Experts who know the depth and history of the relations between the two countries also confirm this. For instance, Graham E. Fuller, former vice chairman of the US National Intelligence Council (NIC), says that the “worn out” Turkey-US relations entered the process of deterioration a long time ago. Apparently the current picture doesn’t belong to today. According to him, “Washington’s policies are broadly and fundamentally incompatible with Turkish foreign policy interests in multiple arenas.” Defending that the interests of the two countries are at odds with each other in seven fields -- Kurds, terrorism, Iran, Syria, Armenia, Russia and Palestine -- Fuller remarks that the Iraq policies of the United States have turned out to be a disaster for Turkey. Indeed I too often said, starting from the days the US first attempted to occupy also Iraq, after Afghanistan, that this would inflict a disaster upon not only Iraq, but also on the region and Turkey. In his article in the Los Angeles Times, Fuller wrote: “Overall, a ‘new Turkey’ actively seeks good-neighbor relations with all regional states and players. It seeks to be a major player and mediator in the Middle East.” Fuller describes the generic statements that the two countries have “vital shared interests” as “empty phrases.” “We had better get used to the fact that Turkey, strengthened by its popular democracy, is going to pursue its own national interests, regardless of Washington’s pressure,” he stressed.
Here are the seven points of friction as pointed out by Fuller: 1) Terrorism: The US policies on Middle East have fanned the flames of violence in the region and brought al-Qaeda to the Turkish borders; 2) Iran: The Washington administration imposed pressure on Turkey for it to end its relations with Iran indiscreetly and tactlessly; 3) Syria: Turkish-Syrian relations have been blossoming. Ankara resisted Washington pressure to sideline Damascus; 4) Armenia: Ankara and Yerevan have “efficient” unofficial ties; however the Armenian diaspora is one of the key factors catering to the highly tense relations; 5) Russia: Ankara values its ties to Russia and rejects US plans such as NATO expansion or the missile shield; 6) Palestine: Washington opposes Ankara’s recognition of Hamas as legitimate. Ankara also has good relations with Israel, however it also criticizes the latter; 7) Kurds: The latest US policies on Iraq have turned out to be a disaster for Turkey. The formation in the north of Iraq encourages separatism in Turkey.
Fuller underlines an even more interesting point: “Washington supports Kurdish terrorists against Iran.” What Fuller did by saying this shows utter and extreme tactlessness. These subjects are problematic areas known or guessed by all; however, nobody else can express them so openly and clearly as Fuller does. Naturally State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey’s reaction to Fuller’s statement is just as interesting. Casey said: “Well, if he’s a former employee of the CIA, the best I can say is I think that’s a spy who’s been out in the cold too long. The United States does not have contact with and does not support the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party]. It’s a terrorist organization. It’s treated as such. And the only thing we want to see from it is to have it go out of business.”
Although the spokesperson said this, it seems that doubts in this direction are strong. In other words, it is not possible to so easily suggest, as Casey did, that a very experienced observer of the region as Fuller is out of his mind.
