A country’s expelling an ambassador is the diplomatic equivalent of a wife’s ordering her husband out of the bedroom and onto the living-room couch. It may be temporary, but it sure stings.
Ankara’s decision today to throw out the Israeli ambassador (who was anyway leaving in a matter of days) probably signals more than a fleeting estrangement. One, because it also involves reducing relations to the level of second secretary, suspending all military agreements, and perhaps further hostile economic, diplomatic, and security steps. Two, because it fits into a profound realignment of Turkish foreign policy that’s now underway, turning from the West toward an Islamist outlook akin to, but more subtle than, those emanating from Riyadh and Tehran.
Although I am disappointed and saddened by the shift taking place in Turkey — as recently as a decade ago, I saw it as a model of modernity and moderation for other Muslims to follow — I am quite content to see the Israeli emissary pack his bags and leave Ankara, for this small drama helps anyone still myopic about Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP to understand just how much they are repositioning Turkey as a state hostile to the West.
I have argued before and repeat here: The time has come to remove, or at least to suspend, the Turkish government from the NATO alliance.
Aren't we getting ready to sell them F-35s?
Why yes, yes we are: External Link
So, an enfeebled Greece, bordering an up-armored Turkey. Two ancient enemies, though part of a declining military alliance (NATO).
Is there any chance Turkey might use American technology to make a move on a Greek island, which would then have to be defended by Americans?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhy in the hell would Turkey attack a Greek Island? Most of them are worthless and impoverished small islands. Also Greece in financial bankruptcy now.
Turkey is the best ally the US can have now.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnd for god's sake, lets cancel the sale of military equipment to them. In a few years we may have to advise the Israeli's on the best way to shoot down our most modern planes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMark, Mark, Mark; the first thing the Israelis do when they buy a warplane from the United States is rip out the electronics and put in their own systems; Do you think the Israelis are really that feeble?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhere or where did I say or imply anything derogatory towards the Israeli's or their military.
My point was that there is a very good chance that anything we sell to Turkey could be used against Israel in the near future.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo Mark, I wasn't implying that you did; my remarks were alluding to the fact that Israelis are usually on the leading edge of defense technology. If you would have spoken to some of the guys over at the AEI think-tank maybe they could clue you in on some of the improvements the Israelis have made to Patriot Missile Systems as well as other Missile intercept systems.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere are conflicting reports that the F-35s that are to be sold to Israel may not have any Israeli modifications installed. External Link
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYeah. Don't see suspending Turkey from the NATO alliance happening anytime soon with THIS Administration. Maybe if we told them they were threatening the UAW, the NLRB would go after them...
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo F-35's!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseAnd yet, while other erstwhile NATO allies are quailing before Russian threats, Turkey has agreed to allow the siting of missile defense radars on their territory.
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The situation is far more complex than it appears, and Turkey holds a far too important geostrategic position to receive a hot-headed, tempermental, ill conceived dismissal from the West.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWeren't we set for radar with Poland and Czech Republic until Obama pulled a Honduras on them (i.e. yanked the rug out from under them)?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseJRNY, the Obama administration did in fact scrap plans for a radar site in the Czech Republic and a missile interceptor battery in Poland. Plan B is to use Aegis missiles in the Baltic and Black Seas. We are hoping to get Hungary to host some installations, and the Turkey siting should help this. Earlier this week, Russia began pressuring Nordic and Baltic states to ban US Naval vessels with Aegis systems from their waters.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNATO's job is peace keeping-keeping the peace in Europe. No NATO - no EU - no stability.
Remember what NATO stands for:
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNeeds Americans To Operate.
I am increasingly concerned that we are facing the next global conflict. The ennui'd west VS the culturally vigorous muslims.
The muslims won't take us on directly, but the conflict will exist all the same. We're facing a long cold war as Islam asserts itself.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThank God that Turkey is not in the EU, despite the best efforts of some seriously misguided 'conservative' politicians.
No doubt certain people will blame Turkey's move toward Islamism on being 'rebuffed' by Europe, but in actual fact Europe has had a close escape.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSuspending Turkey from NATO is major-league dumb. The time for that most definitely has NOT come.
The time has come to speak very softly to Turkey while the Turks and the Saudis work to bring down the Syrian regime... which will knock the legs from under Hezbollah in Lebanon and cripple Iran's effort to dominate the Middle East.
THAT"S WHAT TIME IT IS.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIsn't kicking out the Israeli ambassador just a way of sucking up to the EU?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTurkey tosses Israel's ambassador and Pipes says Big deal, he was leaving anyway. Well then, I guess we showed them! Who needs Turkey anyway? Now we have all the neighbors right where we want them; angry and frustrated. That's the recipe for peace that the children of Israel will encounter. God help them.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseTurkey might be stripped of its Nobel Prizes.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHeaven forfend.
In any conflict where Israel is one antagonist, Israel seems to be always right according to the Western opinions.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSo, take every step to punish Turkey.
White Christians and Jews only are right all the time. Forget that 9 Turkish lives were lost in the name of democratic protest. The U.N.O saw what the "world community", i.e USA and its lacquers did not see.