|
|
|
Jewish World Review Feb. 21, 2005 / 12 Adar I, 5765 Are democracies really our allies? By Tucker Carlson
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
If you were asked to name a Muslim country that has the most in common with the United States, you'd probably name Turkey. Turkey borders Europe. It's a member of NATO. It aspires to join the EU. Most of all, Turkey is a democracy of sorts, and has been for a long time. And as we've been told so many times... democracies are our natural allies.
But are they? A recent piece by Robert Pollock in the Wall Street Journal makes you wonder. Pollock visited Turkey earlier this month and found virulent anti-Americanism on display throughout the country. Mainstream newspapers accusing the US army of using chemical weapons against civilians in Iraq. Claiming that American soldiers are raping children, and stealing the internal organs of Iraqis for sale to rich westerners. That America, essentially, is bent on destroying the world for its own profit. According to Pollock, these libels are accepted as truth by Turks at all levels, from the poor to the country's elite.
Keep in mind that Turkey has been an important US ally — and a major recipient of aid — for decades. Even now, our government is lobbying for Turkey's inclusion into the European Union. Turkey is supposed to be our friend.
There are a lot of lessons here for the current administration, as it tries to improve America's standing in the Muslim world. The most obvious one is this: Democracy isn't the whole answer. Yes, it's better than other forms of government. But in the end, democracy doesn't make people reasonable. It just allows them to vote.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and the media consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
02/08/05: Just how bad should our Marines feel? © 2005 Tucker Carlson | |||||||||||
