Response to response: This is not just any trick. This is downright "tabloid trickery"

Submitted by US Citizen living in Turkey (Singapore), Apr 22, 2018 at 15:34

Dr. Pipes, since you asked:

"And why are you not upset that the Turks changed the terms on us a few days before the event, when we had invested substantially in it and faced the prospect of losing a large amount of money unless we capitulated to their demands? Is that not a problem?"

My answer is simple. It was MEF's gambit and thus it was MEF's responsibility to consider not only intended but also unintended consequences. If MEF did not want the "prospect of losing... money" it should have avoided setting up the gambit in the first place. The same event could have happened without Çelik -- and a more (any?) reputable person could have been there to teach NATO and TR a lesson. Also, it is clear TR delegation had no intention of causing MEF any loss, otherwise they would have cancelled anyway. It seems it is not that hard to find an excuse for anything these days.

This is not to say there are no major problems with the TR delegation's reaction (before, during and after). But, they have more to do with their lack of sophistication (and preparation). Knowing Çelik is going to be there, they could have "buried" Çelik -- and perhaps seriously harmed MEF's reputation, arguments, etc in the process (losing money might have paled in comparison, who knows?). The likes of Güllenists are ultimately a bigger liability than an asset because of their baggage. I am no fan of AKP, but, no matter how hard, one has to allow for the possibility there can be something worse. Gülenists may very well be that thing. As the Turkish saying goes, "like running away from rain into a hale storm".

And so, I am not upset. MEF did not lose money. It got good exposure (good for MEF). It was a lesson for TR, just not the lesson I was hoping for. If there is a next time, they may try similar tactics of their own, and score cheap points. Not sure I want AKP to be looking any better on home court -- or anywhere else on the planet, for that matter.

Regards

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