Obama Sees Turkey's Influence and Value, Trip Shows
Obama overtures show that the United States recognizes nation's influence in the world
Samuel Berger was national security advisor from 1997-2001 and is co-chairman of Stonebridge International.
Mark Parris was ambassador to Turkey from 1997-2000 and is currently visiting scholar at the Brookings Institution.
Thus, relations with Turkey will demand hands-on attention long after President Obama leaves Ankara. And that is how it should be. As a strategically located, secular democracy of nearly 80 million people, most of them Muslims; a member of NATO, the OECD, the G-20, the U.N. Security Council, the Organization of the Islamic Conference; and a candidate for the European Union, Turkey is worth the time and effort.
It is to President Obama's credit that he has understood this so soon.
Reader Comments
Obama Must Talk Turkey to the Turks
Obama Must Talk Turkey to the Turks (www.dailyexception.com)
Despite traditional closeness, President Obama will face a Turkish public that is much less receptive than those of Europe. The Turks today increasingly identify with the rest of the Muslim World, and the clearest manifestation of this is to dislike America. We believe that the real cause of this drift away from the West, however, may not actually be America’s fault. but because of Europe’s dithering over letting Turkey into the EU. But hating George Bush and the War on Iraq has been so much easier for the Turks than dealing with the painful rejection from Europe. Given this fact, President Obama’s priorities in Turkey is restoring America’s prestige takes priority over any policy discussion. The President’s job to reach out and reestablish America’s standing with the Turkish people, and through them, with the Muslim World as a whole.
http://dailyexception.com/2009/04/05/obama-must-talk-turkey-to-the-turks/
Is Sandy Berger out of prison yet for destroying classified docs?
Oh- he didn't go to prison? Is this the same Sandy Berger who stuffed his pants full of incriminating evidence agasint the Clintons and who subsequently lied to investigators about it?
And now he's writing editorials? Is it any wonder the normal American citizen feels disgusted with our government?
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