arabs, my predecessor treated you like a wazir and herself like a pawn, she carried to you her wealth which you are not equal to carry it. This comes from women’s weakness and stupidity. When you read this letter, return the goods she sent you and pay ransom for yourself or else the sword is between you and me.”

Khaleefah Harun did not wait, and wrote on the incoming letter without deeming another paper necessary: “In the name of God the most merciful, From Amir al-Mu'minin Harun al-Rashid, commander of the faithful, to Nikephoros, the dog of the Romans. Oh son of a disbeliever! I have read your letter. You shall not hear, you shall see my reply.”

Cooperating with a threatening person and bowing down to his threats is not statesmanship, and is not leadership, and surely it is not waiting for a few lines of writing for days. And especially, talking about partnership in face of that much brazenness is unacceptable.

The least you can do against this threat is to close the military bases all across Turkey which are used by the US unconditionally to prevent the use of harbors and straits, to close their embassy which is a viper’s nest and dismiss their envoy. Then these practices would be a true response to the letter.

A true response would be abandoning their democratic system and ideology, which became a thorn in humanity’s side, and implementing the System of Islam, which promises the humanity peace and trust. And this is only within the means of brave men, rulers who place the fear of Allah before the fear of humankind, and who place the trust and faith in Allah before the trust in the US.

The ancestors of this Ummah never have drawn water to Kuffar’s mill, and did not give in to the threats of Kuffar. They considered giving in to threats as abasement, working together with them as oppression, and fearing them as shame. If you really want to gain the trust and support of this Ummah, you have a big opportunity ahead of you. You can make a new history by abandoning their superstitious systems. If you place your trust in Allah and tempt to do this of course!

(اِنْ يَنْصُرْكُمُ اللّٰهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَاِنْ يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَنْ ذَا الَّذ۪ي يَنْصُرُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِه۪ وَعَلَى اللّٰهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ)

“If Allah helps you, there is none to overcome you. And if He abandons you, then, who is there to help you after that? In Allah the believers should place their trust.” [Al-i Imran 160]

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Ahmet SAPA