(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - Despite its 80 million citizens and its large military, Turkey has failed to position itself as an influential regional element. Turkey's efforts to join the EU failed. With the exception of Turkey, no other state in the world recognizes Northern Cyprus, the republic established by Ankara after invading Cyprus in 1974. On the other hand, Greek Cyprus was accepted as a member of the EU. Turkey was Gaddafi's most important ally before the Libyan uprising and Turkey tried to avert a NATO operation against Gaddafi. Turkey under Erdogan's leadership is neither a reliable ally nor a credible rival. In 2003, when the Bush Administration was about to invade Iraq, Erdogan refused to allow the American army to pass through Turkish territory. Erdogan makes rash, extreme statements that he has no military or political ability to realize or desire to implement.
2011-09-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive