The Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that a new wave of anti-Americanism is sweeping his country, and it stems from two sources. One is the Kurdish Workers Party, a terrorist group in Iraq that continues to kill Turkish soldiers. Erdogan said this group was hiding behind America’s skirt and since we refused to deal with them, Turkey would:

…in his interview with The Times Mr Erdogan was in no mood to heed Western appeals for restraint. The PKK was hiding behind the US and Iraqi governments, he complained. It was using American weapons. “We have told President Bush numerous times how sensitive we are about this issue but have not had a single positive result.”

The targets were not innocent civilians or Iraq’s territorial integrity but a terrorist organisation that regularly attacked Turkish targets, he said. “If a neighbouring country is providing a safe haven for terrorism . . . we have rights under international law and we will use those rights and we don’t have to get permission from anybody.”

I agree completely. That is why I have repeatedly called for the military on the southern border. But let’s not get into that now. Turkey does have the right to defend itself, and if the PKK attack, they must be dealt with in a swift and staggering way. Instead of asking for restraint, America and Iraq should be working with Turkey to end this.

Now, for the other reason for the wave of anti-Americanism in Turkey:

He accused the Democrat-controlled foreign affairs committee of “firing a bullet” at US-Turkish relations by approving the “so-called Armenian genocide Bill”. “America might lose a very important friend,” he said.

Unfortunately, stupidity is still legal, as demonstrated by Hillary’s high poll numbers. But, some Democrats have come to their senses and the bill seems to be dead. The damage to our relationship with Turkey is done already, so maybe Nancy Pelosi and her henchmen have accomplished their goal.