The Lessons of the Ottomans Not Learned.

Submitted by M. Tovey (United States), Jul 18, 2011 at 12:55

Interesting that you should try to elevate the Turkish influence in the region; and why not? While many might try to diffuse the Turkish element in the Middle East situation, there is a reason the American Secretary of State is spending so much time there; and its' not for the cuisine.

The observation that Turkey has had historical importance in the region is not for a small thing. As had been mentioned many times before, Turkey is at the crossroads; figuratively, alliteratively, and literally.

Yet, what does that mean for the immediate future, of the consequences for trying to be what the world does not appear ready for; that of another nation asserting world power in climate of competing world power surrogates.

If Turkey purports to be some form of intermediary in the Middle East process, then a number of factors should probably be reconciled first. Why, for example, after all the posturing of year ago, does the NATO alliance that once was so prominent in many circles now appear unnecessary to Turkey's international circumstances? Is the Bosporus so secure that the Eastern European frontier is no longer a concern, even as Greece implodes?

Then there are the other influences that seem to be at once, so far; yet Turkey's nominal alliances of recent months/years are begging to be released to exert yet further pressure to do one very noticeable thing: to displace Israel. Is that not, after all, the stated intentions of others that are hidden behind Turkey' unstated ambitions?

To be a world ruler, one of two things must be in place: the ability to exert the power necessary for enforcement of equality under the rule of law; or the actual exertion of the power to conquer and impose dictates against freedom as did the Babylonians, Romans, Persians, and the Nationalist Socialists of the Third Reich, et al. Which of these two does Turkey now possess without an alliance? The suggestion is; that needs to be answered before taking on the mantle that no mortal yet has worn successfully.

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