Is the U.S.-Turkey Relationship Crumbling? - The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Is the U.S.-Turkey Relationship Crumbling? - The Washington Institute for Near East Policy:



The attached article is too diplomatically written, and doesn't go far enough, probably due to Mr. Cagaptay's needs to maintain open channels in Turkey. However, it at least raises a good question -- Turkey, friend or foe?



Turkey under Erdogan has gone from being a relatively secular, most-of-the-time democracy, to a predominantly authoritarian state that holds elections, but where dissent and free press is quashed, with more journalists in jail than anywhere else in the world (yes, including China and Iran). More importantly, it is a supporter of radical Sunni terror groups of all shades,  has at a minimum, turned a blind eye to the rise of ISIS in Syria, and has turned Israel into an enemy state, alongside Erdogan making some bizarrely tone-deaf anti-Semitic statements. Moreover, Turkey has become an achilles heal for the spread of Islamic influence and terror into Europe, with limited open borders treaties with the EU terrifying certain, more security-minded EU member states (e.g., Poland).



It would  be nice if there was some jawboning moral leadership from a White House occupant, calling on Turkey to choose sides, but we long gave up any such expectations from the president, who continues to scintillate us with the six year old question of, "Is he hopelessly naive or is he the Manchurian Candidate?"