The Ranch Is Waiting For A Guest

BY ERDAL SAFAK
SABAH- Another American, Benjamin Franklin, was praised as a contributor to humanity; I was also expecting such a welcome, but Secretary of State Condolezza Rice told me to be realistic, said US President George W. Bush in his visit this week to Brussels. Meanwhile, thousands were demonstrating in front of the nearby US Embassy.
While Bush was calling on European leaders to support the ‘spread of democracy,’ US officials were casting an eye at new polls conducted by the Associated Press. According to the opinion polls, in France 84 percent of the public opposes Bush’s mission, as do 78 percent in Germany, 66 percent in Britain and more than 50 percent in Italy and Spain (this reflects their hatred of Bush’s policies, but not the US or the man himself). In sum, the polls show, Europe is not a friendly continent for Bush. According to Sophie Meunier, a research associate in Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, there are two categories of anti-Americanism in Europe: Those who are against US policies, and those who are against the US itself. Meunies said that those in the first group could change their views if political differences were bridged. Well then, why does the US see only Turkey as a target [to change its public’s views], while there are so many negative feelings in ‘Old Europe’? There are reasons for this.
The first is that with its 82 percent against Bush, according to a BBC poll, Turkey has the highest anti-Bush feeling in Europe. The second is that a sizeable chunk of the Turkish people goes beyond anti-Bush feelings and sees the US itself as a ‘threat.’ According to an opinion poll by the Pew Research Center 71, percent believe that the US itself is a threat to Turkey. In other words, a country we’ve had an alliance with for 50 years and fought on the same side, is now seen as an enemy. The third and most important reason is that this antagonism has been exacerbated by conspiracy theories. The US resents Ankara’s indifference towards this issue, which is seen as disinformation by Washington. What could be done to change the negative atmosphere? I think the government should consider giving a briefing to the press on Turkish-US relations. Another step could be an official visit by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan or President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to the US. I would advise them not to go to Bush’s ranch in Crawford, Texas. After Franco-American relations improved, reporters asked Bush whether he would invite French President Jacques Chirac to his ranch in Crawford, but Bush replied that he was looking for a real cowboy.