Israelis will be surprised to hear that Turkish admiration for their country is increasing. But it is happening for the wrong reasons. Turks are at the limit after the latest attacks against their military by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in which 24 soldiers were killed, as well as the recent attacks by the terrorist group against civilians.
President Obama’s decision to pull out all U.S. troops from Iraq by Dec. 31 never meant Washington would lose interest in that country. To the contrary, with the Iranian shadow over the region, the American interest in this predominantly Shiite country will continue by necessity.
The Van earthquake gave us a mirror and what we saw in the first instance was nothing for Turks to be proud off. Fortunately, better instincts kicked in quickly so we got to see the other side of the country too.
Having visited a number of key European capitals over the past few months, during which I met government officials, politicians, opinion framers and ordinary people of all kinds, the conclusion I have drawn is that Turks need to understand better what is happening in Europe.
Many Europeans are angry at Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s decision to call a referendum on the EU’s bailout package for his nearly bankrupt country. Greeks, however, have a right to decide their future as much as anyone else in Europe.
Turkish-Syrian ties are deteriorating further, and fast. Attacks against the Turkish Embassy in Damascus and Turkish consulates around the country have forced Ankara to recall the families of diplomats and to issue a travel warning to its citizens planning to go to Syria.
French President Sarkozy gambled on Libya by turning on Col. Gadhafi at the start of the uprising, even if it was not clear at the time that this uprising would succeed. In the end his gambled paid off and France secured a good place in post-Gadhafi Libya.
The racist “döner vendor murders” in Germany by members of a neo-Nazi cell is clearly an embarrassment for that country.
