THOSE LOW-DOWN DIRTY BLUES

"Ouch! Did the US just backhand Erdogan, or what?

For the last few weeks there had been mentions in the Turkish press of Erdogan's desire to visit Washington, and speculation had it that the outcome of requesting a visit would show where the US stands in relation to the AKP. On Tuesday, commentator Cuneyt Ulsever made the following remarks, from TDN:

In recent times Turkey has been playing a very active and guiding role in both Iraq and Iran.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who justifiably wanted to utilize this state of affairs, wanted to visit U.S. President George W. Bush.

The Foreign Ministry told the United States, Our prime minister would like to visit at the first opportune time.

[ . . . ]

However The urgent visit Erdoğan wanted to make to discuss Iran, Iraq, Israel and Palestine was postponed until the autumn due to the failure of the White House to send an invitation. When asked by journalists yesterday at Parliament whether it was possible for him to go to the United States sometime in July, Erdoğan said, As of today, it doesn't seem possible.' When asked about the timing of the visit, he said, In the autumn at the latest'. (Hürriyet, June 7, 2006)

Erdogan has been rejected, something that was foreshadowed back in late March, at the American Turkish Council (ATC) conference in Washington, from MEMRI:"
Rasti

I think Erdogan is jealous of Al-Maliki.