Turkey seeks green light on Iraq

A motion allowing troops to enter Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish rebels is expected to pass in the Turkish parliament.

Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi (L) meets with Turkey President Abdullah Gul in Ankara. The Turkish parliament has met to vote on authorising the government to order military strikes against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, as Baghdad pleaded for time and promised to purge the militants.(AFP/Adem Altan)

by The Jamestown Foundation

Making Sense of the Current Phase of Turkish-Russian Relations

WASHINGTON, DC (10/11/07)--The Jamestown Foundation has released a new Occasional Paper entitled "Making Sense of the Current Phase of Turkish-Russian Relations." The paper is authored by Igor Torbakov, Visiting Fellow at the Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study in Uppsala, Sweden. This paper focuses not only on identifying the driving factors behind the Turkish-Russian rapprochement, but also on identifying the factors that could shape this relationship in the future.

Torbakov argues that although Turkish-Russian relations have drastically improved in recent years, the political situation remains precarious. Due to the continuing friction between the two countries, Russia and Turkey will continue to operate on two distinct levels: cooperation and competition. Torbakov's paper also looks briefly at the histories of these two respective countries, emphasizing the unifying factor of being labeled as the "Others" sometime during the history of the development of Europe and Eurasia. He concludes his paper by emphasizing the need to continue to closely monitor this relationship, as both Russia and Turkey struggle to move beyond a history of "mutual distrust."

The full paper can be downloaded at the following URL:
http://www.jamestown.org/docs/Jamestown-TorbakovTurkeyRussia.pdf

Turkey's President Abdullah Gul (L) and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad review a honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Ankara, October 17, 2007. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY)

What Next for Turkey? FRIDE

Yavuz Baydar: Cornered

Should we expect a cross-border operation into Iraq? How imminent is such an operation?

Fatma Dişli: Turkish-US relations at a turning point

Relations between long-time strategic allies Turkey and the US have entered a critical period following the passage of the Armenian resolution by a US congressional committee despite Turkey’s objections and the US’s insistence on not taking concrete steps to prevent the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), based in northern Iraq, from launching attacks.

Concern grows at Turkey's Iraq plan

Turkey's parliament is set to give authorisation to a large-scale incursion into northern Iraq, as mounting international concern about such a move translated into waning US support for a resolution accusing Turks of genocide against Armenians..

A funeral prayer for Turkish-American relations

C. Cem OĞUZ

Turkish army commandos patrol on foot near Uludere in the southeastern Turkish province of Sirnak, October 17, 2007. Turkey's parliament was poised on Wednesday to grant its army permission to enter northern Iraq to crush Kurdish separatist rebels based there, but Iraqi leaders stepped up a diplomatic offensive to avert any attack. REUTERS/Fatih Saribas

EU-funds down toilet (literally)

A luxurious toilet, which was built with European Union funds in the southeastern province of Şanlıurfa's historic Harran city, could not be put into service for the past eight months, as the toilet

Guardian: Turkish and US relations: Led astray - by Stephen Kinzer

"Led astray Pushing the Armenian genocide resolution through Congress is a reckless act that reflects the corruption of the American political system....

FINALLY, US DEPARTMENT OF STATE BLOG SPEAKS:

Should U.S. Congress Consider Resolution Labeling Ottoman Empire’s Massacre of Armenians Genocide?

The United States Congress may soon consider a resolution that brands the Ottoman Empire's World War I massacre of Armenians a genocide. The tragedy occurred ninety-years ago. Currently, the United States and Turkey enjoy a close strategic relationship.

Men sit under a tree in the southeastern Turkish city of Sirnak, October 16, 2007. Perched on a hillside overlooking the mountainous northern Iraqi border, Kurds in the southeastern Turkish city of Sirnak are nervously monitoring preparations for a possible cross-border military operation. To match feature TURKEY-IRAQ/KURDS REUTERS/Fatih Saribas

Did the Americans really shoot themselves in the foot?

Burak BEKDİL

Cross-border motion and afterwards

Orhan KİLERCİOĞLU

Can we discuss the Armenian question?

Orhan Kemal Cengiz

What I think

by jakedolson

If anyone asked me what I thought about the recent resolution passed by a congressional sub-committee, I’d tell them that I agree with Daniel Schoor. You can listen to his thoughts here.

Here’s a key quote that expresses my opinion about making a statement on issues that don’t directly involve me

There’s nothing concrete to be accomplished by labeling the killing of Armenians in 1915 as genocide

Ottoman Involvement in WW1

by jakedolson

Thanks to all who answered my request for info on how the Ottoman Empire entered WW1. I’m always amazed at how much I can learn by reading the comments on my own blog. I’ll try to summarize and synthesize what’s been written there. Please check out their entire comments. I’ll use liberty in editing, and if I misrepresent you, please let me know....

Erdoğan: Bill just a political gesture

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan yesterday raised the tone of his criticism on the adoption of a controversial bill by a U.S. House panel recognizing the killings of Armenians in the last century as

Frattini sheds light on genocide division in EU

While the United States House of Representatives moves forward to vote a resolution recognizing the World War I-era killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as “genocide,” the Armenian...

AMANDA AKCAKOCA: Turkey should not fall into the PKK’s trap

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) has been goading Turkey into carrying out a cross-border operation in northern Iraq. The increase in PKK violence, which has resulted in dozens of deaths, and widespread anger, has brought the government to a difficult crossroads.

[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR] I apologize, Turkey!

As an American, I want to personally apologize to all Turks for what the US House of Representatives has done in promoting a bill accusing Turkey of genocide.

Importance of ‘who is drafting the new constitution and how’ by M. NACİ BOSTANCI

As is well known, constitutions have a history of about four centuries. It is possible to trace them back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

CSIS - Cordesman The Armenian Genocide Bill and the Turkish Reaction in Iraq (pdf)

WORLD NEWS: Modern nation's horror at genocide tag on its past

WSJ Editorial Secretary of State Pelosi
The Armenian genocide doesn't belong in U.S. foreign policy right now.

The Turkish/US Crisis Patrick Lang

PostGlobal : Isolation Wont Heal Turkeys Wounds

TURKEY-ARMENIA-KURDISTAN: THE GREAT UNRAVELING

PostGlobal : Turkey's Past Victories Spawn Todays Defeats

Jerusalem Post Are the United States and Turkey on a collision course?

Are the US and Turkey on a collision course? INSS An Israeli insight considering the connection between the potential Turkish intervention in Northern Iraq and the US resolution to recognise the mass killing of Armenians during WWI as genocide

Guardian Dangerous waters Alan Wolfe: US foreign policy should not be made by symbols. Passing a resolution declaring the fact of the Armenian genocide would do just that.

Admiration for Turkey, except when it evades truth about Armenians (Daily Herald)

Europe's World: Why Turkey's "Islamists" are the West's best friends (October 2007) by Grenville Byford

Richard Falk on Turkey's finest hour: The sick man of Europe gets a jolt of life, but will it last?

Armenian debacle (By Tulin Daloglu)

Der Spiegel Armenian Lobby's Triumph: Genocide Resolution Risks Shattering Relations with Turkey

Playing Politics With Genocide Turks are jerks, but so's Pelosi - Ralph Peters, New York Post

[VEILED TALES-1] Headscarf is discussed, but veiled are forgotten

by Nihal Bengisu Karaca

The headscarf is once more on the agenda. Actually this is nothing new, there have long been discussions over the issue.

Religion in schools

It should not have taken a decision by the European Court of Human Rights for the Turkish education system to realize that individuals and their families have the right to reject compulsory instruction in a faith that is not their own.

Limits of liberal support for the AK Party

Embracing liberal values has certainly gained sympathy and even support for the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) among liberal circles. Continuation of this, however, depends on the performance of the AK Party in some crucial policy areas.

Zen and Turkey’s EU application

This government is, rightly, convinced that the popular vote it received in the last election gives it an unequivocal mandate to get on with the job of government.

Which neighborhood?

Professor Şerif Mardin, trained in the social sciences, at least for my generation is a giant among pigmies. While so many others were trying to turn the world into something predictable and dull, he showed how it could be more interesting than we had understood.

Contradictions about a cross-border operation

by FİKRET BİLA, MİLLİYET

The government is preparing to pass a motion for a cross-border operation that will be valid for a year. But in the meantime, some contradictions in the cross-border discussions catch our attention.

Imperialism and morality

by ERGUN BABAHAN, SABAH

Those who raised their hands in 2003 to vote in favor of the pillage and plunder of Iraq, of the raping of Iraqi women and of the looting of a country are now showing the temerity to call us to account for what they claim happened 100 years ago.

Democratic solution to the Kurdish problem

by BERAT ÖZİPEK, STAR

We are now at a very significant stage in regard to bringing a solution to the Kurdish problem; a civil constitution is being drafted, the issue of constitutional citizenship is on the agenda and the attacks of the PKK have proliferated.

This is called provocation

by EKREM DUMANLI, ZAMAN

While the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is launching bloody attacks in mountains and valleys alike in an attempt to incite Turkey into a cross-border incursion, its political extension is also anticipating the public reaction growing like an avalanche.

Fundamental culture

by OKAY GÖNENSİN, VATAN

The prime minister responded to criticism directed at the Oct. 21 referendum and said that Turkey should get used to the culture of referendums.

TheHill.com - Democrats split on genocide resolution

Turkey may cut U.S. access to key air base - CNN.com

Armenian crime amnesia? - - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

The Newshoggers: Behind The Armenian Genocide Vote

EDITORIAL: Why pick a fight with the Turks?

Bianet :: Many States in The USA Have Long Recognized “Genocide”

israelinsider: Views: How the Turks saved the Jews from genocide

Turkish official urges sanctions on Armenia - USATODAY.com

Workers at İncirlik base to defy US - Turkish Daily News Oct 16, 2007

Moderate Political Islam's Road to Power. [part one.]

by Mick Hall

When it comes to assessing political events in the islamic world, far to many western journalists tend to congregate in the Capital cities. In Turkey they prefer the cosmopolitanism of Istanbul and to a lesser degree the Capital Ankara, thus they often find themselves far removed from the people who populate the cities, small towns and villages of Anatolia....