Time to Reassess America's Relationship with Turkey

It's time for the U.S. to reassess its relationship with Turkey.

After Obama became president, the first Muslim country that he visited in April 2009 was Turkey, where he told the Turkish parliament that he favors Turkish membership in the European Union. Beyond that, Obama has systematically reneged on his campaign promise to recognize Armenian Genocide. What has the U.S. gotten in return?

Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan has publicly supported Iran's nuclear program, claiming that it is for civilian purposes only (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8570842.stm), notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and hosted Ahmadinejad in late December 2010.

Erdogan was also among the few world leaders to congratulate Ahmadinejad after the spurious Iranian presidential election in June 2009 (http://www.thememriblog.org/blog_personal/en/17322.htm), notwithstanding the brutal suppression of subsequent mass protests in Tehran.

In December 2010, Erdogan traveled to Tripoli to receive the "Qaddafi International Prize for Human Rights". Previous recipients of the prize, worth some $250,000, have included Louis Farrakhan (1996), Fidel Castro (1998), and Hugo Chavez (2004).

Earlier this month, Turkey opposed sanctions passed by the U.N. Security Council against Libya, and Erdogan announced that he would also object to NATO enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya (http://www.hudson-ny.org/1927/turkey-opposes-no-fly-zone-over-libya-and-un).

Now, Turkey's deputy prime minister, Bülent Arınç, is voicing support for airstrikes against Israel (http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2011/03/21/turkey%e2%80%99s-deputy-prime-minister-calls-for-airstrikes-on-israel/).

Given all of the above, does the U.S. seriously intend to proceed with its plans to provide Turkey with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter? Time for Obama and friends to give this a little more thought.