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Turkey at the Crossroads - Again

Reader comment on item: Ambitious Turkey
in response to reader comment: Turkey is a good country

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Apr 14, 2011 at 12:37

And who are Turkey's friends: enemies? It is well spoke that one should keep friends close, enemies closer.

But let us look at who Turkey's friends were in a couple of circumstances, doing so in the framework of this forum. There are historical implications from the ancient past, of Anatolia that show alliances of one sort or another. But it is in the modern context that we can see a country of divergence when we consider that in the early Twentieth century, Turkey's Ottoman masters aligned with the Kaiser. History shows us how well that turned out.

Turkey's role in the Second World War was peculiar in that there seemed a reluctance for the Germans to overtly expand its Nazi presence there, yet the influences of the considerations Germany had for the region were just as keenly felt. On the one hand the reports of people of Jewish heritage found help there are contrasted with the efforts to get Turkey allied with one side or the other, Turkey finally siding against the Axis after becoming the safe refuge for many Europeans. Thus it is not hard to come to a conclusion that a once good idea to allow Turkey to become a participant in NATO was seriously considered.

That has changed enough in today's geopolitical climate by the actions of Erdogan and his current alliances that the West can no longer dismiss the implications of Turkey's newer choices of friends over the former associations of the past. Under a government that once operated in observance of the changes of Attatürk, a very different attitude than formerly appreciated is now apparent in the newer alliances with Turkey. The current government has made it clear by its current choices that Turkey is trying to find a different strength in Middle Eastern political circles and the West is not going to be invited.

Now it is evident that there are differences of opinions as to which country in the West should take a position considered friendly to Turkey; and to those circumstances we can observe how the political situation in the Middle East might strike out on a course that will put Turkey in jeopardy of collision for not watching where things are going. In example, sending out a flotilla into a political situation such as Gaza sends a message that Turkey is not engaging in a friendly manner to all sides. If the supposition purported here that Turkey is cruel to enemies, we can only assume that is Turkey's intent towards Israel.

But there is more to it than that. From the time of ancient considerations, before Islam was inbred into the politics of Turkey, a different circumstance could be found in the land that would become Turkey that has a prophetical implication to be observed. The Seven Churches of the Christian Book of the Revelation are remnants of history in Turkey, and by inference and cross reference the Books of Daniel and Ezekiel. In these references, we see the ancient lands being used to discern good and bad relations with Israel in those times; and indications are that things will not go so well for those that take an antagonistic position to Israel.

In that vein, the Canadian's posting indicating that 'Turkey won't harm anybody unless others tries (try) to harm them,' seems out of place if Turkey continues in a demonstration of her intentions to interfere with Gaza, putting her in direct conflict with Israel. Turkey was once thought an ally to Israel: the new friendships are seeing to it that the second part of the post will take away any supposed modesty Turkey might have had and replace it with the cruel intentions most of the rest of the Middle East and others maintain for Israel.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (70) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
I am Confused about your historical analysis [118 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Vance PainterJul 17, 2015 08:47224294
6Dellusions of Grandeur - A bit of humility may be warranted, dear Turkish friends [1004 words]Michel C. ZalaMay 19, 2011 11:40185353
imperialism [200 words]havasMay 29, 2011 02:46185353
11Turkish delusions: our dear Havas is saying that al-rabi3 al-3arabi (the Arab spring) is because of Turkey and its little mavi marmara [911 words]dhimmi no moreMay 30, 2011 07:57185353
19"It is not Islam's Fault that Muslim People are backwards"....Contradiction in itself, dear Havas [2176 words]Michel C ZalaMay 30, 2011 13:08185353
4India and Pakistan and islam [312 words]dhimmi no moreMay 31, 2011 07:12185353
1Turkish Hipocrisey. [114 words]aspaciaJun 10, 2011 13:05185353
islam problem? [111 words]havasSep 12, 2011 12:39185353
1Turkey's Problem Will Not Be With Islam Alone [459 words]M. ToveySep 14, 2011 15:32185353
war [457 words]havasSep 17, 2011 04:32185353
1'war'-Its Inevitability Already Forecasted [675 words]M. ToveySep 19, 2011 16:07185353
How unfair. [90 words]MuratNov 1, 2011 18:13185353
Try researching before making claims [23 words]KerryNov 1, 2011 20:11185353
1how unfair, go inside to know exactly why [332 words]muslimJun 25, 2013 05:25185353
4Ok Great, now go back to work. [181 words]PrashantJun 27, 2013 21:28185353
2Why Muslims backwards [223 words]boussaidDec 9, 2013 02:05185353
questioning islam? do a little research first! [219 words]saraDec 23, 2013 12:24185353
3Islam and fantasy [1313 words]dhimmi no moreDec 24, 2013 16:53185353
Why Muslims backwards [139 words]boussaidDec 27, 2013 15:38185353
IMO [270 words]edJan 17, 2014 13:26185353
3The Amazigh and Islam [435 words]dhimmi no moreFeb 6, 2014 17:56185353
1islam will rise again [55 words]sabAug 12, 2014 06:07185353
true pic of Islam [33 words]Rao MujahidAug 18, 2014 04:35185353
Islam Not to Be Blamed for Muslims Backwardness [141 words]syed sardar BadshahSep 10, 2014 07:29185353
rigid interpretations in the noble quran [141 words]MauriceNov 1, 2014 07:47185353
1Turkey [53 words]NiyazApr 17, 2011 22:13184385
i am happy turkey is back to its islamic roots [47 words]syed mohammad aliApr 17, 2011 11:47184371
1Turkey has Moved into Biblical Position - Is the World Really Ready for What's Next? [630 words]M. ToveyApr 18, 2011 12:18184371
8I am happy as well that Turkey is returning to its Islamic roots. [99 words]PrashantApr 18, 2011 22:38184371
2Someone needs a reality check [36 words]YovenApr 21, 2011 10:57184371
1Prashant's pipedream [76 words]janApr 21, 2011 15:58184371
2Time will tell whether Islamism in Turkey will bring prosperity or failure [141 words]PrashantApr 22, 2011 01:15184371
Dear [270 words]janApr 24, 2011 04:20184371
3Islamists in Turkey [114 words]PrashantApr 26, 2011 03:47184371
2I urge our dear Jan to leave islam and IRHAL (get lost) from England part deux [153 words]dhimmi no moreApr 26, 2011 07:44184371
1Islamism as a Tool of Erdogan's Will Bring Failure in Turkey [184 words]MarianApr 29, 2011 01:24184371
Khilafat and Muslim Ummah [25 words]Carlos de SouzaMay 25, 2011 07:46184371
Muslim murder Muslims more than any other force worldwids. [8 words]aspaciaJun 10, 2011 13:18184371
3atatürk and akp [400 words]havasApr 17, 2011 03:29184348
1Turkey runs true to color [24 words]Frank LukeApr 15, 2011 15:00184292
1Erdogan's Turkey [166 words]Jay1Apr 14, 2011 20:53184260
response to your "Ambitious Turkey" article [309 words]Prof. A. S. ArgonApr 13, 2011 12:30184225
3Turkey [208 words]Joe Six-PackApr 16, 2011 10:06184225
Read both sides [89 words]aspaciaJun 11, 2011 09:20184225
Related Articles [17 words]Emile TubianaApr 13, 2011 08:23184219
Dear Dr. Pipes [393 words]Debanjan BanerjeeApr 12, 2011 21:23184201
9Turkey is a tragedy. [293 words]batya daganApr 12, 2011 17:27184187
Ahmet Davutoglu has explicitily stated that the Qaddafi family must abdicate their power. [2 words]somaApr 12, 2011 13:35184186
The Smell of Smoke in Turkey [338 words]M. ToveyApr 12, 2011 13:04184184
6Turkey is a good country [19 words]SephardiApr 12, 2011 18:18184184
1Turkey at the Crossroads - Again [627 words]M. ToveyApr 14, 2011 12:37184184
3Reponse to Turkey at the Crossroads- Again [413 words]SephardiApr 15, 2011 18:45184184
1catholic priests [13 words]BulanikApr 22, 2011 16:27184184
Prophecies should be left in place of worship. [41 words]aspaciaJun 11, 2011 10:12184184
Turkey nonhostile? [39 words]aspaciaJun 11, 2011 10:15184184
Shephardi is living in Oz [11 words]aspaciaJun 11, 2011 10:20184184
Spiritual (Such as Prophetical) Things are Not Confined to Buildings Called Church [747 words]M. ToveyJun 13, 2011 12:03184184
An Indepenent Turkey Remains to be Seen [478 words]M. ToveyJun 14, 2011 16:00184184
1YAWN! [155 words]aspaciaJun 14, 2011 17:23184184
Oh Well - At Least You Knew the Words at One Time [161 words]M.ToveyJun 15, 2011 18:38184184
4Turkey [104 words]aliApr 12, 2011 11:48184181
5Turkey [31 words]HerzelianApr 13, 2011 18:56184181
turkey [169 words]aliApr 14, 2011 05:29184181
4Perceptions of Inequities- Gaza does Not Present the Best Intentions Turkey Can Offer [164 words]M. ToveyApr 14, 2011 17:01184181
Kurds [44 words]BulanikApr 22, 2011 16:46184181
Turkey is not friendly with Israel [6 words]aspaciaJun 11, 2011 10:22184181
2ali is antiJewish [50 words]aspaciaJun 11, 2011 10:27184181
4The Khaliphate arises again [115 words]yuvalApr 12, 2011 08:54184174
1Khaliphates Hold No Special Power over the Power of Israel's Almighty God [199 words]M. ToveyApr 12, 2011 18:51184174
4No place to run and hide. [39 words]batya daganApr 12, 2011 23:42184174

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