Turkey and the Taliban
From Michael Rubin, at Commentary:
Now the Taliban reports that the Erdogan government has allowed the Taliban to open an office in Turkey. While official Washington has long recognized Pakistan’s double dealing with the Taliban, it seems that Turkey may soon become Pakistan Junior.
I find the idea of the Taliban opening an office in my neighborhood (or anywhere) obscene. But there is a really important point here that Rubin should note. The United States seems to be supporting this. So, at least, says "a senior Turkish Foreign Ministry diplomat"--in my view at least as credible an unattributed source as the Taliban.
“This is an issue still under discussion. The Americans also say an office can be opened,” the diplomat told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are not acting on our own. This can happen only with the positive opinion of every party concerned.”
If it isn't true, an utterly unambiguous statement from the US State Department to this effect would be in order. If it is true, I've got a question for my government.
Are you out of your minds?
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Comments :
Feb '11
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
In matters domestic, the Obama program has no unintended consequences. It is all very much intended.
I don't think they are that smart in foreign policy matters. Probably half of the consequences there are unintended.
Jan '11
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Claire, you need not worry; I'm quite certain the office is being run by those moderate members of the Taliban we heard so much about not so long ago.
Edited on Apr 12, 2011 at 4:11amMay '10
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Turkey has not wanted to be a partner in helping us fight the terrorists from day one. Turkey is not an ally of the United States. When we needed its help, after we were attacked, Turkey said "No".
Frankly, I am not sure why we have them in NATO at this point. Turkey is just going to grow more radical and more anti-American as the years go by.
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Bryan, would you like to explain which anti-terrorist policy you'd like Turkey to be supporting here? The one of not negotiating with the Taliban? Bryan, it is our government that's doing this. Ours. And it is ours that is apparently encouraging the nimrod idea of dumping the Taliban right into the middle of Istanbul. Ours. I dare say there are more than a few Turks who would like to kick us out of NATO for this bright idea, and I can't say I'd blame them.
Feb '11
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Bryan G. Stephens: Turkey has not wanted to be a partner in helping us fight the terrorists from day one. Turkey is not an ally of the United States. When we needed its help, after we were attacked, Turkey said "No".
Frankly, I am not sure why we have them in NATO at this point. Turkey is just going to grow more radical and more anti-American as the years go by. · Apr 12 at 5:27am
http://www.great-quotes.com/quote/182736
Feb '11
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
How 'bout that. Are the PKK going to be opening an office in Washington soon? With Turkish approval, of course.
Edited on Apr 12, 2011 at 7:12amRe: Turkey and the Taliban
Istanbul's al-Qaeda chief was reportedly arrested today, along with 40 other Islamists allegedly linked to al Qaeda and Turkish Hezbollah.
Jul '10
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: ... Are you out of your minds? ·
The same people who brought us Dahlia Mogahed, faith advisor to the Regime? They are taking appeasement to the abject toe-sucker level:
According to Mogahed, more than 80 percent of the American public said they sympathized with the anti-government protesters in Egypt and in fact the administration itself foresees the MB acquiring a majority of the seats in the upcoming parliamentary election. Hence it is necessary that there will be interaction between the US and the group since it has no intentions of cutting ties with Egypt. Mogahed highlighted that after the revolution the Egyptian government is accountable to its people, and its relationship with the US will undoubtedly reflect the views of the people. She underscored that as a result, of these changes the relationship between the two countries will be much more that of equals rather than of a client state which had dominated the connection before.
Don't the words just make your leg tingle! Obama's global rope-selling capitalist tour continues.
Mar '11
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
"Frankly, I am not sure why we have them in NATO at this point."
Questions of Turkey aside, that's actually a pretty good point, and no less than Donald Rumsfeld has said that perhaps it's time to phase out the old Cold War institutuions... NATO, the Defense Re-Org act of 1947 and all the agencies it spawned, etc... and take a fresh look at our needs and form modern institutions accordingly.
Jul '10
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Nice. Glad to hear the cops found something useful to do.
Jan '11
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
It's unfortunate that Michael Rubin didn't lay out the case for why the US might be supportive of a Taliban office in Turkey. This idea has been bubbling around since at least last December and is not at all crazy. There's not enough room in this comment section, though, so I'll post something in the Member Feed.
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Don’t tell the Taliban, but it’s entirely possible that the U.S. is ok with this because it’s all a big fly-trap setup to find out who wants to come be chummy with the Taliban. If the current government of Turkey weren’t so flaky, I’d be 99.2% sure that that’s what this is.
Edited to remove rogue, possibly ISI-backed comma.
Edited on Apr 12, 2011 at 6:17pmRe: Turkey and the Taliban
Bill Walsh: Don’t tell the Taliban, but it’s entirely possible that the U.S. is ok with this because it’s all a big fly-trap setup to find out who wants to come be chummy with the Taliban. If the current government of Turkey weren’t so flaky, I’d be 99.2% sure that that’s what this is.
Edited to remove rogue, possibly ISI-backed comma. · Apr 12 at 5:55pm
Edited on Apr 12 at 06:17 pm
Bill! Does immersion in the Ottoman archives make a man think like a Turk? Apparently so!
Re: Turkey and the Taliban
Claire, Estağfırullah. But I'm nowhere near the archives. : )