Turkey at the Crossroads - Again

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Apr 14, 2011 at 12:37

And who are Turkey's friends: enemies? It is well spoke that one should keep friends close, enemies closer.

But let us look at who Turkey's friends were in a couple of circumstances, doing so in the framework of this forum. There are historical implications from the ancient past, of Anatolia that show alliances of one sort or another. But it is in the modern context that we can see a country of divergence when we consider that in the early Twentieth century, Turkey's Ottoman masters aligned with the Kaiser. History shows us how well that turned out.

Turkey's role in the Second World War was peculiar in that there seemed a reluctance for the Germans to overtly expand its Nazi presence there, yet the influences of the considerations Germany had for the region were just as keenly felt. On the one hand the reports of people of Jewish heritage found help there are contrasted with the efforts to get Turkey allied with one side or the other, Turkey finally siding against the Axis after becoming the safe refuge for many Europeans. Thus it is not hard to come to a conclusion that a once good idea to allow Turkey to become a participant in NATO was seriously considered.

That has changed enough in today's geopolitical climate by the actions of Erdogan and his current alliances that the West can no longer dismiss the implications of Turkey's newer choices of friends over the former associations of the past. Under a government that once operated in observance of the changes of Attatürk, a very different attitude than formerly appreciated is now apparent in the newer alliances with Turkey. The current government has made it clear by its current choices that Turkey is trying to find a different strength in Middle Eastern political circles and the West is not going to be invited.

Now it is evident that there are differences of opinions as to which country in the West should take a position considered friendly to Turkey; and to those circumstances we can observe how the political situation in the Middle East might strike out on a course that will put Turkey in jeopardy of collision for not watching where things are going. In example, sending out a flotilla into a political situation such as Gaza sends a message that Turkey is not engaging in a friendly manner to all sides. If the supposition purported here that Turkey is cruel to enemies, we can only assume that is Turkey's intent towards Israel.

But there is more to it than that. From the time of ancient considerations, before Islam was inbred into the politics of Turkey, a different circumstance could be found in the land that would become Turkey that has a prophetical implication to be observed. The Seven Churches of the Christian Book of the Revelation are remnants of history in Turkey, and by inference and cross reference the Books of Daniel and Ezekiel. In these references, we see the ancient lands being used to discern good and bad relations with Israel in those times; and indications are that things will not go so well for those that take an antagonistic position to Israel.

In that vein, the Canadian's posting indicating that 'Turkey won't harm anybody unless others tries (try) to harm them,' seems out of place if Turkey continues in a demonstration of her intentions to interfere with Gaza, putting her in direct conflict with Israel. Turkey was once thought an ally to Israel: the new friendships are seeing to it that the second part of the post will take away any supposed modesty Turkey might have had and replace it with the cruel intentions most of the rest of the Middle East and others maintain for Israel.

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