03 September 2011

Is Turkey talking tough over Israel or throwing a tantrum?

This good question is the headline of a Guardian article. Lots of people mull the Turkish ire and wrath these days. To start with, they spend a year or so demanding apologies, then, hit by Palmer commission report, reject its conclusions and, seemingly, go into a prolonged snit. First expelling our ambassador, then threatening to cut economic ties, vowing to take legal actions against the Israeli soldiers who took part in the Mavi Marmara raid, even promising that "Turkish naval vessels will accompany civilian ships carrying aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip".

Some may think that this escalation of Turkish ire really is an escalation of Turkish ire toward Israel. And they couldn't be more wrong.

The truth is that for the last three or four months Turkey tries to impress Baby Assad, threatening him with all kinds of totally undefined punishments that will follow the stream of the totally illegible Turkish protests in the totally undefined future. That is, if he (Baby Assad) will not stop immediately (or in the next few years, which is also totally undefined) the slaughter of his citizens.

It looks like Turkey has found a way now to show Baby Assad how it's done...

12 comments:

Noga said...

You are missing a point, I think, snoopy. Turkish belligerent action against the Joos will be much cheered in the Arab street, while Turkish action against Assad will be seen as aggression against an Arab country and will for sure erode whatever heroic status Turkey holds in the eyes of the same Arab street. In other words, in defying israel, they stand to gain prestige and in challenging an Arab regime they stand to lose it.

Katie said...

This whole episode reminds me of a Shakespearean play:

<span>Much Ado About Nothing</span>

8-)

Noga said...

I checked my spyhole into the mindset of the Arab Street:

http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2011/09/dont-be-impressed-with-recent-moves-by.html

And I guess things are a bit shifty. It looks like the<span> professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus and visiting professor at UC, Berkeley and all that, is worried that the Arab Street might be impressed by the Turks' bravados. So he urges them not to jump the gun and wait until Turkey actually dispaches those war ships and opens fire on Israeli forces before giving them any credit at all.
</span>

SnoopyTheGoon said...

You see now, Noga? Me and your professor both... nah, just pulling your leg, as mentioned.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Not sure I am missing the point, but joshing his readers was always a business worthy of an Elder.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Oh, on that point we shall have to wait a bit.

Anonymous said...

I grew up in a country which spent most of its history battling the Turks. History seems to follow me around =-O

"Some may think that this escalation of Turkish ire really is an escalation of Turkish ire toward Israel" - um, no. It's just a lame excuse to ditch Israel, something they ached to do since Erdogan came to power.

Two can play this game. If Turkey throws a tantrum, we can throw something back at them. How about a party?

On the positive side, this is good for my diet. No turkish halva anymore :'(

Anonymous said...

Forgot I cleaned my browser history, cookies and all. It's me, Pisa.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Halva? Yuk...

SnoopyTheGoon said...

Hi Pisa ;)

Dick Stanley said...

I love Halvah. Can't eat it, though, as it has too much sugar. Didn't realize it was Turkish.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

I overdozed on halvah once when I was a kid. No more halvah for me.