US reaction against Turkey should be taken seriously

Turkish Daily News ^ | Tuesday, March 29, 2005 | Mehmet Ali Birand

[oolatec]

While this guy is worried about how we feel about Turkey, he should be worried about the fact that Mein Kampf is one of the hottest selling books in his country.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I don't see what Turkey stands to gain from alienating its closest and most valuable transatlantic ally for the past five decades.

The government there might feel that by placating anti-American sentiment they can ensure a governing majority in perpetuity. They might even believe that by bashing the United States, and obstructing us at the outset of Operation Freedom, they will be able to deflect attention from legislative initiatives that are extremely unpopular among the most chauvinistic segments of Turkish society, e.g., their concessions vis-a-vis the status of Cyprus, and recent moves to grant the Kurds more autonomy within Turkish society.

However, if they think that the United States will rapidly forget the slights they have suffered at the hands of their putative allies, and supposed strategic partners, they are sorely mistaken.

[McGavin999]

I think it was a question of thinking that by being anti-American, it would curry favor with the powers that be in the EU. What they don't understand is that the EU is going to fight admitting them tooth and nail.

Their best bet was to have us on their side.

[kvanbrunt]

i'm thinkin Turkey right about now
SPRING GOBBLER (Bearded bird only): April 30-May 28, 2005. Only 1 spring gobbler may be taken during the license year.
(Pennsylvania)

[Maynerd]

The fact is most America could not find Turkey on the map and couldn't care less. Sorry, Turkey just doesn't occupy much bandwidth in the American zeitgeist.

Agreed. However, what little band with Turkey gets and warrants is deservedly negative. After their betrayal and disallowing the 4th ID to open a northern front, I have no tolerance or sympathy for Turkey.

The Kurds are better allies and deserve their own country (if an Iraqi federation fails). The Kurds in Turkey, Iran, and Syria deserve to become part of greater Kurdistan as well. Turkey dug this hole by themselves, they will have to figure a way out on their own.

[SmithL]

No, we haven'tforgotten:

Rumsfeld Faults Turkey for Barring Use of Its Land in '03 to Open Northern Front in Iraq

[q_an_a]

I don't think that Greece is not a problem. They kicked our bases out many years ago and they gave no help in Iraq or Bosnia. How are they are allies?

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

It's ironic that they're betraying their foremost ally in pleading their case to the EU in order to curry favor with the nations that have been the chief obstructionists to their entry into this pan-European political/monetary union.

[zencat]

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!!!

[waynebobo]

I like Turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy

[StatenIsland]

I have not forgiven nor forgotten Turkey's betrayal and weakness at the one critical time that we needed them.

I hope we have the opportunity to return the favor in kind - and have the resolve to do it.

[Prophet in the wilderness]

One way for Turkey to mend fences with the USA, is ? if they have a good oil supply is to sell us some oil very cheap ( with O.P.E.C 's hands out of the deal ).

[RightWhale]

Turkey is simply of little interest as a forward base since the demise of the Soviet Empire. Turks are okay though, hardworking, decent, honest, sincere, etc.

[Iscool]

The fact is our counterparts are making assessments based on misperceptions, and they are getting angrier by the day.

No misperceptions here raghead...We know what you did and why you did it...We don't care if you like us...That's not the issue...You were given the choice to be with us...You chose to be against us...Too bad, for you...

[Jorge]

Americans are very aware that Turky has been mouthing a lot of anti-American sentiment.

Really? I watch and read the news every day, and read FR, and am not the least bit aware of and Turkish "anti-American sentiment".

And no Americans I know are aware of it either.

I'm not saying it doesn't exist...just that Turkey flies below the radar. Nobody here cares.

[taxesareforever]

Hmmm, let's compare and contrast. Greece is to Christian and Turkey is to _____________. Anyone care to fill in the blank.

Chicken

[Wiz]

Enemy of enemy does not make the enemy of enemy an ally. In fact, both Greece and Turkey are anti-America. As an addition, Turkey is also now likely anti-semitic. I wouldn't be surprised years later to see an anti-America and anti-semitic party in charge of the government of Turkey. There is nothing that could be done, but to remove our bases from Turkey as well as the embassy, and work with Israel to support the Kurds. US, Israel, and Kurds have the common enemy called Syria and Iran. Rather than having bases in Turkey that cannot be used for future wars against Syria, and Iran for the anti-American mood in Turkey, we should allow Kurds to have their land and ask them to have permanent US bases in their country. Later, we should kick them hard and liberate the Kurds in Turkey and give back any remaining territories of the Kurds and Armenians back to those which it originates.

[Lady In Blue]

"We may feel better by criticizing President George W. Bush and his entourage......."

Exactly what do you mean by that?

[Eurotwit]

It is a quote from the article, and I hoped someone on this thread would explain to me what the author meant.

It almost seemed to me that he called the President a canserous ulcer.

Cheers.

[Ruth A.]

Who was this guy talking to? Richard Gere, the self-proclaimed spokesman of the world I suppose.