TKS blogger Jim Geraghty is going to be moving to Turkey soon because his wife’s job is taking her there.
As a result, he’s been studying up on NATO-member Turkey, learning Turkish, etc.
In the course of his studies, he came across an interesting Wall Street Journal piece about anti-Americanism in Turkey.
Here are a few excerpts:
Among the paper’s "scoops" have been the 1,000 Israeli soldiers deployed alongside U.S. forces in Iraq, and that U.S. forces have been harvesting the innards of dead Iraqis for sale on the U.S. "organ market."
It’s not much better in the secular press. The mainstream Hurriyet has accused Israeli hit squads of assassinating Turkish security personnel in Mosul, and the U.S. of starting an occupation of Indonesia under the guise of humanitarian assistance. At Sabah, a columnist last fall accused the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Eric Edelman, of letting his "ethnic origins" — guess what, he’s Jewish — determine his behavior. Mr. Edelman is indeed the all-too-rare foreign-service officer who takes seriously his obligation to defend America’s image and interests abroad. The intellectual climate in which he’s operating has gone so mad that he actually felt compelled to organize a conference call with scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey to explain that secret U.S. nuclear testing did not cause the recent tsunami.
Never in an ostensibly friendly country have I had the impression of embassy staff so besieged. Mr. Erdogan’s office recently forbade Turkish officials from attending a reception at the ambassador’s residence in honor of the "Ecumenical" Patriarch of the Orthodox Church, who resides in Istanbul. Why? Because "ecumenical" means universal, which somehow makes it all part of a plot to carve up Turkey.
Perhaps the most bizarre anti-American story au courant in the Turkish capital is the "eighth planet" theory, which holds not only that the U.S. knows of an impending asteroid strike, but that we know it’s going to hit North America. Hence our desire to colonize the Middle East.
It all sounds loony, I know. But such stories are told in all seriousness at the most powerful dinner tables in Ankara. The common thread is that almost everything the U.S. is doing in the world — even tsunami relief — has malevolent motivations, usually with the implication that we’re acting as muscle for the Jews.
In the face of such slanders Turkish politicians have been utterly silent. In fact, Turkish parliamentarians themselves have accused the U.S. of "genocide" in Iraq, while Mr. Erdogan (who we once hoped would set for the Muslim world an example of democracy) was among the few world leaders to question the legitimacy of the Iraqi elections. When confronted, Turkish pols claim they can’t risk going against "public opinion."
Have fun in Turkey, Jim!
Sounds like a country in major need of a “Pajamahadin”!
They accuse the US of genocide? After all they should know something about genocide, especially after doing it to the Armenians during Wolrd War One.
Those wacky muslims!
Please, grow up! Making degrading comments about a religion just points you out as the bigot! Get a hold of yourself. Remember we are all born into our beliefs, we don’t come with a booklet and directions. The people we need to becareful of are those that single out people because of religion. When religion & politics are mixed, it’s no different than driving your car while being intoxicated! They shouldn’t be toghether. That goes for your religion too Mr. Stroud. Just because someone has a theory doesn’t always mean they are wacked either. Most everything we know today about the world was once based on someone’s theory. At the same time, not every theory becomes true either. As far as newspapers, please, haven’t you learned by now. Newspapers are printed for one reason only, yes you guessed it, to sell! Wow! What will do it? Just about any wacky theory. Look at us, we marvel everytime we get another wacky murder, or child molestation case out of California. they always top the news media. Americans are generally very good people who will always be there to protect the underdog! Americans in general are the most compasionate people you’ll find on the planet. I also consider myself one of those Americans! We love our country! I don’t always agree with our government, but I still love being an American and wouldn’t change it for the world! I also know that the majority of all Turks are great people. They will welcome you into their homes and feed you not caring who you are and what you believe in. Thousand of Turks died alongside our troops fighting the North Koreans in the Korean War. It is a sad day when certain people take it upon themselves to spread hate. I believe that everytime you read negativity and hatred, please use your commonsense; those who spread hatred are no better than the ones that have started in the first place. The world will be better place when we all take a stance and look for common ground.
Proud to be an American!!
Okay, I guess you can never count the Armenians out when it comes to bashing the Turks. Everytime the Turks are attacked, the Armenians are not too far away from the crime scene! That’s exactly what happened in 1915 when the Turks were fighting for their lives against the Russians. The Armenians joined in on the attack! They fail to mention the genocide they commited on innocent Turkish women and children during that time. These Armenians were living in Turkey as friends, citizens and neighbors and once the Russians arrived they took arms against their own neighbors. The Russians actually killed more Armenians than Turks at the end of the war. It’s time for the Armenians to take responsibility of the killing thousands of Turkish citizens.
Those wacky liberals!
Those wacky Russians!
Why is the Catholic religion full of priests that molest boys? Is this part of the Catholic belief? I see religion used for an excuse to go to war, but the Catholic church takes the cake! Using religion to molest young innocent children. What kind of religion is this??? If your priests don’t fear God, than I guess the followers can’t be too far behind.
Good luck, I’m sure you all have a first class seat waiting for you in heaven??? Good Luck!
Those wacky trolls!
Why dosent anyone look up the turkish involvment in the Korean war and see how much they helped the United States. People if u look during WW2 did u know besides Britan who else was taking in alot of escaping jews Turkey they are not a type of people who hate. Also as Nuetralejoe added the Armenians attacked first and the Russians did kill more Armenians than Turks did. The Turks dont hate America they just dont agree with everything that America does. Also it is mentioned that Sabah and Hurriyet the Turkish newspapers made some alligations about America and Israeil You tell me one country that dosent. As an American i love to live here and this is one of the best countrys in the world but i have also traveled to Turkey and ill tell you something Theres alot more hatred in this country of other cultures than Turkey by far and thats no opinion thats a FACT. We have to change as a nation and super power to be more accepting and the rest of the world will foll
The Turks would never hurt anyone. Just ask the Greeks, Armenians, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Bulgarians
Yeah, according to the Turks, those people never lived there and really do not exist.