OxBlog brings to our attention a Thomas Friedman Op-Ed about Turkey that should be read by anybody who walks around assuming that Islam itself is the enemy of the West, rather than fanatical elements inside of it. A significant portion of the text:
I happened to be in Istanbul when the street outside one of the two synagogues that were suicide-bombed on Nov. 15 was reopened. Three things struck me: First, the chief rabbi of Turkey appeared at the ceremony, hand in hand with the top Muslim cleric of Istanbul and the local mayor, while crowds in the street threw red carnations on them. Second, the Turkish leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who comes from an Islamist party, paid a visit to the chief rabbi — the first time a Turkish prime minister had ever called on the chief rabbi. Third, and most revealing, was the statement made by the father of one of the Turkish suicide bombers who hit the synagogues.
“We are a respectful family who love our nation, flag and the Koran,” the grieving father, Sefik Elaltuntas, told the Zaman newspaper. “But we cannot understand why this child had done the thing he had done . . . First, let us meet with the chief rabbi of our Jewish brothers. Let me hug him. Let me kiss his hands and flowing robe. Let me apologize in the name of my son and offer my condolences for the deaths. . . . We will be damned if we do not reconcile with them.”
The same newspaper also carried a quote from Cemil Cicek, the Turkish government spokesman, who said: “The Islamic world should take stringent measures against terrorism without any `buts’ or `howevers.’ “
Friedman goes on to discuss how we should make sure that Turkey enters the EU, even if we have to bribe subsidize the EU to do it – or, failing that, to bring Turkey into NAFTA. Audacious, to be sure – but I agree with him that the thing to do with Islamic moderates is to include them, not exclude them. Islam is not incompatible with the modern world, heated rhetoric to the contrary – and it will only be helpful for us to encourage examples of this.
(Via the Instapundit, although I really should blogroll Oxblog)
I am all for strengthening Muslim moderates. But, NAFTA? Turkey is even less “North American” than it is “North Atlantic.”
“But, NAFTA? Turkey is even less “North American” than it is “North Atlantic.””
That had me raising an eyebrow as well. Guess that it’s easier to give Turkey free-trade rights in an existing framework than it would be to create a new one, or something like that.
I agree with him that the thing to do with Islamic moderates is to include them, not exclude them. Islam is not incompatible with the modern world, heated rhetoric to the contrary – and it will only be helpful for us to encourage examples of this.
Amen to that, Moe.
Treating the SCWOT as a cultural war between the West and the Muslim world–which has become fashionable among certain members of the right, and even among liberal hawks–is a grave mistake. Demonizing Islam will force moderates and fence-sitters into the camp of the radicals, when they could and should be our allies.
Smartest thing Friedman’s put in print in some time. Should be required reading for the Commander in Chief.
Good column by Friedman today. Lots of details, nicely written, and not over the top.
On Turkey in NAFTA:
Europeans are pretty steadfast about not letting Turkey join the EU. “Let them join NAFTA if they want” is not an uncommon joke among the anti-Turkey Europeans — including some Eastern European econ professors I had — but it also resonates among some Turks. Erdogan reportedly floated the idea of Turkey joining NAFTA in 2002 and again in 2003.
Obviously, including Turkey in NAFTA is a nonstarter without radically changing the nature of NAFTA. An alternative might be a Mediterranean-American trade compact which lowers trade barriers between Israel, Turkey, and the US, as well as any other regional states as long as they meet certain requirements (good relations with one another, a stable economy, etc.).
“Europeans are pretty steadfast about not letting Turkey join the EU.”
No, we’re not. They’re an recognized candidate, and was represented in the constitutional convention. I grant you a lot of politicians secretly wish tthey weren’t.
David, perhaps I should’ve reworded it “Thus far, Europeans have been pretty steadfast…”
The Turks I talk to think the EU is being racist and anti-Muslim, but I see it more as economic protectionism — letting Turkey in threatens to flood European job markets with millions (more) low-wage Turkish laborers. I think the EU will let Turkey join eventually, but it’ll take substantial economic improvements there first.
Notably, Turkey’s refusal to assist the US in last year’s illegal invasion of Iraq made it clear that Turkey was closer to Europe politically than had previously been thought: the only European leaders who supported the invasion of Iraq did so against the clear popular will of their people.