Rick Perry calls Turkey's leaders 'Islamic terrorists': The fallout
The Texas governor raises eyebrows in the foreign policy community — and raises the hackles of a critical U.S. ally
"It isn't often [that] a presidential primary debate causes an international incident," says Doug Mataconis at Outside the Beltway, "but Rick Perry managed" to do just that at this week's South Carolina GOP debate — saying key U.S. ally Turkey is currently "ruled by what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists," and should be booted from NATO. Turkey is predictably furious: Its foreign ministry called Perry's "inappropriate" remarks ill-informed, Turkish newspaper columnist Mustafa Akyol tweeted that Perry is "an idiot," and Turkey's ambassador to the U.S. noted that his country is a "secular democracy" and U.S. partner against terrorism — not to mention "a strong and growing trading partner with the U.S. in general, and with Texas in particular, creating thousands of jobs throughout that state." Even as outrage grows, Perry is standing by his remarks. What is he up to?
This is a terrible insult to a critical ally: Let's get a few things straight, says Juan Cole at Informed Comment. Turkey's ruling party "is not even fundamentalist, much less terrorist," and the peacekeeping troops Turkey sent to Afghanistan are battling actual Islamist terrorists alongside U.S. forces. Maybe Perry is showing off his trademark "complete ignorance" on foreign policy, or maybe he's sucking up to the GOP's Israel-worshipping wing. Either way, it's a "profound insult to reward [Turkey's] friendship with the U.S. by this kind of trash talk." Americans should be "deeply relieved" that Perry has little chance of becoming president.
"Perry talks crazy about Turkey, but is par for GOP course"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But there's some truth in Perry's charge: The Texan may have gone a bit too far, says Michael Rubin at the American Enterprise Institute. But had he just called Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan "an enabler for Islamic terrorists, he would be 100 percent correct." From quashing press freedoms to embracing Hamas, Turkey has taken a bad turn since Erdogan and Co. took over in 2003. "Perry may not have broad foreign policy expertise, but sometimes it's useful to call a toad a toad, or at least a supporter of toads."
Regardless, it won't help Perry win: Erdogan's party does have "Islamist roots," says Keith Johnson at The Wall Street Journal. But it has also been a key backer of pro-democracy uprisings during the Arab Spring. And Erdogan just agreed to host a U.S.-backed missile-defense system aimed at containing Iran. Still, "beyond calling a NATO ally a terrorist country, what's really odd about Gov. Perry's comments is that they seem directed at a voter who doesn't really exist": Polls show that Republicans just don't care about foreign affairs this year.
"Talking Turkey: Rick Perry's latest 'oops' moment?"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The issue of women and conscription
Under the radar Ukraine military adviser hints at widening draft to women, as other countries weigh defence options amid global insecurity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
AI is causing concern among the LGBTQ community
In the Spotlight One critic believes that AI will 'always fail LGBTQ people'
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Modern presidents exercise power undreamed of by the Founding Fathers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published