Feeding Erdogan's ego
In addition to his outrageous comments about Gaza, David Frum notes that British Prime Minister David Cameron also did quite a job on Tuesday of feeding Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's enormous ego. “Turkey is a great NATO ally and Turkey shares our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms, whether from al-Qaeda or from the PKK.”None of those statements are true (I would delete "almost" in the last sentence). But they're sure going to feed Erdogan's ego.
“Which European country could have the greatest possible chance of persuading Iran to change its course on nuclear policy? Tabii ki Türkiye.”
“No other country has the same potential to build understanding between Israel and the Arab world.”
“But as, hopefully, we move in the coming weeks to direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians so it’s Turkey that can make the case for peace and Turkey that can help to press the parties to come together, and point the way to a just and viable solution.”
None of these statements are true.
Turkey is not determined to fight terrorism in all its forms, not when it is sending flotillas to support Hamas. Germany and Russia are European countries with much more important trade and strategic relationships with Iran. Egypt has much greater potential to build bridges with Israel than Turkey, a country still mistrusted by many in the Arab world it once ruled. Turkey cannot help press Israel and the Palestinians together, because Turkey has forfeited almost all its credibility with Israel by its recent behavior.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:52 PM
3 Comments:
Turkey as a bridge to the Arab world?
More like, as Qaddafi said, a Trojan horse from the Arab world.
The Europeans, in particular the French and the Germans, have no great enthusiasm for Turkish membership in the EU.
Its not going to happen any time soon.
Our world leaders are employing methods used by elementary teachers to motivate first graders to do the right thing. "Johnnies going to be a good boy, a special boy, isn't that right, Johnnie? Your not going to be a bad boy any more..."
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