COMMENTARY/CONTENTIONS
Michael Rubin | @mrubin1971
10.17.2011 - 4:20 PMIf there’s one lesson both Democrats and Republican officials should learn with regard to Turkey, it is that no confidential conversation will ever remain secret. It doesn’t take a Wikileaks-like event for Turkish officials to divulge the topics of telephone calls with the White House; it only takes the prime minister’s bravado, and the indiscretion of his Israel-bashing, Hamas-sympathizing foreign minister.
During a retreat for the ruling party, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu discussed an Erdoğan -Obama phone call:
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told U.S. President Barack Obama that his government “acted as Israel’s lawyer,” Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said yesterday… The Turkish foreign minister said Obama had phoned Erdoğan 11 times during the last nine months and a brief encounter took place during one of their conversations, when Obama complained about Turkey’s role in Iran’s uranium swap deal, asking why Erdoğan protected Iran. Erdoğan denied Obama’s claims, Davutoğlu said, and responded, “I do not protect Iran, but you [the United States] act as Israel’s lawyer.”
Well, actually Turkey does protect Iran, running interference for Iran’s nuclear program and diplomatic positions in exchange for cold, hard cash.
Beyond whining to Erdoğan and Davutoğlu, how does the Obama administration respond?
- First, Obama has continued with efforts to provide Turkey our latest model F-35 Joint Strike Fighters
- Second, Obama has agreed to provide Turkey with our advanced predators, even though Turks admit they are seeking to manufacture their own.
- Third, the Obama administration will give Turkey Super Cobra Helicopters
- Now, as Jack Halpern points out to me, the Obama administration will next year give Turkey AWACS, a major force multiplier.
Something here just doesn’t compute. The worse Turkey acts, the more Obama embraces the country.
This Thanksgiving, let's name a "Turkey" sandwich after Obama!
