This winter marks yet another long period of coldness and misery for millions of displaced Syrians.  In Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan large numbers of Syrians are refugees — though we prefer to call them “guests” here in Turkey.  I would like to ask some tough questions: When will Arab nations give these noble people full access to schools, hospitals, and employment?  Will the EU countries and the U.S. get involved in the process of Continue Reading...

After the Paris terror attack and the bombing in Germany, potential lone wolf terrorists and the travel schedules of radicalized Europeans are once more under the lens.  As a neighbor of Syria and Iraq, the two countries with areas under ISIS control, Turkey and its border policies are under criticism once again. Continue Reading...

Here we go again.  The lazy accusations against Turkey begin.  Last week, Turkey decided not to sign the U.S.-led Jeddah communiqué to put together an alliance to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  This action was interpreted as Turkey being invisible in the war against terror or Turkey turning its back on its Western allies.  None of these interpretations are accurate or helpful in destroying ISIS.  But what is Turkey trying to Continue Reading...

The ISIS menace has been spreading beyond the borders of Middle East.  Both the EU countries and the US are rightly alarmed by the situation.  We are all watching the discussions about combating the radical group very closely and I have to remind my readers that the popular notion “my enemy’s enemy is my friend” is the most unsound method ever offered. Continue Reading...

My memory fails me when I try to remember all the negative reports and headlines regarding Turkey’s leading AK Party, Prime Minister Erdogan or the center-right in Turkey in the last years.  Some said Turkey will never normalize relations with Israel again, while some claimed Erdogan would surely be toppled by the military after the Gezi protests; some were over-enthusiastic about allegations of corruption, and some even claimed the government Continue Reading...