How do you say "frenemy" in Turkish?

Posted By Steven A. Cook Tuesday, June 1, 2010 - 9:50 PM Share

Recently, my colleague and good friend, Charles Kupchan, published a book called How Enemies Become Friends. In it, he argues that diplomatic engagement is decisive in transforming relations between adversaries. It is an interesting read, and the book has received some terrific reviews. Charlie might want to follow up with a new book called How Friends Become Frenemies. He can use the United States and Turkey as his primary case study.

It is hard to admit, but after six decades of strategic cooperation, Turkey and the United States are becoming strategic competitors -- especially in the Middle East. This is the logical result of profound shifts in Turkish foreign and domestic politics and changes in the international system.

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GOKHAN.YILMAZ

4:06 PM ET

June 3, 2010

A Grave Act From Israel But...

Certainly, I believe that, there are other means of blocking a ship which do not require bloodshed; but on the other hand, I also believe that, that 9 activists are sacrificed by Turkish government to show Israel that, from now on, Turkey will play a more active role in Middle East policy-making with a sympathy for Iran-Syria and other Islamic states.

That flotilla could have been sent by the accompany of Red Crescent -as a chaperon- if it really aims to deliver aid to Gaza even though the State of Israel continuously said that they will not let flotilla to arrive it's destination. Also, that ship, Mavi Marmara does not belong to Republic of Turkey; it belongs to a non-profit, pro-Palestinian organization named IHH which is "an Islamist organisation as it has been deeply involved with Hamas for some time." I do not understand why media is so adamant in proclaiming that it is "a Turkish ship".

When will this very sick nostalgia for Ottomans and adoration of an Islamic realms unity lead the secular state of Turkey, with no -so called- religious affiliation, to an Islamic State, I simply wonder. And of course, who will the first Grand Mullah? I simply wonder...

LIBERAL INTERNATIONALIST

7:47 PM ET

June 3, 2010

How do you say it in Hebrew?

Cook's piece is titled "How Do You Say "Frenemy" in Turkish?" A more pertinent question may be how do you say it in Hebrew, particularly after learning in the Washington Post this morning that the US State Department warned the Israeli government to handle the situation with "caution and restraint."

As it did in 2003 at the time of the Iraq invasion, Turkey appears to have a better sense of US strategic interests than the US government often has when it comes to the Middle East. Yes, Turkey's current policies are affected by its domestic politics and regional objectives. However, Erdogan was as firm a supporter of Israel as previous governments until he felt was betrayed by the Israeli government's decision to invade Gaza in late 2008, while he was acting as a mediator in negotiations between Israel and Syria.

There is little reason to doubt that Turkey's position on the Gaza blockade is a principled and moral one. If the blockade was designed only to interdict weapons and other war materials, Turkey would not have supported peaceful efforts to challenge the blockade. This is not the case. As Matt Yglesias noted today, As Matt Yglesias noted today, the blockade is "politically and morally scandalous."

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/06/collective-punishment-in-gaza.php

http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/06/permitted-and-forbidden-in-gaza.php

I would not recommend abandoning Israel, but if forced to choose Turkey is a far more important country and strategic ally for the US. I also believe that in recent years the Turkish government in its foreign policy has shown more adherence to core US values and interests than the Israeli government.

The Israeli government and its commandos should have known you don't mess with the Turks. I am surprised no one has mentioned the reaction of some Turkish businessmen to the hijacking of a Turkish airplane in 1981. Four armed leftist radicals wanted to get to Bulgaria. While the passengers' lives were not at risk, these unarmed Turks didn't take kindly to being diverted in their travels and overcame the hijackers. Israelis used to admire such gumption.