Turkey | AEIdeas

Saturday, May 25, 2013

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Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Turkey restricts, bans alcohol

Michael Rubin | May 24, 2013, 9:02 am

The Turkish parliament — dominated by a supermajority of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) — early this morning passed a law severely restricting and, in some cases, banning alcoholic beverages altogether. According to Hürriyet Daily … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Is arming the Syrian opposition a good idea?

Michael Rubin | May 22, 2013, 2:16 pm

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee yesterday approved legislation to have the United States provide small arms and ammunition to the Syrian opposition. While it’s good news that a bipartisan array of senators recognizes the high costs of American passivity, I’m … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Obama’s decision point on Turkey

Niklas Anzinger | May 14, 2013, 9:31 am

On May 16, 2013, President Obama will host Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House. In a January 2012 interview, Obama counted Erdoğan as one of his top five foreign friends. Erdoğan, who has made a half … read more >

Photo Credit: The White House/Pete Souza

Foreign and Defense Policy

The top 10 ObamaLeaks John Brennan needs to explain

Marc Thiessen | February 6, 2013, 10:40 am

When John Brennan appears for his confirmation hearing as the next CIA director tomorrow, he needs to explain to the Senate these ten major leaks of classified national security information from the Obama administration — including the strange timing of … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Terrorism

Between Benghazi and Ankara, Team Obama learns the definition of ‘an act of terror’

Marc Thiessen | February 5, 2013, 9:59 am

They may be slow learners at the White House, but at least they learn. The Wall Street Journal report on the bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, which killed a Turkish security guard and wounded several others, included … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Turkey’s useful idiots

Michael Rubin | November 20, 2012, 11:19 am

It doesn’t take much for Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to show his true colors. He’s been known as a man of strong opinions since his tenure as mayor of Istanbul. He has dragged a journalist to court for … read more >

An Iron Dome launcher fires an interceptor rocket near the Israeli city of Ashkelon November 19, 2012. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

What was Hamas thinking?

Danielle Pletka | November 19, 2012, 11:55 am

Can Hamas win militarily against Israel? Of course not, and while Hamas’ leaders are certifiably bad men, they are not obviously stupid. But their aim isn’t to win, it’s to be relevant in the modern Middle East. read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Twittering Turkey talk

Michael Rubin | January 18, 2012, 2:30 pm

Over at his twitter feed, Namik Tan, Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, has been on a roll condemning Texas Governor Rick Perry for his criticisms of Turkey. Yet, while Ambassador Tan has chastised Governor Perry for his own inaccuracies, … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Was Perry wrong on Turkey?

Michael Rubin | January 17, 2012, 12:07 pm

Governor Rick Perry is catching flack for calling Turkey’s leadership “Islamic terrorists.” While I would not go so far as Governor Perry, had he simply called Prime Minister Erdoğan an enabler for Islamic terrorists, he would be 100 percent correct. … read more >

Foreign and Defense Policy, Middle East and North Africa

Rapid change in Turkey—but not for the better

Michael Rubin | December 8, 2011, 3:58 pm

The speed at which Turkey is changing under its Islamist prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is astounding. While many Western diplomats praise Erdoğan’s handling of the economy and supposed democratic reforms, they ignore Erdoğan’s agenda to transform Turkish culture and … read more >