Turkey's 'No' Vote on Iraq Pays Off

LA Times ^ | 7/15/2003 | Graham E. Fuller

[a_Turk]

When Turkey refused to help the United States fight the war against Iraq, it did so with some ambivalence.

Its parliamentary "no" to the U.S. was hardly enthusiastic and came about partly because Turkey's new Islamist regime caved to Turkish public opinion. The politically important Turkish military, which might otherwise have been inclined to help its old allies in the United States, was angry at the heavy-handed way in which America demanded support; therefore, it declined to lobby much for Washington's request. And some elites in Turkey bemoaned the "no" decision at the time, arguing that it would cost Turkey at least $6 billion in U.S. grants and would lose it a place at the table in presiding over postwar Iraq.

- Snip

Indeed, many Turks who had feared their country had lost a golden opportunity in not cooperating with Washington on Iraq have learned that there indeed was no "table" in postwar Iraq at which benefits of occupation might have been parceled out; control has been tightly retained in Washington.

During a recent trip to Turkey, I heard widespread suspicions about U.S. intentions; many fear that Turkey itself might be the next victim of some unspecified power play as Washington boldly reshapes the region. Anti-Americanism is running high and has led to an unprecedented informal coalition between the Turkish left and Turkish right-wing nationalists. These groups are united in their hostility toward the U.S. and see entry into the EU as a compromise of Turkish sovereignty. Ironically, the Islamists remain champions of the EU bid. All this represents a dramatic transformation.

- Snip

Washington is widely perceived in Turkey as a rogue actor with arrogant and hostile intentions toward basic Turkish national interests. Though not all of this may be accurate, perceptions are everything. Ankara is discussing whether its future lies any longer with Washington, or perhaps instead with some emerging coalition of the EU and other major regional powers like Russia, China and India — countries that actively seek to balance what they see as unbridled U.S. power.

[a_Turk]

By Graham E. Fuller, Graham E. Fuller is former vice chair of the National Intelligence Council at the CIA and author of the recently published book "The Future of Political Islam" (Palgrave).

[a_Turk]

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ping..

[Support Free Republic]

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[Rodney King]

Indeed, many Turks who had feared their country had lost a golden opportunity in not cooperating with Washington on Iraq have learned that there indeed was no "table" in postwar Iraq at which benefits of occupation might have been parceled out; control has been tightly retained in Washington

Remarkably silly logic. Who is to say that there would not have been a place at the table if the Turks did participate?

[Iris7]

Like I said just before the Iraq invasion, Kurdistan is a done deal. Now the Turks have to decide if they will supply most of the Kurdistan real estate.

[Spirited]

I hope so.

[optimistically_conservative]

Anti-Americanism is running high and has led to an unprecedented informal coalition between the Turkish left and Turkish right-wing nationalists. These groups are united in their hostility toward the U.S. and see entry into the EU as a compromise of Turkish sovereignty.

Ankara is discussing whether its future lies any longer with Washington, or perhaps instead with some emerging coalition of the EU and other major regional powers like Russia, China and India — countries that actively seek to balance what they see as unbridled U.S. power.

Considering we're talking about a country that is basically owned by the IMF, is distrusted by "Old Europe" (i.e. Turks are Germany's Kurds) and tend to be staunchly anti-communist, one has to wonder when the adults will take charge in Ankara.

[Dark Wing]

ping

[Mike Darancette]

Turkey behaves like the "Sick Man of Europe" they still are.

[wtc911]

How can turkey be the sick man of Europe when turks are not European? This ethnic/racial difference is one of the reasons why the EU (and, historically,its individual members) have resisted turkey's attempts to climb through the back window.

[Mike Darancette]

How can turkey be the sick man of Europe..

You missed the historical reference of my statement. Since the waning days of the Ottoman Empire Turkey has aspired to be European with fits and starts as we just witnessed.

[wtc911]

I am fairly well versed with modern turkish history. (not as well versed as some but better than average). Foreign Affairs quarterly published a 10k word essay about this same issue earlier this year. The essay's well noted assessment of the turkey/EU dance included specific references to the cultural/ethnic divide between Europeans and turks, who are not considered to be so. If you are interested I can get issue and author info to you later in the day.

[Dog Gone]

Remarkably silly logic.

No kidding.

[Mike Darancette]

Foreign Affairs quarterly published a 10k word essay about this same issue earlier this year.

So this agust publication thinks that calling Turkey the "Sick Man of Europe" during the last part of the 19th and first part of the 20th centuries is no longer valid?

Are we to forget the wars (up to and including WWI) spawned by the breakup of the Ottoman Empire?

The Turkey/EU cultural/ethnic divide is a reflection of that divide within Turkey itself.

[wtc911]

turkey was called the sick man of Europe during the end days of the ottoman empire not because turks are European but because much of Eastern Europe was under their boot. turkey no longer holds calihpate power over European soil and peoples. The turk presence in Europe is relegated to debtor, immigrant and migratory status. turks are not European. You seem to wish it otherwise. Good luck to you.

[ffusco]

Turkey stopped being European when Constantinople fell.

[a_Turk]

Turkish American relations have taken a hit as a result of what happened, and obviously there is no payoff there. Yet that there is no table is also a fact.

There is an upside to the no vote, however. Turkey is not viewed as an American puppet by onlookers. If the relationship does improve, it will have a different flavor than the one we had before. Hopefull it will move toward partnership and away from servitude..

But there are alternatives, as the article states, which have been explored starting with the US embargo on Turkey following the Cyprus intervention. The reliability of the American ally was called into question back then already, and a gradual move toward decreased dependence started..

[Mortimer Snavely]

Incompetence and a lack of seriousness has typified US policy towards Turkey ever since JFK.

At the moment, our current dim bulb President is bound and determined to support Communist and Islamist guerillas in Northern Iraq, who have killed tens of thousands of Turks over the last decade or so, and the rest of the world is supposed to consider them Our Gallant and Noble Allies. Those of us here in the USA who are very alarmed about that are considered cranks or worse.

At the same time the current government in Turkey, otherwise not really all that popular there, and certainly not very competent either, has been given a tremendous shot in the arm by the frankly idiotic and destructive Northern Iraq policy of the current US administration, which validates and arms Marxist-Leninist and Islamist mass murderers.

It's enough to make one spew.

[Dog Gone]

Turkey doesn't want to be America's puppet, and I don't blame them. However, they do wish to surrender their sovereignty to the EU so that they can be dominated by France, Germany, and Belgium, countries who denied Turkey's request for NATO defensive forces before the Iraq war.

Turkey must be wondering who its friends really are.

[Iris7]

You said, "Turkey must be wondering who its friends really are."

"Countries have no friends, only interests." (Now that is an old quote! I wonder who said it first?)

I find Turkey interesting mostly for Attaturk, who was quite a man.