LIKE A COWBOY MOVIE…

Ayhan KIZILTAN
Jun 25
5 min read

Ayhan Kızıltan, ben@ayhankiziltan.com, Mersin, 25 June 2025

Hello Mersin! Hello Türkiye! Hello World!

You know the classic plot in American Westerns: A ruthless gunslinger, backed by the town sheriff, terrorises nearby farmers with his gang—threatening them at gunpoint until they abandon their land.

Anyone who dares to defend their rights is framed or murdered with the sheriff’s support; farms are raided and burned, and the land is seized one parcel at a time.

But—just before the final credits roll—a taciturn yet fearless, fast‑draw hero rides into town and ends the reign of these villains, sheriff included.

In today’s real‑life script, Israel plays the part of that ruthless land‑grabber, while the sheriff is none other than former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The landowners of the Middle East are therefore searching for a bold, action‑oriented gunslinger who will silently deliver justice.

Several names are mentioned for this role, most frequently Russia, China, and the European Union.

ROOTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST CRISIS AND THE PATH TO A SOLUTION…

1. ESSENCE OF THE CONFLICT: FOREIGN INTERVENTION AND A WEB OF INTERESTS

Role of External Powers: The United States, Russia, the EU and China stoke regional flames to secure oil, the arms trade and geopolitical influence.
Proxy Wars: Externally funded civil wars in Syria, Yemen and Libya.
Legacy of Artificial Borders: Sykes‑Picot (1916) entrenched ethnic‑sectarian tensions within artificial states.

2. REGIONAL ACTORS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS

Turkey – Strengths: military capacity; humanitarian diplomacy. Weaknesses: economic fragility; trust deficit in the Arab world.

Qatar – Strengths: mediation capacity; financial flexibility. Weaknesses: neutrality questioned due to the Al Udeid U.S. base.

Iran – Strengths: network of proxy forces (Hezbollah, Hamas). Weaknesses: crippling sanctions; nuclear crisis.

Israel – Strengths: technological superiority; U.S. backing. Weaknesses: international isolation; loss of moral legitimacy.

3. THE NUCLEAR DILEMMA AND DOUBLE STANDARDS

Israel: Possesses an estimated 80–400 nuclear warheads, remains outside the NPT, and is entirely unsupervised.

“Samson Option” doctrine: readiness to use nuclear weapons under existential threat.

Iran: An NPT signatory yet subject to strict inspections and sweeping sanctions.

Collapse of the International System: U.S. vetoes in the UN Security Council block any punitive measures against Israel.

4. HISTORICAL PARADOX: FROM VICTIM TO OPPRESSOR

Jews, once the victims of genocide, now stand accused of systematic atrocities in Gaza.

The Western Dilemma: Nations with genocidal pasts—the U.S. against Native Americans, Germany against Jews—offer Israel unconditional support.

5. RESOURCE EXPLOITATION AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE

Petro‑Dollar System: Washington’s protection of autocracies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Arms Industry: 85 percent of the munitions used in Gaza are U.S.‑made.

Wealth Distribution: Saudi Arabia spends roughly USD 70 billion on defence each year while unemployment hovers at 11 percent.

CAN A “SOLUTION WITHOUT EXTERNAL INTERVENTION” WORK?

YES, BECAUSE:

Historical Success Stories: Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990 through domestic dialogue; the 2023 Iran–Saudi rapprochement emerged from regional will (China merely brokered).
Cultural & Social Advantages: Shared language, faith and social codes enable communication more effective than that of Western diplomats.

PRECONDITIONS:

Transformation of Corrupt Regimes: Dictatorships fuelled by petro‑dollars must transition into people‑centred democracies.
Reining in the Arms Industry: Regional states should pledge to halve military spending.

THREE CONCRETE STEPS:

Economic Independence: Channel oil revenues into sovereign wealth funds à la Norway.
Solar‑Energy Revolution: With an average of 6.5 kWh/m² of daily sunlight, the region can break free of fossil‑fuel dependence.
Youth & Education Alliance: Establish a Middle East Youth Assembly for cross‑border projects (AI, renewables) and develop joint history textbooks authored by Arab, Persian, Turkish, Kurdish and Jewish scholars.

Confidence‑Building Mechanisms:

Inter‑faith dialogue among Al‑Azhar, the Diyanet and the Chief Rabbinate to issue a “Declaration of Co‑Existence”.
A regional humanitarian‑corridor network coordinated by Turkey, Qatar and Egypt.

CONCLUSION: “DETERMINING ONE’S OWN DESTINY”

The Middle East will not be saved by Western “saviours” but by its peoples reclaiming their resources, transforming ossified regimes into democracies and resisting external manipulation. Every drop of blood spilt in Gaza fuels this awakening. Remember: Africa’s 1950s–60s independence wave succeeded without outside liberators. The path is long—but not impossible.

KEYS TO ESCAPE:

Break the petro‑dollar trap
Curtail the arms industry
Build the future with educated youth

CAN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY LEAD THE MIDDLE EAST?

During the Ottoman era, Turks governed this geography for centuries; they therefore understand its people intimately.

I have long argued that the region’s problems must be solved by its own inhabitants. Whenever third parties interfere, the outcome is blood, tears, poverty and ignorance. Outsiders arrive to exploit; human life here is of little value to them

and they show no mercy in taking what they want before departing—leaving a trail of suffering.

The United States demonstrates this wherever it claims to export democracy.

Putting present‑day politics aside, Turkey’s democratic ethos, experience in statecraft, robust public institutions, vibrant civil society, and rich artistic–cultural life place it well ahead of many Middle Eastern nations and may render it a role model.

Turkey’s Strengths and Potential Role

Regional Military Capacity & Geography: NATO’s second‑largest army, cross‑border‑operation experience (Syria, Iraq, Libya) and strategic assets such as Incirlik Air Base provide deterrence.
Diverse Connections: Hamas’s political bureau in Istanbul; open channels with Iran, Israel and the Palestinians; energy trade with Iran; the ability to mediate between Russia and the U.S. (e.g., Ukraine grain corridor).
Humanitarian & Diplomatic Tools: Organisations such as the Turkish Red Crescent, TİKA and AFAD equip Turkey with strong humanitarian‑aid capability; experience with dialogue platforms such as the Istanbul Process.

Obstacles and the Trust Deficit

Can Iran Trust Turkey?

Yes, because: economic interdependence (natural‑gas exports, overland trade), joint counter‑terrorism, and shared commitment to Syria’s territorial integrity.
No, because: Turkey’s military support for Azerbaijan (2020 Karabakh War) and perceived pan‑Turkism; ongoing trade with Israel (USD 6.9 billion in 2022) and intelligence ties; Turkey’s Sunni affiliations vis‑à‑vis Iran’s Shia axis.
Impact of U.S. Military Presence (Incirlik Air Base)
Incirlik hosts U.S. tactical nuclear weapons yet is not as strategic as Qatar’s Al Udeid. Turkey leverages the base diplomatically (e.g., 2019 closure threat). Iran views Incirlik as an extension of U.S. power but acknowledges Ankara’s relative autonomy (S‑400 purchase, removal from the F‑35 programme, YPG operations).

Critical Roles Turkey Could Play

Gaza Crisis: Serve as a negotiation channel between Hamas and Israel and manage an aid corridor (logistical advantage over Egypt).
Preventing Syria’s Fragmentation: Coordinate with regional states to preserve Syria’s territorial integrity.
Water & Energy Diplomacy: Facilitate consensus on Euphrates–Tigris water resources and Eastern Mediterranean gas.
Economic & Socio‑Cultural Development: Take an active role in constructing the Basra Gulf–Turkey Development Road and share its agricultural and industrial know‑how.

CONCLUSION:

A politically consolidated Turkey can play a leading, pivotal role in resolving Middle Eastern conflicts. A comprehensively developed Middle East would benefit the entire world.

I hope that one day the conscience of humanity will prevail over geopolitical interests.…

"A geography can be healed only by the wisdom of its own people. Foreign ‘saviours’ arrive in capes stained with oil."

"Justice recognises no borders."