Is Obama passive-aggressive toward Turkey or just bad with dates?

Foreign Policy ^ | 10/28/2009 | David Kenner

[Saije]

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is currently in Tehran with his "friend," Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as the two leaders discuss ways to bolster the bilateral ties between their two countries. While Turkey's realignment towards Iran and Syria is by now familiar, it is possible that the Obama administration might be more annoyed at this development than it has let on publicly.

Obama recently sent an invitation to Prime Minister Erdogan to meet with him in Washington D.C. on October 29. That just happens to be the Turkish equivalent of the Fourth of July -- the anniversary of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the creation of the Turkish republic. Erdogan, placed in a bind over the need to be in Turkey on this national holiday, was forced to turn down Obama's invitation and reschedule, likely for a date in December.

This seems like a canny way for Obama to superficially appear to be continuing his philosophy of "engagement," while at the same time extending an invitation that he knew Erdogan would not be able to accept. And really, it's hard to believe that a prospective visit by the Turkish leader wasn't first cleared with a Turkey expert at the State Department, who could have pointed out the obvious conflict.

However, it could just be that the administration is bad with dates. It wouldn't be the first time: remember, Obama announced the US decision to abandon its missile defense plans in Eastern Europe on the anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland.

[Saije]

What would be the point of knowingly selecting a date Erdogan would have to reject? The Obama people probably can't imagine any occasion being more important than a meeting with The One.

[Buck W.]

“Is Obama passive-aggressive toward Turkey or just bad with dates?”

A lot of dates in Turkey. Medjool, I believe.

[Cicero]

I think the obvious lesson to be drawn is that Zero knows zero about foreign affairs. He doesn’t even speak Austrian, as he admitted.

Moreover, he has surrounded himself with people chosen for their ideological extremism rather than their knowledge. The obvious thing to do before setting up a meeting with Turkey would be to talk with an expert on Turkey. But Obama is too stupid to do that, apparently.

Like Hillary, who couldn’t be bothered to consult someone who really knew Russian before designing her “reset” button and giving it to Putin. Thus conveying to Putin the impression that she is a novice and an idiot.

I imagine Turkey will take the same lesson.

[Mjaye]

A lot of dates in Turkey. Medjool, I believe.<<<

I keep misreading headlines about Obama. I pictured him being snarky to a plump tom or hen...perhaps he thought they were going to usurp his spotlight at Thanksgiving.