Turkey's Erdogan: Never a "yes" man

[Fighter488]

Turkey's Erdogan: Never a "yes" man​

By Sami Moubayed

DAMASCUS - In his autobiography In Search of Identity Anwar Sadat recalled that he used to travel from his remote village to cosmopolitan Cairo as a poor child and jump into the royal gardens by night to steal oranges, only to be beaten by the king's guards.

He never imagined that one day he would walk through the palace gates to greet King Farouk I as an officer in the Egyptian army. He never imagined - not in his wildest dreams - that one day he would walk through the same gates to sit on the king's throne after he became president of republican Egypt in 1970.

The game of fate is a strange one indeed, which British statesman Winston Churchill once described: "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time."

For one week now, mainstream media in the Arab and Muslim world have been trumpeting the early life of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As a young vendor selling cakes, melon and lemonade on the streets of Istanbul during summer holidays Erdogan, now 56, never imagined that one day he would become premier.

Growing up in the 1960s, her never imagined he would rise to become a pan-Muslim leader, stirring pro-Turkish emotions that have been stifled since the downfall of the Ottoman Empire 92 years ago.

In modern history, only Erdogan and the Egyptian diva Um Kalthoum (who died 35 years ago) have been able to capture the minds and hearts of Arabs and Muslims, the popular Saudi channel al-Arabiya said in a biography recently published on its website. Had such a statement been made 10 years ago, the name next to Um Kalthoum would have probably been ex-Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser, the "godfather" of modern Arabism. A Turkish citizen with an Islamic agenda who does not speak a word of Arabic would have been far from making the grade.

In January, in a testament to how popular he was becoming, Erdogan was awarded the prestigious King Faisal International Prize for "service to Islam" by the Saudi King Faisal Foundation. In April, Time magazine listed him, for the second time, as among the most 100 influential people in the world.

Reading through Erdogan's career it is clear he has worked hard, but it is probably by coincidence that he won pan-Arab and pan-Islamic popularity.

On March 1, 2003, two weeks before Erdogan assumed office as prime minister, Ankara - headed by his Justice and Development Party (AKP) - vetoed a proposal to allow the United States to use Turkish territory to open a second front against Iraq from the north, in order to topple Saddam Hussein.

That scored him his first points with Arabs and Muslims at large. Two years later, in March 2005, then-US secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld bitterly complained to Fox News, "Clearly, if we had been able to get the 4th Infantry Division in from the north, in through Turkey, more of the Hussein-Ba'athist regime would have been captured or killed." Had Turkey been more cooperative, "the insurgency today [in Iraq] would be less", he added.

Quiet unintentionally, Rumsfeld's frustration pinned another medal of honor on Erdogan in the eyes of millions of Arabs. That same year Erdogan refused to accept US dictates, strengthening his relations with Syria at a time ties between Damascus and the George W Bush administration were souring, and he become a frequent visitor to the Syrian capital.

Erdogan again defied the US by receiving Khalid Meshaal, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, after the Palestinian movement emerged victorious in parliamentary elections in 2005. He also declined an invitation from former prime minister Ariel Sharon to visit Israel in 2004, again arousing US ire, and did not meet Ehud Olmert on the then-Israeli minister of labor and trade's visit to Turkey in July 2004.

Erdogan stood up for the Palestinians during the war on Gaza in 2008, accusing Israel of committing war crimes. Addressing Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2009, he told the Israeli president, "President Peres, you are old, and your voice is loud out of a guilty conscience. When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill. I know well how you hit and kill children on beaches."

That single statement sky-rocketed him to pan-Arab and pan-Islamic fame, and his photos began appearing in major Arab capitals. But his outburst in Switzerland was nothing compared to his angry words last week after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stormed the Free Gaza flotilla off the shores of Gaza, killing nine Turkish citizens onboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara.

The Arab world went into uproar in defense of the Turkish prime minister, who angrily withdrew his ambassador from Israel, leading to his country's flag being hoisted by protesters in massive demonstrations that stretched throughout Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut and Cairo.

"Turkey's friendship is strong; and all should know that our hostility is strong too,'' Erdogan told the Turkish parliament. ''The international community has to say to Israel enough is enough! The sailing of Freedom Flotilla is legal; the Israeli aggression against the flotilla targets the United Nations. Israel should pay the price for what it has done ... Israel can't wash its hands off its perpetrated crime in the Mediterranean. The country which tries to win the hatred of the entire world can never achieve its security; Israel has been losing the ribs of peace one by one."

He added, "Israel shouldn't look at the face of the world, unless it apologizes and be punished for its doings. We are fed up with Israeli lies; the actions of the Israeli government harm Israel itself before harming others."

Then almost in disbelief Arabs cheered as he hinted that he would board a ship and head off to Gaza to help break the Israeli siege that began in 2007, and would let the Turkish navy accompany him into Palestinian waters to ensure the IDF would be helpless as he ventured into the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan is at his finest hour in the Arab and Muslim worlds, thanks to strong words accompanied by strong deeds. Earlier in the year, he forced the Israeli government to apologize after humiliating his ambassador to Israel, prompting Arab media to boast, "Israel only understands Turkish!"

Last month he hammered out a uranium-swap agreement with Brazil and Iran, which if it had been immediately accepted by the international community could have spared Iran the burden of a fourth set of sanctions that are due to be discussed at the United Nations on Wednesday.

Under Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey has cut its Cold War image as an appendage to the West, yet also wants to be a full member of the European Union by 2014. Should it join, the EU will border Iran and see a six-fold increase in its Muslim population. Seeking "zero problems with neighbors", Ankara has put in place visa-free travel agreements with Lebanon, Jordan, Libya and Syria, while one with Russia will soon come into effect.

As al-Arabiya noted, "Overnight he [Erdogan] has become the most popular person in the Arab world while Iran, the US and some European countries have strived to achieve what he got in a second."

Perhaps it is Erdogan's eloquence and strong defiance of Israel that brought him to the top in the Arab world. Or perhaps it is his piousness, given that he is a devote Muslim whose wife Emine wears a headscarf, as do millions of Arab and Muslim women around the world.

In the 1990s, he was dismissed from government office for publicly reciting a poem that challenged Turkey's cherished secularism with the words, "The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers ..."

Or perhaps it is his humble background. The son of a coastguard who had a rough upbringing because his family was poor, Erdogan excelled at an Islamic school before obtaining a degree in management from Marmara University - while playing professional football. His rise to power was not smooth. He failed twice, in 1978 and 1991, to be elected to parliament on an Islamic ticket.

The real reason, however, is that he said "no" to Israel and put his full weight behind the Palestinians. That is a magical cure in the Middle East and has never failed since the creation of Israel in 1948.

It did wonders to the careers of men like Egypt's Nasser, Syria's Hafez al-Assad, and former Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. It is also the reason why Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah is so popular on Arab and Muslim streets, and why Arab leaders with peace treaties with Israel, like Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, are not.

Anyone who understands how unpopular Turkey was in the Arab world for the entire 20th century, thanks to systematic indoctrination against the Ottoman Empire and Turkey's alliance with Israel after 1948, realizes how dramatic Erdogan's achievement has been over the past seven years.

He has rebranded Turkey - and the entire Ottoman legacy - and created a new kind of leadership in the Arab world that combines the traits of Nasser, Assad and Nasrallah. This explains why Erdogan is a phenomenon worth watching as his career unfolds and he develops the charisma, style and character of the talented and complex leader he has already become.​

Sami Moubayed is editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine in Syria.

(Copyright 2010 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)


Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs

 

[Parashuram1]

Turkey's Erdogan: Never a "yes" man​

By Sami Moubayed

DAMASCUS - In his autobiography In Search of Identity Anwar Sadat recalled that he used to travel from his remote village to cosmopolitan Cairo as a poor child and jump into the royal gardens by night to steal oranges, only to be beaten by the king's guards.

He never imagined that one day he would walk through the palace gates to greet King Farouk I as an officer in the Egyptian army. He never imagined - not in his wildest dreams - that one day he would walk through the same gates to sit on the king's throne after he became president of republican Egypt in 1970.

The game of fate is a strange one indeed, which British statesman Winston Churchill once described: "It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time."

For one week now, mainstream media in the Arab and Muslim world have been trumpeting the early life of Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. As a young vendor selling cakes, melon and lemonade on the streets of Istanbul during summer holidays Erdogan, now 56, never imagined that one day he would become premier.

Growing up in the 1960s, her never imagined he would rise to become a pan-Muslim leader, stirring pro-Turkish emotions that have been stifled since the downfall of the Ottoman Empire 92 years ago.

In modern history, only Erdogan and the Egyptian diva Um Kalthoum (who died 35 years ago) have been able to capture the minds and hearts of Arabs and Muslims, the popular Saudi channel al-Arabiya said in a biography recently published on its website. Had such a statement been made 10 years ago, the name next to Um Kalthoum would have probably been ex-Egyptian president Gamal Abdul Nasser, the "godfather" of modern Arabism. A Turkish citizen with an Islamic agenda who does not speak a word of Arabic would have been far from making the grade.

In January, in a testament to how popular he was becoming, Erdogan was awarded the prestigious King Faisal International Prize for "service to Islam" by the Saudi King Faisal Foundation. In April, Time magazine listed him, for the second time, as among the most 100 influential people in the world.

Reading through Erdogan's career it is clear he has worked hard, but it is probably by coincidence that he won pan-Arab and pan-Islamic popularity.

On March 1, 2003, two weeks before Erdogan assumed office as prime minister, Ankara - headed by his Justice and Development Party (AKP) - vetoed a proposal to allow the United States to use Turkish territory to open a second front against Iraq from the north, in order to topple Saddam Hussein.

That scored him his first points with Arabs and Muslims at large. Two years later, in March 2005, then-US secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld bitterly complained to Fox News, "Clearly, if we had been able to get the 4th Infantry Division in from the north, in through Turkey, more of the Hussein-Ba'athist regime would have been captured or killed." Had Turkey been more cooperative, "the insurgency today [in Iraq] would be less", he added.

Quiet unintentionally, Rumsfeld's frustration pinned another medal of honor on Erdogan in the eyes of millions of Arabs. That same year Erdogan refused to accept US dictates, strengthening his relations with Syria at a time ties between Damascus and the George W Bush administration were souring, and he become a frequent visitor to the Syrian capital.

Erdogan again defied the US by receiving Khalid Meshaal, the head of the political bureau of Hamas, after the Palestinian movement emerged victorious in parliamentary elections in 2005. He also declined an invitation from former prime minister Ariel Sharon to visit Israel in 2004, again arousing US ire, and did not meet Ehud Olmert on the then-Israeli minister of labor and trade's visit to Turkey in July 2004.

Erdogan stood up for the Palestinians during the war on Gaza in 2008, accusing Israel of committing war crimes. Addressing Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum at Davos in January 2009, he told the Israeli president, "President Peres, you are old, and your voice is loud out of a guilty conscience. When it comes to killing, you know very well how to kill. I know well how you hit and kill children on beaches."

That single statement sky-rocketed him to pan-Arab and pan-Islamic fame, and his photos began appearing in major Arab capitals. But his outburst in Switzerland was nothing compared to his angry words last week after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stormed the Free Gaza flotilla off the shores of Gaza, killing nine Turkish citizens onboard the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara.

The Arab world went into uproar in defense of the Turkish prime minister, who angrily withdrew his ambassador from Israel, leading to his country's flag being hoisted by protesters in massive demonstrations that stretched throughout Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut and Cairo.

"Turkey's friendship is strong; and all should know that our hostility is strong too,'' Erdogan told the Turkish parliament. ''The international community has to say to Israel enough is enough! The sailing of Freedom Flotilla is legal; the Israeli aggression against the flotilla targets the United Nations. Israel should pay the price for what it has done ... Israel can't wash its hands off its perpetrated crime in the Mediterranean. The country which tries to win the hatred of the entire world can never achieve its security; Israel has been losing the ribs of peace one by one."

He added, "Israel shouldn't look at the face of the world, unless it apologizes and be punished for its doings. We are fed up with Israeli lies; the actions of the Israeli government harm Israel itself before harming others."

Then almost in disbelief Arabs cheered as he hinted that he would board a ship and head off to Gaza to help break the Israeli siege that began in 2007, and would let the Turkish navy accompany him into Palestinian waters to ensure the IDF would be helpless as he ventured into the Gaza Strip.

Erdogan is at his finest hour in the Arab and Muslim worlds, thanks to strong words accompanied by strong deeds. Earlier in the year, he forced the Israeli government to apologize after humiliating his ambassador to Israel, prompting Arab media to boast, "Israel only understands Turkish!"

Last month he hammered out a uranium-swap agreement with Brazil and Iran, which if it had been immediately accepted by the international community could have spared Iran the burden of a fourth set of sanctions that are due to be discussed at the United Nations on Wednesday.

Under Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey has cut its Cold War image as an appendage to the West, yet also wants to be a full member of the European Union by 2014. Should it join, the EU will border Iran and see a six-fold increase in its Muslim population. Seeking "zero problems with neighbors", Ankara has put in place visa-free travel agreements with Lebanon, Jordan, Libya and Syria, while one with Russia will soon come into effect.

As al-Arabiya noted, "Overnight he [Erdogan] has become the most popular person in the Arab world while Iran, the US and some European countries have strived to achieve what he got in a second."

Perhaps it is Erdogan's eloquence and strong defiance of Israel that brought him to the top in the Arab world. Or perhaps it is his piousness, given that he is a devote Muslim whose wife Emine wears a headscarf, as do millions of Arab and Muslim women around the world.

In the 1990s, he was dismissed from government office for publicly reciting a poem that challenged Turkey's cherished secularism with the words, "The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers ..."

Or perhaps it is his humble background. The son of a coastguard who had a rough upbringing because his family was poor, Erdogan excelled at an Islamic school before obtaining a degree in management from Marmara University - while playing professional football. His rise to power was not smooth. He failed twice, in 1978 and 1991, to be elected to parliament on an Islamic ticket.

The real reason, however, is that he said "no" to Israel and put his full weight behind the Palestinians. That is a magical cure in the Middle East and has never failed since the creation of Israel in 1948.

It did wonders to the careers of men like Egypt's Nasser, Syria's Hafez al-Assad, and former Palestinian president Yasser Arafat. It is also the reason why Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah is so popular on Arab and Muslim streets, and why Arab leaders with peace treaties with Israel, like Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, are not.

Anyone who understands how unpopular Turkey was in the Arab world for the entire 20th century, thanks to systematic indoctrination against the Ottoman Empire and Turkey's alliance with Israel after 1948, realizes how dramatic Erdogan's achievement has been over the past seven years.

He has rebranded Turkey - and the entire Ottoman legacy - and created a new kind of leadership in the Arab world that combines the traits of Nasser, Assad and Nasrallah. This explains why Erdogan is a phenomenon worth watching as his career unfolds and he develops the charisma, style and character of the talented and complex leader he has already become.​

Sami Moubayed is editor-in-chief of Forward Magazine in Syria.

(Copyright 2010 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)


Asia Times Online :: Middle East News, Iraq, Iran current affairs

Perhaps Mr. Erdogan realized that he won't be getting any admission in European Union soon so he decided to remove the veil of moderate rule. But when considering the recent exercise with Syria and invitation of a dubious organization's leader (apart from the anti-Jewish rhetoric), I think Turkey is going to be in further trouble with NATO if it continues in its now-getting-fundamentalist attitude.

Not really favorable for Turkey or the region at all. Knowing the Turkish Kemalist secular Army I am surprised why none of Ankara's generals raised an eyebrow to this sudden change.

 

[pak-yes]

Perhaps Mr. Erdogan realized that he won't be getting any admission in European Union soon so he decided to remove the veil of moderate rule. But when considering the recent exercise with Syria and invitation of a dubious organization's leader (apart from the anti-Jewish rhetoric), I think Turkey is going to be in further trouble with NATO if it continues in its now-getting-fundamentalist attitude.

Not really favorable for Turkey or the region at all. Knowing the Turkish Kemalist secular Army I am surprised why none of Ankara's generals raised an eyebrow to this sudden change.

you must realize that turkey is not your client state that they would just continue to do whatever they are told by you people.Seriously for decades Europeans have taken Turkish alliance for granted.Turkey has not been admitted in EU mainly due to Islam and due to Turkish population,economic and military size.

As for the bold part.
Isn't Democracy a ***** eh?When did you people started supporting military dictatorship.

 

[Jigs]

Perhaps Mr. Erdogan realized that he won't be getting any admission in European Union soon so he decided to remove the veil of moderate rule. But when considering the recent exercise with Syria and invitation of a dubious organization's leader (apart from the anti-Jewish rhetoric), I think Turkey is going to be in further trouble with NATO if it continues in its now-getting-fundamentalist attitude.

Not really favorable for Turkey or the region at all. Knowing the Turkish Kemalist secular Army I am surprised why none of Ankara's generals raised an eyebrow to this sudden change.

Idk if you have been following what has been going on in Turkey but Erdogan has silenced most of those people and/or Jailed them. CHP should come into power though hopefully in the next elections. As far as NATO they need us. I don't think most people if any really care much about EU membership in Turkey anymore.

It is kinda like someone wanting a new car. If they can't get it after a long time they lose interest or move on to something different. Of course this car would be possible pretty fast if certain dealers would allow you a monthly payment like others rather then a full down payment of the price. If you know what i mean lol.

 

[Jigs]

you must realize that turkey is not your client state that they would just continue to do whatever they are told by you people.Seriously for decades Europeans have taken Turkish alliance for granted.Turkey has not been admitted in EU mainly due to Islam and due to Turkish population,economic and military size.

As for the bold part.
Isn't Democracy a ***** eh?When did you people started supporting military dictatorship.

I agree with most of what you said. When talk about the military dictatorship it is one that enforces kemalist views which is needed to keep Turkey strong in the long term. The destruction of these views hurts Turkey. Think of it as a necessary evil to keep Turkey the kind of nation she is. Since Erdogan has silenced the extremists of the military. The moderates still hold many of those views and a check and balance is still provided to some extent.

 

[Parashuram1]

you must realize that turkey is not your client state that they would just continue to do whatever they are told by you people.Seriously for decades Europeans have taken Turkish alliance for granted.Turkey has not been admitted in EU mainly due to Islam and due to Turkish population,economic and military size.

As for the bold part.
Isn't Democracy a ***** eh?When did you people started supporting military dictatorship.

Mr. Pak-yes,

Hahaha! Of course Turkey is not a client state to Switzerland! For your kind information, even we are not a part of European Union. You are needlessly bringing religion into this. I don't know why so many Pakistani members here are obsessed with bringing religion into every discussion. Its really regrettable to see threads after threads getting ruined because of such a habit, you know.

Who is talking about military dictatorship? You need more education on Turkish Military as well as its closeness to the European political system, my friend. Turkish Military is known for its fiercely modern Western values and secular principles and is respected worldwide for it. As per the planned operation by Turkish military Gen. Çetin Doğan (Operation Balyoz to be precise) the idea was to “get rid of every single threat to the secular order of the state.” And this was intended when The AKP came to power in 2003.

Please argue when you have substantial knowledge of the subject of a comment, because otherwise it is really disappointing to end up digressing from it into something that was totally uncalled for.

Mr. Jigs:

I am not apprehensive with the idea of Turkey being in European Union, rather am concerned about Turkey's years of excellent reputation as a reliable Eurasian country who proved that fundamentalism of middle east and West Asia are not the face of any specific religion. Mr. Erdogan is un-doing all the hard work put in by your charismatic leader, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (I myself am a big fan of his) .

The point is AKP's narrow views and its cooperation with shadowy governments in the region is only going to put a blot on its name and respect that it has worked for so many years. An entire nation's reputation down because of one man's views. Don't you think that would be harmful to Turkey in long run?

Your country is now an emerging economy, an emerging military power with strong political influence in a significant part of the world. I'd go to the extent of saying that Afghanistan's condition can probably be only solved if Turkey takes a larger role encouraged by NATO. I have more trust in Mr. Kemal's ideologies than what Erdogan is doing at the moment and promoting a narrow and non-liberal version of mindset among the common Turks who're themselves not so by nature.

So I hope you understand the nature of my comment. Thanks.

 

[T-Rex]

Perhaps Mr. Erdogan realized that he won't be getting any admission in European Union soon so he decided to remove the veil of moderate rule.

I think people like you have removed your veil of democarcy and human rights!

Turkey is going to be in further trouble with NATO if it continues in its now-getting-fundamentalist attitude.

Turkey is not going to be in trouble with NATO, NATO is going to be in trouble with Turkey.

Knowing the Turkish Kemalist secular Army I am surprised why none of Ankara's generals raised an eyebrow to this sudden change.

Perhaps as a champion of democracy you should write to the Turkish secular generals to overthrow the elected government of Turkey to save secularism! Now that's not something unexpected from so-called champions of democracy like you.

 

[Parashuram1]

I think people like you have removed your veil of democarcy and human rights!


Turkey is not going to be in trouble with NATO, NATO is going to be in trouble with Turkey.



Perhaps as a champion of democracy you should write to the Turkish secular generals to overthrow the elected government of Turkey to save secularism! Now that's not something unexpected from so-called champions of democracy like you.

Calm down please and re-read my response to Mr Pak-yes in specific. You'll see the perspective with which I raised the subject of my astonishment of Turkish Army's inaction.

 

[Jigs]

Calm down please and re-read my response to Mr Pak-yes in specific. You'll see the perspective with which I raised the subject of my astonishment of Turkish Army's inaction.

What inaction though ? Operation Sledgehammer was to take Erdogan out of office. It ended up failing. Erdogan also has many supporters the army can't remove him while in the public eye. Like i said though the CHP with their new leaders is gaining the much needed support to slowly overtake the AKP.

 

[Meengla]

The main reason as to why Erdogan is still in power is, sadly, not because he is popular within Turkey but because a military coup will certainly ask for backlash against the Turkish military by the EU. Americans are different story: I am almost certain Americans and Israelis would be glad to see either CHP or even the military come to power to reduce Israel's isolation in the Middle East. EU is not even half as beholden to the Israeli Lobby as the US Congress is and many Americans feel powerless in front of this sinister Lobby.
Turkey's leadership has summed it up best: The Cold War is over and regional alliances are not some Zero-Sum game. Behind Turkey's change of 'axis' are definite deep religious bonds AND commercial interests. That is the way to go: Have 'Zero Problems' with neighbors. Washington and London are too far way. Israel is too puny despite technological advances to be of better market than the 300+ million Arabs and 600+ Muslims worldwide.
Only potential problem can come if (or is it when?) the Turkish military mounts a coup. Otherwise, 'look East' has just about as much 'profit' and 'dividends' for Turkey as membership in EU would have. And, again, of course the Palestinian 'cause' is closer to even many secular Turk's hearts.

 

[Parashuram1]

The main reason as to why Erdogan is still in power is, sadly, not because he is popular within Turkey but because a military coup will certainly ask for backlash against the Turkish military by the EU. Americans are different story: I am almost certain Americans and Israelis would be glad to see either CHP or even the military come to power to reduce Israel's isolation in the Middle East. EU is not even half as beholden to the Israeli Lobby as the US Congress is and many Americans feel powerless in front of this sinister Lobby.
Turkey's leadership has summed it up best: The Cold War is over and regional alliances are not some Zero-Sum game. Behind Turkey's change of 'axis' are definite deep religious bonds AND commercial interests. That is the way to go: Have 'Zero Problems' with neighbors. Washington and London are too far way. Israel is too puny despite technological advances to be of better market than the 300+ million Arabs and 600+ Muslims worldwide.
Only potential problem can come if (or is it when?) the Turkish military mounts a coup. Otherwise, 'look East' has just about as much 'profit' and 'dividends' for Turkey as membership in EU would have. And, again, of course the Palestinian 'cause' is closer to even many secular Turk's hearts.

Jigs:

I was referring to T-Rex. He might have understood. I understood your response clearly and thanks for that.

Meengla:

I agree with your first part very well. Since the World War 2, Europe has been struggling to gain its influence around the world that it had during the 19th and 18th century Colonization era. With United States, Russia and China in the limelight, European Union has little to stand for as a political agenda and what better way is there to create one out of thin air by not supporting something the United States supports? United States is known to have been tight-lipped against military regimes that are of advantage to itself in the past but European Union differs from this. They have more of 'unto death' policies when it comes to standing with an ideal and to be identified separately as a global power.

Turkey is not a manufacturing country by foundation. It has only began to rise as an influential player and emerging economy, but is still far away as most mature Turkish members here acknowledge wisely. It will have to fight an uphill task to gain markets competing with Chinese products that already adorn the houses of rich Arabs in the Middle East; including American and European branded products that are made in China. Cheap labour costs, excellent workforce and an immense production capability is something no one right now can manage other than Chinese.

In terms of Technology, Ankara has a great potential in the coming years to be "Middle East's United States". With a considerable population and good educational levels, coupled with so-far moderate and secular attitude of Turks, the Eurasian country has a great potential in civilian and nuclear technology in future and could perhaps ignore European Union. But Mr. Erdogan's "minarets are our bayonets" quote would have caused apprehension in the Union, most unfortunately putting a black blot on Mustafa Kemal's flawless work. Ankara may follow any foreign policy it wishes but I don't think putting both its feet in two opposite boats is going to help the AKP regime in Turkey.

As Jigs said, the Opposition is merely scoring points on this by the day and it would mean a lot of hectic work for the CHP to undo Erdogan's damage. Also, Israel has been an extremely beneficial strategic ally of Turkey since years (even after Soviet Union's demise). And the Turkish State policy isn't going to be suddenly turned upside down just because of one man's whims and views.

 

[Jigs]

Oh ok then cheers

 

[Meengla]

Jigs:

I was referring to T-Rex. He might have understood. I understood your response clearly and thanks for that.

Meengla:

I agree with your first part very well. Since the World War 2, Europe has been struggling to gain its influence around the world that it had during the 19th and 18th century Colonization era. With United States, Russia and China in the limelight, European Union has little to stand for as a political agenda and what better way is there to create one out of thin air by not supporting something the United States supports? United States is known to have been tight-lipped against military regimes that are of advantage to itself in the past but European Union differs from this. They have more of 'unto death' policies when it comes to standing with an ideal and to be identified separately as a global power.

Turkey is not a manufacturing country by foundation. It has only began to rise as an influential player and emerging economy, but is still far away as most mature Turkish members here acknowledge wisely. It will have to fight an uphill task to gain markets competing with Chinese products that already adorn the houses of rich Arabs in the Middle East; including American and European branded products that are made in China. Cheap labour costs, excellent workforce and an immense production capability is something no one right now can manage other than Chinese.

In terms of Technology, Ankara has a great potential in the coming years to be "Middle East's United States". With a considerable population and good educational levels, coupled with so-far moderate and secular attitude of Turks, the Eurasian country has a great potential in civilian and nuclear technology in future and could perhaps ignore European Union. But Mr. Erdogan's "minarets are our bayonets" quote would have caused apprehension in the Union, most unfortunately putting a black blot on Mustafa Kemal's flawless work. Ankara may follow any foreign policy it wishes but I don't think putting both its feet in two opposite boats is going to help the AKP regime in Turkey.

See the bolded part.
1) No, Europe is not the 'appeasing' Europe many make it out to be. Europeans have seen more bloodshed in 20th century alone that is way more than the blood spilled in centuries of warfare in human history. This cannot be explained away by 'Eurabia' or 'appeasement' kind of thinking. Americans, who fought in both the major wars of the 20th century, often tend to look at wars as, sadly and tragically, video games unless someone in the vicinity is hurt. By the way, European official policies still closely ally with Americans'.
2) The 'Minarets are bayonets' speech was said 8 years ago. It did not come into picture much UNTIL late 2008/early 2009 and especially after the Flotilla crises. This is an attempt to deligitmize AKP and Erdogan and very powerful forces--forces which succeeding in making Saddam Hussein and A'Jad as Hitler-Incarnate at play. It is not hard to figure out who is behind it--yes, Israeli Lobby, above all, although still not in full-force (may be a coup is hoped for?).
3) There are many, many commercial advantages for Turkey by siding with the Arabs compared with the defence deals (and previous diplomatic support in US Congress) with Israel. Here is the very latest quote, by Erdogan himself:

PM lashes out at ?black propaganda' sources

He noted also that Turkey’s tourism revenues had risen from $8.5 billion annually to a yearly $22 billion. “Would this be possible if we hadn’t waived visa requirements and pursued our policy of zero problems with our neighbors?” he asked.

 

[Parashuram1]

No, Europe is not the 'appeasing' Europe many make it out to be. Europeans have seen more bloodshed in 20th century alone that is way more than the blood spilled in centuries of warfare in human history. This cannot be explained away by 'Eurabia' or 'appeasement' kind of thinking. Americans, who fought in both the major wars of the 20th century, often tend to look at wars as, sadly and tragically, video games unless someone in the vicinity is hurt. By the way, European official policies still closely ally with Americans'.

I know that very well, mister. Political stand doesn't always mean a counter balance attempt like the Communists tried and failed in the form of Soviet Union. It means a distinct identity. We also fought in World War 2 despite being neutral, so I am aware of how Europe has been in past and how it is now. I don't know about American part, but your comment doesn't really make sense here. Regarding the bold part, you want to make a bet about this? Don't go to the government offices and instead ask groups of people about the over-liberal policies and how fed up they are. For example, in the United Kingdom, the Labour Party's policies have been extremely soft on extremists and fundamentalists that have done a lot of social damage to Britain. I am not referring to the arrests and rather sucking up to people like Lord Ahmed.

Europe has seen so much warfare as you know that now they are trying their best not to take to aggression. Simple as that. And sometimes this broad-mindedness is perceived as weakness by extremists.

The 'Minarets are bayonets' speech was said 8 years ago. It did not come into picture much UNTIL late 2008/early 2009 and especially after the Flotilla crises. This is an attempt to deligitmize AKP and Erdogan and very powerful forces--forces which succeeding in making Saddam Hussein and A'Jad as Hitler-Incarnate at play. It is not hard to figure out who is behind it--yes, Israeli Lobby, above all, although still not in full-force (may be a coup is hoped for?).

Of course it was 8 years ago. But the point is, it clarified Erdogan's stand and as Jigs said, internally Turks aren't too fond of AKP either. Again with the Israelis! Enmity is one thing but this is getting beyond that-- turning into hysteria. In this one thread, I observed Pakistani members blaming Israeli hand in the Korean Crisis that recently happened between North and South. I mean seriously; this is a really dangerous symptom of seeing one political enemy in every incident around the world.

Flotilla Crisis only further opened up AKP's agenda. Come to think of it; for so many decades Turkey was cozy with Israel as well as Europe and all of a sudden it plans to run in the opposite direction? Whose fault is it? AKP's or entire Turkish government's? As you can see here, according to what Jigs says Erdogan seems to have silenced many opposing him in ways unknown to public. If that has really happened, does it signify democratic attitude?

There are many, many commercial advantages for Turkey by siding with the Arabs compared with the defence deals (and previous diplomatic support in US Congress) with Israel. Here is the very latest quote, by Erdogan himself:

And this would mean shunning rest of the world away while welcoming only Arabs. In terms of geo-strategy and military doctrine, that would definitely harm Turkey's national interests. Erdogan cannot see anything beyond religion whereas his predecessors have been very far-sighted because of which Turkey is distinguishable from rest of the Middle East and West Asia.

It won't be helpful in the long run to suddenly swap sides. As for expecting a coup from Turkish military, I would call it a natural response to the threat that AKP poses for Kemalist ideology. Nobody is wishing for a coup here just to clear the air; it is more or less considered a logical response with respect to what is known regarding Turkish military's policy. Even if that were to happen by chance, most likely an immediate re-election would be called for in order to keep European Union and United States from jumping down on Ankara's throat.

 

[Admiral]

Sorry for distrupting but who says Turkey is interested only in Arabs? i wonder who makes this dark propaganda. Turkish foreign policy has changed in last years but the direction of our policies is not only towards middle east. we improve our commercial activities with Africa, Central asia and even with south america. The new turkish foreign policy aims to diversify options on a global scale.

EU countries started to blame us with leading to extremism. i wonder who believes in this but everything we do is to earn more and more money... if you dont have a proper economy, if you dont have businessmen working on global scale, can we say that you can be a global gamer?

in england, businessmen from S. arabia and other gulf countries buying football teams, they become sponsor of some NGO activities but anybody doesnt blame england with switching sides. But when a few men from s. arabia intends to do a few commercial activity, EU members blame Turkey with cooperating extremist countries.

You have been copying and pasting articles from Neo-con supported survey groups. i didnt say anything to this so far but its enough i think. Anybody is not doing anything different here. EU countries keep acting their double sided play,they perform their Hypocite policies and Turkey is trying to create alternatives for development and keep up the economical boost.

Bush and Head of S. arabia state were walking hand to hand; they were hugging eachother, bush was sitting on their diwan just like a nomad. but anybody didnt blame him and usa with switching something...

There is onething in this world. and thats wealth... if Turkey was one of other muslim countries, if it was poor and extremely conservative; which muslim country would want to see Turkey as a close trade partner and even as an ally???

Turkey had been cheated by so called western allies for dozens of times. would you want me to write them here one by one Dear Sir?

All we do is to try to improve our economy, our diplomacy and our effect in the region. please tell me, can Turkey do the thing westerns blame us for, with its present economical strength?

if you are poor, if you are weak, any arabic state doesnt give you even a ''greeting'' nevermind the leadership of the ME or trade right.

As simple as that. First economy and wealth.
Regards