The Washington Post’s Jackson Diehl is a normally sober observer of foreign affairs so it’s a bit disappointing to see him writing today in defense of Turkey’s Islamic government. Diehl’s starting point was to debunk Rick Perry’s comment in last week’s debate in South Carolina in which the Texas governor claimed Turkey was run by “Islamic terrorists” and questioned its continuing presence in NATO. Of course, he’s right that the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is not quite the equivalent of Hamas or Hezbollah, but as Michael Rubin noted last week, it has became a major sponsor and enabler of terrorism. While Diehl makes the point that Turkey has been somewhat helpful to the U.S. on Libya and Syria, on the issues of Middle East peace and the threat from the Iranian nukes, it has been a disaster.
Which is why I think the most distressing aspect of Diehl’s defense of Turkey as a reliable American ally is the fact that he says its leader has become one of the few foreign leaders with whom Barack Obama has a strong relationship. Obama has, according to the Post, spent more time speaking on the phone with Erdogan than any other ally. Indeed, in a cover story interview with Time Magazine, Obama told a fawning Fareed Zakaria that Erdoğan was someone with whom he had become friends and forged “bonds of trust.” It speaks volumes about the deplorable state of American foreign policy that Erdogan is someone with whom Obama is most comfortable.
Diehl’s main point is that Islamists are the “new normal” in the Arab and Islamic worlds. That may be true, but his optimism that groups like the Islamic parties that now control Egypt’s new parliament will turn out to be more like Turkey than Hamas or Iran seems not only naive but also underestimates the extent to which Erdogan has opposed American interests and values.
Under the tutelage of Obama’s buddy, Turkish democracy is in a free fall with journalists and opponents of the ruling party being jailed. Abroad, Turkey has not only abandoned its long standing alliance with fellow American friend Israel but has become the leading supporter of the Hamas terrorist group on the international stage. Just as bad is Erdoğan’s refusal to support the West on isolating Iran, providing Tehran with a reliable outlet for trade just at the time when the Europeans are out ahead of the U.S. on toughening sanctions.
Any president who considered the alliance with Israel or the need to stop Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons as among our nation’s top foreign policy priorities would regard Erdoğan as being, at best, a thorn in America’s side and, at worst, a genuine threat to our interests as well as our democratic values. But not Barack Obama.
Obama has been open about his contempt and dislike for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli is a prickly customer, and it may be that Erdoğan is easier to like on a personal basis. But anyone wondering why relations with the Jewish state have become so tenuous in the last three years need only understand this is a White House where an Islamic quasi-authoritarian who backs Hamas is the president’s pal and the prime minister of Israel is his bête noire.
Turkey may not be (as Rick Perry stated), run by a terrorist, but it is a nation that has been transformed under Erdoğan from a faithful ally to a source of genuine concern on both the home and foreign fronts. If that is Barack Obama’s idea of a true friend, then what does that say about his vision of America or the world?
Jonathan, I think that you underestimate just how nasty Erdogan. He, his party and his government did support the IHH Turkish Islamist terrorist group which ran the Mavi Marmara. He has a personal history of vicious Judeophobia. Consider his anti-Jewish play, Maskomya [amalgamating 3 of his betes noires, Masons, Communists, and Jews]. Erdogan went so far as to charge Jews with organizing the Crusades. That's far over the top. nI thank Prof. Andrew Bostom for putting together the research on Erdogan the Judeophobe.
Perhaps it says that a more mature foreign policy does not merely consider, playground-like, who one's "friends" are, (something judged apparently by who sucks up to Congress best) but by a rational consideration of interests and long-term strategy. Engaging positively with those who have different but not inherently destructive approaches to your key issues, rather than alienating them, and showing reserve to those who pretend to share your values but sabotage your interests, seems to me very sensible. nNetanyahu has consistently and deliberately over the years undermined polticians from allied nations when it suited what he viewed as Israel's immediate interests, without regard to the longer term effect on attitudes towards Israel in those countries' political establishments, which is why he is so disliked (it is not his prickliness, but his dishonesty that offends). He tried the same with Obama, apparently forgetting that this wasn't some mid-ranking European country he was dealing with but the US. He has bitten off more than he can chew, and if Obama wins a second term he will surely pay the price.
this must be some form of a social engineering project underway. guy cannot speak english or any other widely spoken language for that matter. that explains the length of the time spent on the phone.
Before the breakup between Israel and Turkey, Wikileaks quoted one of our ambassadors as saying that Erdogan had a visceral hatred of Israel. After Turkey was refused admission to the EU, she seemed to turn against Israel who was no longer of use to her. Turkey sided with Hamas and sent an armed boat to Israel, knowing Israel would fight back, and even the UN said that Israel had a right to defend herself, but felt she overreacted. The UN said that Israel owed Turkey an expression of regret for the loss of life, but not an apology. Israel complied, and Turkey refused to accept Israel's gesture. n nFor a people who've refused to apologize over the million Armenian lives they killed in WW1, Turkey's behavior is cynical at best. n nMy concern about Obama is that his friendship with Erdogan may display naivete. Erdogan could very well be using Obama as he once used Israel. Iran and Turkey have plans for the Mideast, while Obama, trusting Erdogan, has decided to focus on Asia. n nObama, a newbie President, probably could use some advice from an experienced ally who lives in the neighborhood, but he prefers the smooth talking Erdogan to the prickly Netanyahu.
Obama has a very good point on picking his friends and foes. Turkey has been an ally and great supporter of US politics throughout recent history. Turkey sent troops to Korean War to fight alongside US, deployed nuclear weapons against USSR as an answer to the Cuban Nuclear Missiles… Currently maintaining peace in Afghani Capital Kabul under ISAF… Helped getting rid of Kaddafi and its regime in Libya.. These are only some of the highlights on the unquestionable US-Turkey alliance. n nHow about Israel? What did Israel give to the United States? n nWhile USS Liberty Incident is still not forgotten, last year Israel killed American and Turkish civilians on international waters, the humanitarian aid boat they were in has been searched to the bottom by the Israeli's and the only weapon they found was a baseball bat. Other items were building supplies along with humanitarian aid (food, clothing, medicine etc.) If there was any "weapon" on the boat you think Israel wouldn't spread it on the internet in a sec. like their other propaganda? There is no such thing called Islamic Terrorism, there is a 60 year old uprising against occupants of Palestine, if you want to hear about Terrorism and ways to legalize it, read Irgun, Lehi and Haganah Terrorist Groups.. Obama Administration is well informed about these realities and has the support from American people just like myself…
For decadesTurkish society has been under a complete oppression of a military-oriented regime which kept public opinion under constant siege. There were always hundreds of journalists and writers in the prisons, some of them even were killed. You didn't hear any of these because media also was under monopoly of several titled persons all of whom were always calling "ordu göreve" -just google it ull see- which was a call to army to take over the power. But things changed, now that middle class raised their head and their voices. A great fight began between those so called white turks and the middle class. If there is a great change then, of course there will be a struggle. Many of those, in jail now, are really coup plotters, some not, but it is still an investigation. If you weren't out there for decades when those people were suffering under tutelage of the regime, then, get your hands off this country from now on too. If someone is plotting a coup to the pillar of democracy, the parliment, in a country, then it does not matter whether he is journalist or not, he is just a criminal. You know nothing about Turkey, then dont just tell us democracy is in a free fall, just get away and live with your misery…