In a Sick Europe, Who's the Man?
Tunku Varadarajan draws my attention to this arresting op-ed from Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan, which really must be read to be believed. We can all at least understand Turkey's impatience over its "unique" EU accession process. But I can hardly imagine a worse way to convince Europe to get things in gear than this:
Europe has no real alternative to Turkey. Especially in a global order where the balance of power is shifting, the EU needs Turkey to become an ever stronger, richer, more inclusive, and more secure Union. I hope it will not be too late before our European friends discover this fact.
Ominous! But not so ominous as this:
Turkey is becoming a global and regional player with its soft power. Turkey is rediscovering its neighborhood, one that had been overlooked for decades. It is following a proactive foreign policy stretching from the Balkans to the Middle East and the Caucasus. Turkey’s “zero-problem, limitless trade” policy with the countries of the wider region aims to create a haven of nondogmatic stability for all of us. We have visa-free travel with 61 countries. This is not a romantic neo-Ottomanism: It is realpolitik based on a new vision of the global order. And I believe that this vision will help the EU, too, in the next decade.
See how it works? Turkey and Europe agree to simply repress any discussion of Turkey's "political stability" vis a vis its relations with Israel and Armenia. In return, "comatose," "stagnant," "near-geriatrc" Europe gets...Turks.
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Jul '10
Re: In a Sick Europe, Who's the Man?
Erdogan clearly dreams of a restoration of the Ottoman Empire. And a Caliphate that encompasses all of Europe.
The problem for Europe is that Vienna no longer has impregnable gates, nor a Christian army willing to defend Western Civilization.
Re: In a Sick Europe, Who's the Man?
Oh, yes. I have much to say about that op-ed. Glad you brought it up. Those contemplating it should read it in conjunction with this:
Nov '10
Re: In a Sick Europe, Who's the Man?
Why would Turkey even want to join the EU? Things must be pretty bleak indeed in Turkey if its leaders want to strap it to the Euro-corpse. If they wait a few more years, they could probably take back the Balkans for free. It would save them the trouble of being bored to death sitting in the EU "parliament" in Brussels.