An Open Letter to the ‘Young Turks’ by LtGen Robert B. Neller, Marine Corps Gazette.
I want to take the opportunity to thank the Gazette for putting me in contact with Maj Peter J. Munson. As a result of his letter in the April issue and my response, we had a conversation on the phone. He also sent me his article, “Back to Our Roots,” published in the April 2011 online version of the Gazette, and we discussed that as well. As I mentioned in my commentary printed in the June Gazette in response to “The Attritionist Letters,” I believe it is better to talk and get things out in the open. Consequently, though I have not changed my view as articulated in the “Rebuttal,” I have considered the views of the good major, along with the captain (Capt Joseph Steinfels), who responded to me in the August Gazette, and many of their peers. I have personally listened to the views of these “Young Turks” in long and sometimes heated discussions over the past few years. The following paragraphs are my view of their views…
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The process of revolution and evolution take time. Longer when external forces intervene and either attempt to accelerate or suppress the natural process for their own interests. The populaces of the Middle East are evolving rapidly after a long period of Western intervention and suppression of the natural process. The governments of the region are out of synch and clinging to that artifical status quo. There will be more upheaval and violence, but it may well be another 100 years before they get to anything that is sustainably stable. Those who live on key terrain live with manipulation by those with interests in that terrain. This is how it has always been.
If we are going to look for historical parallels then the "Young Turks" is an unfortunate choice. Although there might be some colloquial use that equates "Young Turks" to reformist radicals, the real "Young Turks" were everything that could go wrong with a radical reformists.
Founded by intellectuals/intelligensia/military officers the movement was supposed to modernise the Ottoman Empire and bring populist reform. On that agenda they achieved some early revolutionary unity in the Empire (although mostly in the Balkans and Anatolia, their message didn't resonate with the Arab subjects). However, that unity soon devolved into a government that would be in short order be responsible for ethnic cleansing and genocide (that reduced the Christian population of Anatolia from >30% to <2% in 5 years), voluntary entry into a world war, the dissolution of the Empire, and laying the groundwork for an ultra-nationalist military state that 100 yrs later is engaged in a three front identity war between nationalism, Islamism, and ethnocentrism, the outcome of which is maddening mystery.
So, before pointing to some Revolutionary ideal, it will do well to remember that virtually every "Progressive Revolution" (read: Ideological Revolution) since the 1860's has resulted in utter disaster for the people who were supposed to be its beneficiaries. If the Arab Spring produces something that can be universally said to be qualitativelly better than what came before then I and no doubt History herself will be impressed.
Just as an interesting (at least to me) aside, the phrase "Young Turks" has been around so long that most of us don't really know what the origin of that common American phrase is.
It comes from over 100 years ago, when "Arab Spring" was really first blooming, not in Tunisa in 2010, but in Turkey in 1908. The "Young Turks" captured the American imagination in their quest to challenge the Sultan in their quest for greater self-determination and greater democracy.
Events in Turkey echoed similar popular uprisings in neighboring Iran, where a young American School teacher, so swept up by the powerful excitement of a populace standing up to break the shackles of their current governmental situation in the quest for a constitutional democracy is to this day immortalized for martyring himeself while leading his students in a desperate assault.
These events driven by the energy of Muslim popualces seeking greater freedoms and more representative government were soon set on hold by a long century of Western intervention and manipulation that served to freeze autocratic governments in place in the name of "stability." Stability is over-rated.
On this Veteran's Day, let us remember the "Young Turks" for who they really were, and also acknoledge that today young Egyptians, Tunisians, Libyans, Syrians, Bahrainis, Yemenese, Saudis, etc, etc are pressing forward once again for greater freedom and self determination.
There will be instability from their efforts, but it is such instability that allows nations to evolve and grow. There is always risk, as well as opportunity in such upheaval and chaos. Self-serving actors such as AQ and Hezbollah will attempt to hi-jack these movements. Much of this could be mitigated if the governments of the region would simply adopt small, but significant, changes to stand with their people rather than against them.
For the U.S. however, of all nations, should not act in ways to be perceived as the obstacle to such evolution. We cannot do this for these modern "young turks," but nor should we be an obstacle to their efforts.
I just noted where LtGen Hejlik, Commander US Marine Forces Command, has opened up a blog, which provides another potential feedback loop on this issue: http://mcfc.dodlive.mil/.
semper fi,
Phil Ridderhof