Is US foreign policy in the hands of amateurs?

Thursday, 11 March 2010 11:21

Only one explanation is being provided for the attitude the US administration adopted in relation to the Armenian resolution.
America tried to use this method to put pressure on Turkey to ratify the protocols it signed with Armenia. But according to a senior Turkish diplomat, “The US is showing that its foreign policy is in the hands of amateurs.” Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu’s accusation that the US “lacks vision” is actually compatible with this perception as well. After all, by choosing this option, Washington has virtually guaranteed that the Turkish Parliament will not ratify the protocols in question anytime soon, and I suppose we cannot consider this a sign of “successful diplomacy.” By reacting harshly to the resolution Ankara has clearly shown President Barack Obama that the situation will get worse if he uses statements that upset Turkey in his April 24 message. In brief, the Armenian genocide resolution will force Washington, which has made a serious miscalculation on this issue, to make some “fine-tune adjustments.”

Semih Idiz/Milliyet