Turkish Role Neighboring Turks Take

Juan Cole 11/22/2004

Turkish Role

Neighboring Turks take a dim view of the “Iraqi resistance” in the Sunni Arab heartland of Iraq, given that it has slaughtered 64 Turkish truck drivers.

The Turkish Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, is clearly petrified with fear that US tensions with Iran will spin out of control. The region, he says, cannot bear another crisis. Gul is meeting with other Iraq neighbors at Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt Monday.

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment and Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History at the University of Michigan. He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires. Follow him at @jricole.