Mediocrates
09-28-2011, 05:01 AM
http://hnn.us/articles/9-27-11/is-turkey-going-rogue.html
Islamists without brakes
An even worse opposition
Looming economic collapse
Escalating Kurdish problems
Looking for a fight with Israel
Stimulating an anti-Turkish faction
Asserting rights over Mediterranean energy reserves
Other international problems: Ankara threatens to freeze relations with the European Union (http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Turkey-to-Freeze-EU-Ties-if-Cyprus-Gets-EU-Presidency-130065273.html) in July 2012, when Cyprus (http://www.cy2012eu.gov.cy/cyppresidency/cyppresidency.nsf/intro?openform) assumes the rotating presidency. Turkish forces have seized a Syrian arms ship (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15044314). Turkish threats to invade northern Iraq have worsened relations with Baghdad. Turkish and Iranian regimes may share an Islamist outlook and an anti-Kurd agenda (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/25/ap/europe/main20111387.shtml), with prospering trade relations (http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193449.html), but their historic rivalry, contrary governing styles, and competing ambitions have soured relations (http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2011/07/turkish-iranian-rivalry-on-the-rise).
While Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu crows that Turkey is ""right at the center of everything (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/middleeast/turkey-predicts-partnership-with-egypt-as-regional-anchors.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print)," AKP bellicosity has soured his vaunted "zero-problems (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/20/turkeys_zero_problems_foreign_policy)" with neighbors policy, turning this into a wide-ranging hostility and even potential military confrontations (with Syria, Cyprus, and Israel). As economic troubles hit, a once-exemplary member of NATO may go further off track; watch for signs of Erdoğan emulating (http://www.haber7.com/haber/20110125/Chavez-Erdogan-fakirin-elini-birakmiyor.php) his Venezuelan friend (http://www.ensonhaber.com/chavez-erdogani-ovdu-tkp-kopurdu-2011-01-31.html), Hugo Chávez.
That's why, along with Iranian nuclear weapons, I see a rogue (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=cheney-daughter-accuses-turkey-of-joining-anti-israel-plot-2010-06-07) Turkey as the region's greatest threat.
Islamists without brakes
An even worse opposition
Looming economic collapse
Escalating Kurdish problems
Looking for a fight with Israel
Stimulating an anti-Turkish faction
Asserting rights over Mediterranean energy reserves
Other international problems: Ankara threatens to freeze relations with the European Union (http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/Turkey-to-Freeze-EU-Ties-if-Cyprus-Gets-EU-Presidency-130065273.html) in July 2012, when Cyprus (http://www.cy2012eu.gov.cy/cyppresidency/cyppresidency.nsf/intro?openform) assumes the rotating presidency. Turkish forces have seized a Syrian arms ship (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15044314). Turkish threats to invade northern Iraq have worsened relations with Baghdad. Turkish and Iranian regimes may share an Islamist outlook and an anti-Kurd agenda (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/09/25/ap/europe/main20111387.shtml), with prospering trade relations (http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193449.html), but their historic rivalry, contrary governing styles, and competing ambitions have soured relations (http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2011/07/turkish-iranian-rivalry-on-the-rise).
While Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu crows that Turkey is ""right at the center of everything (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/middleeast/turkey-predicts-partnership-with-egypt-as-regional-anchors.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print)," AKP bellicosity has soured his vaunted "zero-problems (http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/05/20/turkeys_zero_problems_foreign_policy)" with neighbors policy, turning this into a wide-ranging hostility and even potential military confrontations (with Syria, Cyprus, and Israel). As economic troubles hit, a once-exemplary member of NATO may go further off track; watch for signs of Erdoğan emulating (http://www.haber7.com/haber/20110125/Chavez-Erdogan-fakirin-elini-birakmiyor.php) his Venezuelan friend (http://www.ensonhaber.com/chavez-erdogani-ovdu-tkp-kopurdu-2011-01-31.html), Hugo Chávez.
That's why, along with Iranian nuclear weapons, I see a rogue (http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=cheney-daughter-accuses-turkey-of-joining-anti-israel-plot-2010-06-07) Turkey as the region's greatest threat.