Turkey Sees a Greater Role in Obama’s Foreign Policy
Turks hold posters of Barrack Obama reading “You are a real hero -You will change the destiny of the world.”
Newsweek: When Barack Obama was elected President of the United States, villagers in a remote Turkish province made headlines by sacrificing 44 sheep to celebrate his victory. (Joel’s Comments: Who didn’t?) Those villagers will feel their celebration was vindicated by Washington’s announcement that Obama will travel to Turkey next month — an event being hailed here as proof of Turkey’s elevated strategic role in the foreign policy of the new Administration.
“There has never been such a high-profile period in U.S.-Turkish relations before,” says columnist Cengiz Candar, referring to Obama’s planned trip, which follows a visit by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Ankara last weekend. “Never in history has a U.S. President visited Turkey so soon after taking office.” (See pictures of cultures coexisting in Istanbul)
Ties between Washington and Ankara had become increasingly fraught under the Bush administration, never fully recovering from the Turkish parliament’s refusal in 2003 to allow U.S. troops to use Turkey as a launching pad into neighboring Iraq. During the subsequent war, U.S. popularity fell to an all-time low in Turkey. But Obama appears to view Turkey — a predominantly Muslim but officially secular country straddling Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East — as having a key part to play in his effort to heal U.S. relations with the Islamic world. An increasingly assertive regional power, Turkey has significant influence in a number of conflict zones critical to U.S. foreign policy objectives, ranging from relations between Israel and its neighbors to the Caucasus, Iraq and Iran. “The new administration is aware of Turkey’s importance,” said Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan after meeting Clinton. “Turkish-American relations have entered a new era.”
Since last May, Ankara has hosted several rounds of secret peace talks between Syria and Israel. It also played a role in helping secure the tenuous cease-fire that ended hostilities in Gaza earlier this year. Turkey has also been approached by Tehran to mediate in its standoff with Washington over Iran’s nuclear program. A day after Secretary Clinton’s Ankara visit, a high-profile Turkish delegation flew to Tehran, with whose regime Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s moderate Islamist-rooted government enjoys good relations.
And while Turkey would not allow U.S. troops to transit its territory on the way in to Iraq, it has said it will allow them to pass through Turkey on their way out, in line with President Obama’s withdrawal plans. Ankara may play an even larger role in Afghanistan, another key focus of the Obama Administration. Turkey already has about 800 troops on the ground as part of the NATO mission there, and could potentially provide more — the Obama Administration is currently struggling to convince other European NATO allies to send reinforcements. Washington could also seek Ankara’s help in persuading some its neighbors to allow NATO to run supply lines for its Afghanistan mission through their territories.
Turkey’s rising star in Obama’s Washington could also help keep the country’s democratization process on track. Elected twice on a platform of change, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has been faltering on democratic reforms in recent months. Having been frustrated in its efforts to expedite its acceptance into the European Union, Turkey’s government has instead put greater emphasis on looking east, burnishing its influence in the Islamic world. The Kurdish conflict in the southeast, which spills over into Iraq, remains unresolved and reforms have stalled, while a recent U.S. State Department human rights report cites police misconduct, allegations of torture and limits on freedom of expression as problems in Turkey.
By dangling the prospect of a high-profile strategic role for Ankara, Obama can help ensure that Turkey gets back on track on issues that matter: E.U. membership, fully addressing the grievances of the country’s large Kurdish minority and better democracy. And a more stable Turkey can only strengthen its position as a moderate role model for the countries to its east.
Ties between Washington and Ankara had become increasingly fraught under the Bush administration, never fully recovering from the Turkish parliament’s refusal in 2003 to allow U.S. troops to use Turkey as a launching pad into neighboring Iraq. During the subsequent war, U.S. popularity fell to an all-time low in Turkey. But Obama appears to view Turkey — a predominantly Muslim but officially secular country straddling Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East — as having a key part to play in his effort to heal U.S. relations with the Islamic world. An increasingly assertive regional power, Turkey has significant influence in a number of conflict zones critical to U.S. foreign policy objectives, ranging from relations between Israel and its neighbors to the Caucasus, Iraq and Iran. “The new administration is aware of Turkey’s importance,” said Turkish foreign minister Ali Babacan after meeting Clinton. “Turkish-American relations have entered a new era.”
Since last May, Ankara has hosted several rounds of secret peace talks between Syria and Israel. It also played a role in helping secure the tenuous cease-fire that ended hostilities in Gaza earlier this year. Turkey has also been approached by Tehran to mediate in its standoff with Washington over Iran’s nuclear program. A day after Secretary Clinton’s Ankara visit, a high-profile Turkish delegation flew to Tehran, with whose regime Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s moderate Islamist-rooted government enjoys good relations.
And while Turkey would not allow U.S. troops to transit its territory on the way in to Iraq, it has said it will allow them to pass through Turkey on their way out, in line with President Obama’s withdrawal plans. Ankara may play an even larger role in Afghanistan, another key focus of the Obama Administration. Turkey already has about 800 troops on the ground as part of the NATO mission there, and could potentially provide more — the Obama Administration is currently struggling to convince other European NATO allies to send reinforcements. Washington could also seek Ankara’s help in persuading some its neighbors to allow NATO to run supply lines for its Afghanistan mission through their territories.
Turkey’s rising star in Obama’s Washington could also help keep the country’s democratization process on track. Elected twice on a platform of change, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government has been faltering on democratic reforms in recent months. Having been frustrated in its efforts to expedite its acceptance into the European Union, Turkey’s government has instead put greater emphasis on looking east, burnishing its influence in the Islamic world. The Kurdish conflict in the southeast, which spills over into Iraq, remains unresolved and reforms have stalled, while a recent U.S. State Department human rights report cites police misconduct, allegations of torture and limits on freedom of expression as problems in Turkey.
By dangling the prospect of a high-profile strategic role for Ankara, Obama can help ensure that Turkey gets back on track on issues that matter: E.U. membership, fully addressing the grievances of the country’s large Kurdish minority and better democracy. And a more stable Turkey can only strengthen its position as a moderate role model for the countries to its east.
March 11th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I wonder if Obama’s gonna also pay a visit to the big Alliance of Civilizations conference being held in Istanbul in April…he seems to be in agreement with most of their agenda.
March 11th, 2009 at 11:40 pm
Pass the barf bag please!
March 12th, 2009 at 12:47 am
Turkey is going Gog-a over Barack “Lightning” Obama, Lk10:18
March 12th, 2009 at 7:08 am
There seems to be an expectation in the muslim world of what Obama will do for them. Do they see him as the prodigal son returning from a fling with a hybrid Islam/Christian philosophy under Jeremiah Wright to a pure Islamic faith? If not maybe they see him as a president of the USA who will finally abandon Israel as our strong ally and friend? The expectations the muslim world have of Obama are high and unfortunately they may be fulfilled.
Its a scary thought when your enemies cheer your leader isnt it? As John the Baptist fulfilled Isaiah 40:3 (Isaiah 40:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.) perhaps Mr Barrack Hussein Obama is making the path crooked for the appearing of the lawless one, satan always seems to mimic God’s plan and ways as best he can. And for whatever its worth it does appear Turkey has been groomed to play a dominant role as the events prophecied in Holy Scripture begin to unfold before us.
God bless the saints of God and give us the grace we need daily to glorify Him.
March 12th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
I have no doubt that BO will at the very least, help make the way open for the AntiChrist. When it happens, I believe it will be more like a super hwy. As there are things happening today that I could not imagin 5 years ago, I think there will be things happening 5 years from now which are currently hard to believe.
March 12th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Don’t know if this was posted here or not. This commentary piece appeared in Forbes magazine:
My Muslim President Obama (Why members of the Islamic faith see him as one of the flock.):
http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/24/muslim-barack-obama-opinions-contributors_islamic_president.html
March 12th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Could the BO worship get any creepier?
March 12th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
^^^ I’m sure it can, and I’m sure it will…
March 13th, 2009 at 9:23 am
“And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.” Daniel 11:33-35
May we whose eyes are open continue to be wise, and may we cause others to understand.
The delusional blindness is already setting in …
“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
March 13th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Water,
Here is some more creepy for us all…
“School Children Complain Of “Obama Worship” During Lessons”
Giant images of president projected onto classroom walls disturb kids, parents
Steve Watson
Infowars.net
Wednesday, Jan 28th, 2009
Several disturbing stories have come to our attention over the past weeks and days that further highlight how sections of the American population have elevated Barack Obama to a dangerously inflated “messianic” status normally only associated with Royalty or totalitarian leaders.
What makes the following accounts so much more insidious, however, is that they all involve children.
Perhaps the most insidious is to be found on the Tree of Liberty forum where a concerned parent from Las Vegas reveals that his 1st grader son has complained of having to pledge allegiance every day at school to a huge projected image of the new president.
The post reads:
My son, who is in 1st grade, came home yesterday saying that he didn’t want to go back to school anymore. So I asked him why? He said that during the Pledge of Allegiance the teacher put up a large image of Obama next to the flag. I asked him if he was sure of this and I suggested to him that maybe the teacher just put up an 8×10 photo of the president. He said, “No, it is a large picture of Obama and when we are done Ms. **** turns off the image.” I also asked if they did this for Bush last year? He again said, “No.” This was my sons first day back to school since before Christmas, he was on a 5 week track break.
My wife volunteers a couple of days each week with helping out with my sons teacher doing various duties. She said that she would come in early this morning to see what was going on. She just got back and reported that this was true and then some. She said she waited out in the pod area and could see inside 3 of the 5 class rooms in this section of school. She said that when the kids stand each teacher flips on the classroom overhead and a full body image of Obama, with six U.S. flags behind him, comes up about 4 feet away from the flag that hangs on the wall. She said that the image has Obama staring straight at you with no facial expressions, just a serious look. I asked my wife if Obama had his hand over his heart? She said that she was so taken aback by this that she didn’t see it. What is worse is she said that all of the kids in each class faced Obama instead of the flag that hangs in the corner.
What the heck is going on?
Guys and gals, I need some advise on how to approach this. I can be somewhat hot headed so I need to plan accordingly with what to say to the principal when we go in to inquire about this. I am sure I will be brushed off so what is my next step? Obviously it will be the school district but then who? ACLU, Veteran groups, Christian groups? Who would be interested in this vile activity?
This is happening in the Clark County School District here in Las Vegas, Henderson area.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/school-children-complain-of-obama-worship-during-lessons.html
March 14th, 2009 at 4:33 am
What the heck is going on?
In my country Christians are being attacked for by the liberal media and other Christians for being too moral. No kidding! There was an article recently in one of the biggest liberal magazines of the country criticizing the stance of small Christian Churches’ stance on sexuality. I have to add that is simply the classic Biblical stance: no sex before marriage. A stance that the so called “historical Churches” should represent also, but some apparently do not (in my country only the Catholics, Lutherans, Kalvinists and Jews are regarded as historical churches, Evangelical Churches are often referred to as “sect” and are widely viewed with suspicion, although they are operating lawfully). The Lutheran Church put this article up on their website immiediately, because it fit well into their agenda of “demonizing” Evangelicals. As one Evangelical writer pointed out: isn’t it peculiar that other Christian Churches are basically criticizing Evangelicals for being too moral?
The article referred to a psychological report that, according to them at least, suggested that members of such Churches are sexually and emotionally immature and frustrated because of this moral stance about no sex before marriage. As it turned out the psychological report to that they referred to didn’t suggest anything like that. The psychologist who wrote that wrote a letter making it clear that her original report didn’t say that and appologized to those who might feel hurt because of the article that the liberal paper wrote about it. When a journalist from an Evangelical Church approached the liberal paper to ask them about their article, they simply did not answer…
So in a country where the rate of divorces, alcoholism, depression etc. is so high as in mine, it seems the liberal media has a problem with the moral standpoint of Biblical Christians where the rate of divorces, alcoholism, depression and other mental problems is far below the national average (proven fact)…
So that is what is going on in our World…
March 14th, 2009 at 7:43 am
If I didn’t know that Jesus was certain to return, I’d say we deserve to self-destruct after reading all this degenerate and debase behavior…and wonder why God judged Sodom and Gomorrah if we are not soon ripe for the same fate…really.
March 25th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
44 lambs sacrificed. Obama will enter a major Islamic city on Sunday, April 5th, the Christian Palm Sunday=Lamb selection day prior to Passover. . . interesting.