Turkey's first online newspaper takes on PNM

Dateline: above the garage in Portsmouth RI, 13 February 2005

I am told that Zaman Daily News' online version is the first online presence of a major Turkish newspaper. Below is an excerpt from an article that explores PNM less as a review and more as a cultural touchstone.

This coverage reflects the fact that PNM the Turkish edition has hit bookstores there. I went on CNN Turkey a bit back regarding this.

Click here for the full article

ZAMAN ONLINE: First Turkish Paper on the Internet

ABDULHAMIT BILICI

How to Understand the U.S.

In the manner the Justice and Development Party's (AKP) dominant position wiped out the enthusiasm in the Turkish political arena, the international system also adopted a similar monotony after the Cold War . . .

I can personally say that I spent an important part of my one-week holiday reading an interesting book, which helped my understanding of the U.S. a little bit more. Professor Thomas P.M. Barnett, who has been a researcher on strategic topics at the Naval Academy and a member of the "U.S. power unity" team, which was established after the September 11 attacks, wrote a book that gives hints about how the Pentagon, which is the most influential government agency in the current U.S. policies, perceives the world.

The author, in his sensationally titled book, "Pentagon's New Map," reveals a new perspective on U.S. policies after September 11 although he sometimes bores the reader with exaggerated references to his own story.

He divides the world into two: On the one side, the "center" which comprises North America, Europe, China, India and Japan where globalization works. And on the other side, the vacuum which comprises the Middle East including Turkey, Central and Southern Asia, all of Africa, except Republic of South Africa, where cannot integrate into the global system. Barnett claims that peace and stability in the world can only be ensured if this vacuum is narrowed with military, economic, political means and he opposes a division on a religious, cultural and civilization perspective as Huntington suggests. He says that September 11 showed that the West will not be able to find absolute peace behind high castles if it does not, through cooperation, carry justice, freedom and prosperity that people living in the center enjoy this non-integrating space.

A last note for Bush haters: Barnett, who served as a security adviser for the U. S forces for 10 years, does not approve of the methods used in implementing this perspective he presented, and he is frustrated by Bush's speeches and those of his friends too. Maybe, you may also want to read this Harvard-trained strategist's book like a mystery novel.

COMMENTARY: Given the level of anti-Americanism and conspiracy-thinking in Turkey right now, this was an awfully kind reference. I think, though, he may have taken the whole "Fox Mulder" spoof a bit too seriously!