Posted in Islam, Turkey on Jul 31st, 2007
Barry Rubin is one of the world’s foremost experts on Turkey and the director of the Global Research for International Affairs Center (GLORIA Center)Â in Herzliya. When Barry speaks, people listen.Â
In fact, a Turkish newspaper based in Istanbul interviewed Prof. Rubin to get his views on the latest Turkish elections. You can read the interview here:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=117857
It makes for unsettling reading. The Islamic party (the AKP) that won the elections more than a week ago is the smiling face of Islam. They are moderate. They are democratic. They are fiscally conservative. They are efficient. They are less corrupt.
Barry Rubin is one of the world’s foremost experts on Turkey and the director of the Global Research for International Affairs Center (GLORIA Center)Â in Herzliya. When Barry speaks, people listen.Â
In fact, a Turkish newspaper based in Istanbul interviewed Prof. Rubin to get his views on the latest Turkish elections. You can read the interview here:
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=117857
It makes for unsettling reading. The Islamic party (the AKP) that won the elections more than a week ago is the smiling face of Islam. They are moderate. They are democratic. They are fiscally conservative. They are efficient. They are less corrupt.
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Posted in Islam, Turkey on Jul 30th, 2007
With all the hubbub and ballyhoo over Iraq and Iran, we aren’t hearing much about Turkey. That’s a problem.
For instance, did you know that Justice and Development Party (AKP) won the Turkish elections on the 22nd of July? Did you know that they are a moderate Islamic party? Did you know that, over the last few years, Turkey has been creeping towards Islamism? Did you know that Turkey is no longer considered an ally of the US? (Although, it is not considered an opponent.)
Most people wouldn’t have known this, so you have an excuse if you didn’t.
With all the hubbub and ballyhoo over Iraq and Iran, we aren’t hearing much about Turkey. That’s a problem.
For instance, did you know that Justice and Development Party (AKP) won the Turkish elections on the 22nd of July? Did you know that they are a moderate Islamic party? Did you know that, over the last few years, Turkey has been creeping towards Islamism? Did you know that Turkey is no longer considered an ally of the US? (Although, it is not considered an opponent.)
Most people wouldn’t have known this, so you have an excuse if you didn’t.
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Posted in Society, Turkey on Oct 5th, 2006
Madbadturk invited me to dinner the next time I’m in Turkey, and I’ll see if I can take him up on that. He has a great blog that you would do well to check out.
However, the context of his invitation makes a point that is always good to remember:
People and governments aren’t synonimous.
A nation will elect a government for a specific reason, like fighting corruption. Yet, that government might have another agenda in addition to fighting corruption.
The Hamas-led government was elected because the Palestinians were tired of corruption. The problem is that they also got a government that started a war with Israel.
Madbadturk invited me to dinner the next time I’m in Turkey, and I’ll see if I can take him up on that. He has a great blog that you would do well to check out.
However, the context of his invitation makes a point that is always good to remember:
People and governments aren’t synonimous.
A nation will elect a government for a specific reason, like fighting corruption. Yet, that government might have another agenda in addition to fighting corruption.
The Hamas-led government was elected because the Palestinians were tired of corruption. The problem is that they also got a government that started a war with Israel.
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Posted in Iran, Syria, Turkey, War fighting on Oct 4th, 2006
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Turkey.
I’ve even spent a lot of time IN Turkey.
There are problems in Turkey.
It is becoming less and less likely that Turkey will join the EU. The EU has demanded that Turkey recognize the Republic of Cyprus. The EU has demanded that Turkey own up to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians. The EU has demanded that they stop press censorship.
Each and every one of those demands is absolutely reasonable, and should be ANYONE’s minimum requirement for entry into a body like the EU.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Turkey.
I’ve even spent a lot of time IN Turkey.
There are problems in Turkey.
It is becoming less and less likely that Turkey will join the EU. The EU has demanded that Turkey recognize the Republic of Cyprus. The EU has demanded that Turkey own up to the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians. The EU has demanded that they stop press censorship.
Each and every one of those demands is absolutely reasonable, and should be ANYONE’s minimum requirement for entry into a body like the EU.
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