The 'great attack' once again

We started the new year with a bloody attack. A total of 39 people, including foreigners, lost their lives in the attack that took place at an Istanbul entertainment venue frequented by Turkey's elite. We are becoming subject to increasingly professional attacks. The Istanbul attack that followed the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey shows the kind of professionalism we are faced with. They want to impose the Sevres a century later. The more Turkey resists, the more severe the attacks it faces. The attacks started following the 2011 elections. We can consider the Ergenekon and Balyoz (Sledgehammer) plots before 2011 as the foundation of this attack. However, the most open attack started with the Feb. 7, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) crisis. It continued with the Gezi Park events and the Dec. 17 and Dec. 25 coup attempt. The attacks reached their peak with the July 15 coup and invasion attempt.

The attack in Ortaköy, Istanbul needs to be considered a continuation of all these attacks. Someone has set their mind on completing the job they couldn't on July 15. And to achieve this, they are carrying out attacks at the risk of slaughtering everybody, regardless of whether they are civilians or defenseless. But the acts are not random. Looking at the form and target of the acts, it is clear that Turkey's social integrity is the target. Unfortunately we also have co-conspirators among us to serve terrorists and the aim of the mind behind terror.

Looking at some of the reactions following the attacks, it is impossible not to feel sorry for our country. Reducing such a professional murder to ordinary religious sentiments and a sectarian understanding would not have even come to the mind of the terrorists who carried out the massacre. Those trying to achieve ethnic and sectarian aims from these murders are in great error and misguidance, if not in betrayal. This attack is not an attack against a life style, a sectarian understanding, an ethnic belonging, this is an attack against us all, against all of Turkey and as a matter of fact, against the Muslim world.

Turkey's social integrity, the cease-fire in Syria, Operation Euphrates Shield, the determination to fight terrorism and the change in the Constitution are all targeted by this attack. In summary, the aim of Turkey's enemies underlies the foundation of this attack. Harsher things could be said. But our social integrity was really never under so much threat. Hence, we need to harden our hearts, prevent misunderstandings and act with greater common sense.

Never pay attention to especially those trying to provoke the community through social media networks such as Twitter and Facebook. The mind behind these attacks is spreading social polarization, provoking content following such attacks through both real people and the trolls it has been breeding. There are those who want to increase our anger with this content, to deepen the disintegration with opposing opinions. It is also intriguing that a significant number of these people reside abroad. We should complain about them, but avoid falling for their games. We should also remember that the majority of these are Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) terrorists.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had recently made a call for mobilization. If we pay attention to Mr. Erdoğan's latest statements, we can actually very clearly see the kind of attack we are subject to. Erdoğan brought the Lausanne and Sevres to the agenda. He said the “Second War of Independence.” Those who wanted to take us out of Anatolia a century ago are standing against us again. The more we resist, the more professional and more severe their attacks become. We are going to continue to resist, but they will attack again. Because they know that if they are defeated again a century later, they will never ever be able to stop Turkey.

July 15 was our second Gallipoli War. But the war is not over. Just like they did not withdraw after defeat in Gallipoli, they are refusing to withdraw despite their July 15 defeat. We must turn July 15 into an ultimate victory with a new “great attack,” just like we turned the Gallipoli War into victory with the great attack on Aug. 30.