Rift with US stirs up tensions within Turkey

Boston Globe ^ | 5/11/2003 | Jonathan Gorvett

[pkpjamestown]

ISTANBUL -- Fallout from Turkey's refusal to assist the United States in the Iraq war is fueling tension between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's liberal pro-Islamist government and the country's staunchly secular establishment, government officials and analysts say.

Allegations have been flying between the two traditional foes, with secularists saying the government is incompetent and moving the country away from pro-Western values. Pro-Islamists counter that the establishment is trying to undermine the democratically elected government.

[Torie]

If there is a breakup in relations, then it's not for Turkey to feel bad about but for the US.''

And that statement is wishful thinking. The suggestion that the US will feel "bad" about what Turkey thinks about its Iraq policy is simply out of this world.

[Cicero]

''There's definitely a feeling that Turkey is being excluded from everything that is happening in Iraq.''

And whose fault is that? Wolfowitz has always been a staunch supporter of the Turkish military. And we were willing to cut them a good deal in Northern Iraq.

I still believe that the Generals ultimately made the decision to play games with us, string us along, make us think they would do a deal, and then drop a surprise on us at the last possible moment. Even after the failed parliamentary vote they strung us along for an extra week, deliberately sabotaging our war campaign in the north. Now each faction is trying to blame the other for a decision they both fully agreed to.

[winner3000]

(''There's definitely a feeling that Turkey is being excluded from everything that is happening in Iraq,'' Turan said.)

Nothing gets past Turan!

[aynrandfreak]

Erdogan's "liberal" pro-Islamist government

Classic!

[Amerigomag]

''They did not play the strong leadership role and attitude that we would have expected,''

Someone needs to muzzel Wolfowitz ... soon.

These kinds of inflamatory public statements from someone at his pay grade regarding the internal affairs of another country are helpful to no one.

Talk about government policy but don't get involved publically and outspokenly in internal politics unless you're prepared to take control of their political process by any means, and we aren't.

[tomahawk]

Turkey crapped its pants and now is blaming the U.S. Classic.

[tomahawk]

This Administration calls a spade a spade. Wolfowitz has the support of his superiors to say these things.

[gcruse]

Hear, hear. The Defense Department isn't full
of Foggy Bottomers, thank Zeus.

[Amerigomag]

This Administration calls a spade a spade

Not my point.

Spades are national policies and you and I are in agreement about the ernest of this administration.

Wolfowitz is talking about the players, not the hand he was dealt.

[a_Turk]

Everyone in the government voted against, except 2/3 of Erdogan's party.

Another ludicrous article..

[pkpjamestown]

"Another ludicrous article"

"Ludicrous" are only your "Sour Grapes" comments, Turk!