Turkey: An unfriendly neighbour

Since the Turkish Republic’s founding, Turkey’s successive governments have failed to behave as ‘good neighbors’ towards any of the Arab countries, in particular those that border it. (Apart from some feeble attempts at feigning genuine support for the Palestinian cause while remaining a staunch ally of Israel). This, I think, is partly due to the Turk’s irrepressible feelings of superiority and betrayal towards the Arabs. As far as they are concerned, we are a lesser people, their subservient foot-kissers, they prefer us on our knees, or even better on our bellies, submitting fully to the mighty Turk. The betrayal they feel and have never forgiven us for was for the British-supported Arab Revolt against the Ottomans. The sublime porte maybe confined to the pages of history, but in its place is the Erdogan regime that dreams of a submissive and grateful Syria, a Syria ruled by the so-called ‘moderate opposition’. Assad is everything Erdogan hates: a strong Arab leader.



It is a shame that Turkey stayed out of WWII, because had they joined the Axis powers and lost, at least Turkey’s unbridled nationalism and its appetite for crossing Arab borders and subduing the natives, so to speak, would have been curbed along with Germany’s national socialism! While some may see comparisons with the Nazis as harsh, one should remember the many massacres perpetrated by the Turks (for which they have never been brought to book) against minorities within Anatolia, the Armenian genocide comes to mind, but there are so many others, including forced expulsions of minorities from Anatolia to make Turkey an ethnically and religiously homogeneous entity. Back then the word ethnic cleansing hadn’t been invented yet.


You would expect the West to treat Turkey warily at the very least, or even chide it when it commits major blunders in foreign policy that impact world peace, but the Western powers seem oblivious as ever. As for the Kurds inside Turley and the peace process that lies in tatters, only time will tell what they will do to avenge Kobane. All, it seems, is being sacrificed in Turkey on the alter of Erdogan’s ego!

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