Absurd Idealism

Submitted by Martin Kaufman (United States), May 8, 2007 at 11:48

I find it absurd [but not surprising] that the EU, which is negotiating Turkey's entry into the EU, would "warn" the Turkish military to keep out of politics, even thought the Turkish military is the best bulwark against Islamic extremism in Turkey. Does the EU want an Islamic state "in Europe?" Or is this a way of creating a reason to keep Turkey out?

I find it both absurd and somewhat surprising that Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice would echo the EU's admonition, both for the same reasons stated above, but also because of the long history [going back to WWII] of excellent relations between the US and the Turkish military and the good relations between the one other democratic state in the Middle East,

Israel [our ally] and the Turkish military. Is the State Department so feckless as to exalt political science theory over international real politic? Probably. Is the National Security establishment and the White House also so feckless? I hope not, but don't have much confidence. Maybe Rice's statement was just for p.r., and we are privately signaling our support for the secularists, including the military. I surely hope so.

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