Thursday, September 07, 2006

What happens when Turkey can no longer turn the other cheek?

Reuters is running this story on the change of heart being experienced by Turks who are tired of the noises coming out of Europe.

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Turks are warming towards Iran and cooling towards the United States and Europe, according to an opinion poll published on Wednesday that showed a deepening estrangement from the West in the NATO member.

The findings of the annual Transatlantic Trends survey appeared to reflect anger at U.S. policy in the Middle East and a growing sense that the European Union is not sincere about Turkey's membership bid.

Asked about the warmth of their feelings towards a range of countries, Turks gave the European Union 45 degrees on a 100-point thermometer scale and the United States 20. Iran registered 43 degrees.

The poll, conducted in mid-June, found that 54 percent of Turks still believe EU membership would be a good thing for their country, compared to 22 percent who said it would be bad and 18 percent who said neither bad nor good.

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