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Kinzer to Turks: Don’t adopt US’s ill habits in foreign policy
Kinzer, a former representative of The New York Times in İstanbul and author of several books on the Middle East, spoke about his new book, “RESET: Iran, Turkey, and America’s Future,” at the Washington office of the Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research (SETA).
According to Kinzer, Ankara, speaking about Iran, told Washington: “You don’t like this regime, but it is to remain there. Do you want to engage with the world as it is or do you want to do it as you wish it to be?” He suggested that Ankara should remember its advice to Washington while engaging with Israel.
“Turkey should not adopt the bad habits of the United States in foreign policy,” Kinzer said and added that if Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a gesture by going on a peace visit to Israel, Ankara could again gain its honest broker role in the region.
Kinzer also said there are anti-Iranian and anti-Israeli feelings in the world and that there are people who desire to punish these countries. “Iran and Israel are the strong countries of that region in the world. It is wrong to curse, punish and corner them, making them feel helpless. Our policy should be just the opposite. We need to free them from their paranoia by sweet-talk and persuasion,” he said.
He added that the world demands big security compromises from both Iran and Israel, but that they would compromise only if they feel secure.
Kinzer also said that the United States acts on a logic that is from the days of the Cold War and that it is defeated by its emotions because its policies were unable to produce a peaceful and stable Middle East thus far, meaning that it has to find a “new way.”
In that regard, Kinzer said Turkey is among the most helpful partners that would be able to help the United States realize its long-term goals. He said Turkey, having a democratic society and strategic targets that overlap with those of the United States, is suitable for the role.
Emphasizing that the rise of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) is the “death of Islamist politics,” Kinzer said the Turkish government is trying to integrate “radical” groups such as Hamas and Hezbullah into the system, but should be careful about its ties to the West while doing it.
Kinzer rejected claims that Turkey had turned its back to the West.
Regarding US fears that democracy in the Arab world would bring a kind of “Islamic alternative,” Kinzer said this fear might be right but that the US should get rid of it. “This will happen no matter what,” Kinzer said, adding that the longer the United States waits, the more extreme that Islamic alternative will be.
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