The Turkish Dilemma

AS Anglo-American troops march relentlessly toward military victory in Iraq, American diplomats nervously contemplate the growing wave of hatred and suspicion toward the U.S. in the Islamic world. Some of this hatred is inspired by a false picture of the war in the Arab media and, as in Afghanistan, may be dissipated by postwar evidence that Iraqis are grateful to be rid of Saddam Hussein. But much of it is deeply rooted in the resentments of a decaying culture that blames the West for its own political and economic failures. And that is a much more intractable problem. Indeed, if the West is to overcome this hatred, Islamic culture will first have to overcome its own resentful inability to cope with modernity.

If that is to happen, we in turn will have to rely on Turkey—the only Islamic country that has yet successfully, if imperfectly, modernized itself—to lead the way. In the last month, however, the U.S. and Turkey have twice been at serious odds. And Washington is in danger of drawing wrong—and self-defeating—conclusions from these disputes.

About the Author

John O’Sullivan

John O’Sullivan is a senior fellow at National Review Institute and a contributing editor of National Review.

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AS Anglo-American troops march relentlessly toward military victory in Iraq, American diplomats nervously contemplate the growing wave of hatred and suspicion toward the U.S. in the Islamic world. Some of this hatred is inspired by a false picture of the war in the Arab media and, as in Afghanistan, may be dissipated by postwar evidence that Iraqis are grateful to be rid of Saddam Hussein. But much of it is deeply rooted in the resentments of a decaying culture that blames the West for its own political and economic failures. And that is a much more intractable problem. Indeed, if the West is to overcome this hatred, Islamic culture will first have to overcome its own resentful inability to cope with modernity.

If that is to happen, we in turn will have to rely on Turkey—the only Islamic country that has yet successfully, if imperfectly, modernized itself—to lead the way. In the last month, however, the U.S. and Turkey have twice been at serious odds. And Washington is in danger of drawing wrong—and self-defeating—conclusions from these disputes.