http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20050926-092005-9547r.htm

interresting article.i like the way erdogan does his job.when erdogan became the president turkey changed a lot."enflasyon" droped a lot.he is building a buildings for lower class people who does not have a house.he will give them the apartment at a loew payment every one can afford.he is a good president.

really? what has he done for Turkey so far?

I also found this article interesting. As a European I think it would be marvellous for turkey to join the EU, but the article was worrying because if the article is true, the EU will not want Turkey to join. Erdogan might be building low cost housing to seduce the poor into voting for him, but this is nothing compared to the advantages for the country if they are allowed to join the EU and receive all the social benefits and money that will bring for Turkey.

Beware of short term inducements at the cost of long term social and economic change.

well, have you heard of the new decision of EU over Turkey before 3 October? That is what we all had expected.
the article is really very realistic and gives a realistic view of the country when you compare it to the countries in EU

I don't know much about politics in Turkey but this article sounded to me a little superficial and one-sided. A good discussion would include some counter arguments and explanations, this one had none.

i just think he is good for turkey.

I agree with catwoman, the article seems totally biased and one-sided. I will not argue on the points put forward in this article though. Just for the sake of having a better view of the picture, below is a letter by Faruk Lologlu, Turkish Ambsassador to the US. This letter has been written in response to the the article above, and to be published in the same newspaper soon if it has not been already.

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"To the Editor:

In his piece “’No’ to Islamist Turkey”, Frank Gaffney Jr. almost entirely misses the point about Turkey. He grossly exaggerates the significance of some marginal developments there while ignoring the country’s enduring assets and strengths. In so doing, the author fails to observe that Turkey, with its polity, society and economy at the crossroads of several critical regions, remains a pivotal player and positive force in global affairs. His call for a „no“ by the European Union to Turkey is, therefore, bad judgment and a mistake.

By meeting the EU Copenhagen criteria, Turkey has qualified to start membership negotiations and is ready to move forward in its bid to join the EU. The considerable legal, economic and political reforms undertaken under this government’s leadership defy Mr. Gaffney’s mischaracterization of a trend toward anything other than a stronger and more stable democracy. And this democracy remains strong despite constant prodding and testing of all sorts every day. The economy is in better shape than it has been in years, and the public is still heavily supportive of EU accession.

EU is faced with a truly historic choice, a make-or-break decision here. A „yes“ to Turkey is the path to reconciliation and cooperation between different religions and cultures. It would also strengthen the Euro-Atlantic community and help ease global tensions. A „no“ to Turkey would be an invitation to more bigotry and confrontation on both sides, potentially deepening the gap between the Islamic world and the West and leading to new problems. I believe the EU will choose to ignore such ill-advised calls.

O.Faruk Logoglu
Ambassador of Turkey to the U.S."

Ambassador of Turkey to the U.S." has written it very well but I think he is just one of those politicians who has never been to anywhere in Turkey than Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul. That means that he does not know the real face of his country and what is happening in his own country.
as people can follow in media; indeed Turkey has done many things which were not possible 5 years ago. However, they are all done on papers but in reality there is nothing changed. The mentality is still the same.
As the example in the article. how is Orhan Pamuk being sued? He has just said what he thinks over certain issues in his country. However, people who killed other people in the past can be elected to the parliment and they are considered as the heroes of the country.
come on, we do not have to be very intelligent to know all these stuff happening in the country.
I think Turkey deserves to be a member of the EU but it has to be democratic country itself for its own people rather than being forced by EU.
When Turkey becomes the member of EU, they will have to change or give up many things, but there are cetain people (like Ambassador of Turkey to the U.S." ) who cannot stand the fact that they have give up their places and pleasure

you are right on that konat.every has improved only on paper not in reality.

ever=every thing

sorry.

Politics will always be politics and media manipulation is a reality both in Turkey, USA and everywhere. It's our job to be critical and see the real issues behind what others want us to think.
It is sad to hear that you think in reality things in Turkey haven't really improved.

no.i think it has imroved in reality too but not as much as on paper.

I really support Turkey's entry into the EU, but the rest of Europe needs some educating about Turkey if they are to accept them. The Turkish Campaign for Tourism in England shows Turkey as being all about Whirling Dervishes, Arabian Nights, men in Arab dress on white horses and flying carpets! I never saw any of these in Turkey! (although I wouldn't mind seeing a flying carpet )

More Ali Baba and the 40 thieves than the reality.

Many people in England know nothing at all about Attuturk, nothing about the absolute kindness and goodness of Turkish people, they know only that they are Muslims and there is much dislike about Islam through ignorance and bad media coverage. They know nothing about the culture, food, the modern cities. They think it is a desert country, and would be surprised if they knew about the lush greenery of the West with its artesian wells.

Educate the rest of Europe and they will all be saying 'yes'.

Merhaba Lyndie,

I think exactly the same. Short ago I was watching a James Bond movie in a British Channel. It was the film "the world is not enough". Some parts of that film are taken in İstanbul but it was like an Arabic city in the movie. People here in England unfortunately see these things and they see all the kebab shops in London and they see the advertisements on TV you mentioned. The Ministry of Tourism couldnt do better than ruin the modern image of Turkey. I have written them a letter long time ago about this issue.
On the other hand Greece is doing really good. In Sainsburys you can see Greek Style yogurt and Greek Style olive oil. People unfortunately dont realise the olive oil they buy are produced in Türkiye and they dont know yogurt was invented in Türkiye and is originally a Turkish word just like coffee is originally "kahve".

I strongly belive the Turkish tourism people should use the mediterranean image more. On anything related to mediterranean culture, whether it is mediterranean music, food, lifestyle or architecture nobody mentiones Turkiye. But hey, we are mediterranean too.

Can you belive that many people think about Türkiye when they think about belly dance (oryantal).

http://www.etymonline.com/

I wouldn't call that an "article." It's not put up as a news article. It's an opinion piece that would appear on the "Editorial Page." If you look at the advertisements on that page (and the links to other opinions) it's not too hard to figure how which political direction the Washington Times is leaning. As an aside, the newspaper is owned by the far-right "cult" leader, Sun Myung Moon.

But more to the point, he uses what we Americans call a "code word." There's certain words that mean certain things to certain types of people while being perhaps less offensive to others. "Islamofascists" is one of those.

Sorry for bringing up politics and religion here, but I just wanted to make it clear that that opinion piece does not reflect a very widely held U.S. view of Turkey. Most Americans are probably quite neutral on Turkey's admission to the EU. Mostly because they don't know much about either entity. At the very least, Americans know that Turkey has long been an ally and friend of our country.