Judging from this picture, Turkish President Erdogan looks as though his perpetual fence-sitting might be irritating his backside a bit. Or perhaps he’s just squirming from the effort involved in keeping himself from becoming an irritant to Vladimir Putin. In either case, he deserves to squirm.

Because he can’t seem to make up his mind whether he (and thus his country) should honor his (and its) obligations to his (and its) fellow NATO member countries. Or whether to continue sucking up to Vladimir Putin until he can figure out whether Putin — or even Russia — will still be standing when the smoke clears in Ukraine. That’s a tough decision . . . particularly if you don’t have a conscience.

Erdogan continues verbally to support Ukraine’s territorial integrity, and has even provided it with drones for its defense against Russia’s continuing assault. But he has stopped short of joining in the sanctions against Russia, claiming to be a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv — though, thus far, not a very successful one.

So here’s the latest example of his problem. On September 20th, speaking to Turkish journalists while in New York for the U.N. General Assembly meeting, he said the following (as reported by European Pravda):

“Both leaders and prime ministers have negative attitudes toward Putin. Of course, we do not have the same attitude. I do not find these attitudes right. Because Russia is not an ordinary country.”

He added that, because Russia is one of the world’s leading grain producers, “. . . such a country cannot be ignored.”

“We will continue our relations with Russia in a positive way,” he went on, referencing Turkey’s desire to become “a hub for natural gas exports to Europe,” and “Ankara’s dependence on Russia for imports of natural gas.” [European Pravda, September 20, 2022.]

And a few days earlier, he was quoted — again by European Pravda — as saying that he trusts Russia as much as he trusts the West. “I have no reason not to trust them,” he is reported as saying.

He has even, on other occasions, straddled the fence with regard to the prospect of Turkey’s accession to the European Union. Decisions, decisions . . .

It’s becoming clearer by the day that this man, who is the leader of a strategically vital, NATO-member country, cannot decide whether he’s left-handed or right-handed, left-brained or right-brained . . . or politically left-leaning or right-leaning. Methinks he needs a sharp poke in the ass to get him off of that fence.

Where’s a pitchfork when you really need one?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/25/23