Damage control needed [Turkish Editorial]

Dear Turk:

As someone who lives in California, I have a slightly different opinion than those stated here. First, the article was excellent. Second, I do not feel the sense of betrayal that I feel towards France and Canada, and the positive sense of loathing that is directed toward Mexico.

Frankly, I know that in a deeply divided place, it is difficult to get anything done. Here in California the legislature, deeply divided between Reps and Dems couldn't even agree on a "support our troops" resolution without hours of harsh discussion.

Third, it seems that a Democracy like Turkey is should be able to vote on what is it's national interest. I personally think they made a poor choice and felt that they overplayed their hand, but in a democracy you live with the consequences of your actions. They won't have the economy boost of hosting coalition troops, they won't have any hand in post-war Iraq and they have missed out on aid and goodwill that could help out.

HOWEVER, while these consequences may seem hard, it may just be a learning experience for all sides. Democracy is like that sometimes. We learned about dealing with Turkey and they learned about dealing with us. Turkey did not deliberately sabotage us on all sides like France et al.

Anyway, hope this cheers you. I would like to visit Turkey some day - something I certainly wouldn't say about France. My kids were headed there for summer break - we changed their tickets so they spend NO time OR money in that pesthole.

Keep the democracy alive!

The press portrayed Turkey first as a beggar/blackmailer, and now as a villain ready to grab land.

The truth is that, even thought the Turkish government had made a real mess of things, the initial discussions concerned Turkey's wish of a unified Irak with a unified military and one in which all ethnic groups are considered equal.

And the current interest of Turkey in northern Irak has more to do with terror prevention and terrorist tracking than anything else.

But would an interview or two have an impact on the US public after centuries of bad press and this latest blunder? I would not be too optimistic..

>> The religious right in Turkey won't be getting any votes for another couple of decades as a result of this debacle.

> Do you have any basis for this seemingly absurd claim beyond wishful thinking?

They have, within two months of being elected on a platform promising relief to the poor, managed to increase interest rates by about half and thereby the cost of internal debt service (bonds, etc) by about that much, resulting in brand new taxes in addition to new cost cutting and other austerity measures. This will clearly cost them votes.

Add to that their drafting of the bill to allow in US troops, even though unsuccessful, which went against the wishes of over 94% of the public..

I think they are through.. To think that they won't make any mistakes during the rest of their term would be wishful thinking..

I say again....
Few could be more disappointed than I, at Turkey's feckless behavior on this matter..

Turkey F**KED up.....plain and simple..

They grossly OVERREACHED and attempted to take advantage of America during a period of grave danger.
Be it greed, ambition or fear of the Kurds --- Turkey's behavior put at risk - the lives of Americans and our TRUE ALLIES.

Older Americans like myself...that have visited and served with Turks -- will now be FORCED to think of Turkey with the SAME distrust and suspicion as we do France and Germany...

The events of the past few weeks have been a catastrophic error on Turkey's part.....regardless of any real or perceived errors committed by our State Department..

Semper Fi

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