Obama Meets With Turkey's Prime Minister

Updated with video:
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Obama and Joe Biden meet with Prime Minister Erdogan at 11:30 am eastern. Obama is seeking cooperation on Iran's nuclear plans. Turkey gets natural gas from Iran. Turkey may want help with Iraq.

President Barack Obama will press Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, one of NATO’s two Muslim members, for more support in curbing Iran’s nuclear program and rebuilding Afghanistan.

In a White House meeting today, Obama will probe Turkey’s willingness, as a member of the United Nations Security Council, to back new sanctions against Iran, an administration official said. The U.S. also wants Turkey to increase its aid to Afghanistan, according to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Erdogan’s government has been expanding trade ties with Iran, which supplies about 20 percent of Turkey’s natural gas. He visited Tehran in October and said that Iran’s nuclear program, which the U.S. suspects is a cover for weapons development, is “peaceful.”

“American policy makers are going to want to use that new relationship with Iran to take tough messages to Tehran about the nuclear issue,” said Ian Lesser, a Turkish-affairs specialist at the German Marshall Fund of the U.S. in Washington. More at Bloomberg

Obama's Town Hall in Istanbul Video

Obama said he came to Turkey to renew the relationship between the two countries.  He got a few questions about peace, peace in nature--climate change-- and how can we help you achieve peace. Refreshing. Seems we're always asking what are you going to do for us and what's taking you? 
Another student asks: what's the difference between you and Bush? 

Answering another question, Obama said peace in the Middle East is possible. It would look like two states side by side. He also said if mothers were in charge for a while, peace might come quicker. 

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Obama Speaks to Turkey's Parliament Video

Note to those looking for the "startled" Obama--the speech is a good one, so you may want to watch it.

Obama says the words Bush never did-- We are not at war with Islam. Obama addressed Turkey's Parliament this morning (see video below). During Bush time, many people in the U.S. and abroad got the absolute wrong message about Islam. During Obama's address, he also noted a couple of Turkish basketball players and voiced his support of Turkey joining the European Union.

MSNBC: Obama acknowledged in his speech that relations between the United States and the Muslim world has been strained. So he said, "Let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is not at war with Islam."

In fact, Obama said, the partnership between the U.S. and the Muslim world is critical in rolling back what he called a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject.

"America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al Qaida," he said. "We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect."

"We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over so many centuries to shape the world for the better, including my own country," Obama said.

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Read a transcript of a Q&A with Obama and President Abdullah Gul here.
Q&A:

** President Abdullah Gul and his counterpart U.S President Barack Obama made a gesture to each other by wearing ties that represent the color of the flag of others country. Gul wore blue tie, while Obama was in red tie.

** Obama greeted soldiers at Cankaya Presidential Palace in Turkish, saying “Merhaba Asker!” (Hello Soldier!)

** Tight security measures have been taken in Ankara for Obama's visit. In the capital many roads on the convoy's route have been blocked and thousands of policemen from special operations teams have been deployed along the routes. Mobile phone jammers have also been activated in the area.

** The lives of Ankara residents were disrupted yesterday because of road closures and strict security measures taken to guarantee the safety of U.S. President Barack Obama during his stay.

** Praising modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as a "man with vision, tenacity and courage who put Turkey on the path of democracy," Obama concluded quoting one of the most popular sayings of Ataturk "Peace at home, peace in the world," in the memorial book at Ataturk's mausoleum where he laid a wreath.

** Under heavy security measures with about 4,000 policemen on duty, Obama proceeded from Ataturk’s mausoleum to the presidential palace where he was warmly greeted by President Abdullah Gul. He was honored with 21 gun salute, which startled the U.S. President Obama, who was stunned by the noise from the first shot.

** Left handed Obama wrote his message in a guest book at Ataturk's mausoleum with his own handwriting. He wrote his message for nearly four minutes.

** The commanders of the Turkish Armed Forces, or TSK, who did not join any official reception, ceremony or special session organized in Parliament after the Turkey’s pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party, or DTP, entered parliament, changed their attitudes. The top cadre of military, after a hiatus of 21 months, was in Parliament to listen to Obama’s speech.

** One of the interesting guests of the participants, which were invited by the U.S. Embassy to listen to Obama’s Parliamentary speech, was Oksan Oztok, an activist defending homosexual rights.
Read more at Hurriyet

Why Turkey?

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WaPo: A staunchly secular nation of nearly 77 million Muslims, Turkey is a key player in regional politics, particularly with countries such as Syria and Iran, with which Obama is trying to create new openings for dialogue.

Obama has planned meetings with the Turkish president and prime minister, as well as a speech to the Turkish parliament Monday. He is due to arrive Monday evening in Istanbul for visits with key religious leaders and a round-table discussion with students, many of whom will participate via videoconference from Europe and the Middle East.
......
Turkish attitudes toward the U.S. tumbled under the Bush administration, falling from 52 percent favorability in 1999-2000 to 12 percent last year, according to the Pew Global survey. But the vast majority of Turks in this cheerful, bustling city seemed to eagerly welcome Obama on his first visit as president to a predominantly Muslim country.

Lots of goodwill for Obama in Turkey:

Obama To Visit Turkey

Obama will be visiting Turkey, but it won't be to give a speech. Obama has said he will give a speech in a Muslim country to convey the message that the U.S. is moving in a new direction. In Turkey, he'll be reaching out to Muslim leaders to improve relations.  

Bush never even tried to strengthen Muslim ties. I don't think he viewed it as important because in his mind, I'm not sure he appreciated Islam. He railed against Muslim extremists but he didn't do a very good job of conveying the message that not all Muslims are terrorists. His crew of conservative followers certainly understood the message that all Muslims are bad. You only need to look back at Sarah Palin's rally videos to see conservatives showing their true colors. They sure did feel free. 

All the Muslim countries of the world got the same message from Bush. Inadvertently, or not, he helped breed hate. He helped make extremists stronger. He dug another deep hole for us to get out of.

By strengthening ties with Muslim nations, Obama can help deflate terrorist networks. This is logic that conservatives-- who need an Us vs. Them--have difficulty comprehending.

Swamp: The trip is meant to continue dialogue with leaders in Muslim countries, the official said. But it will not include the speech from a Muslim capital that Obama spoke of during his presidential campaign.

"Planning for the Turkey visit is just the beginning," the official said. "It will be an important opportunity to visit a NATO ally and discuss shared challenges."

Obama said in an address in the summer of 2007 that he would deliver an address in a "major Islamic forum" during the first hundred days of his administration. He said he would make it clear that "we are not at war with Islam" and that "we'll stand with those who are willing to stand up for their future."

Hillary makes the announcement: