TURKEY'S IRAQ REVENGE MOVIE OPENS TO POPULAR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 000451 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/03/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINS TU SUBJECT: TURKEY'S IRAQ REVENGE MOVIE OPENS TO POPULAR ACCLAIM Classified By: Ambassador Ross Wilson, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Summary: A much-hyped film, "Valley of the Wolves ) Iraq," which depicts Americans in Iraq as heartless killers, opened in cinemas across Turkey this week. In scenes reminiscent of "Rambo," the main character takes revenge for the Suleymaniye incident, in which US forces hooded Turkish special forces. Filled with crass and distorted images of Americans as oppressors, the film is expected to be a big money-maker. It plays on Turks' paranoia and shame, will reinforce negative stereotypes within the populace about U.S. policies in Iraq, and may spark a fresh round of anti-Americanism here. End summary. ¶2. (U) Following months of fanfare and media hype, "Valley of the Wolves ) Iraq" hit screens in more than 400 Turkish cinemas on February 3. It will also be released throughout the Arab world, in several European countries and, reportedly, in the United States. The most talked-about Turkish pop-culture event in years, the film is expected to break attendance records, attracting more than 4 million viewers. It tells the story of Turks taking vengeance against US troops in Iraq following a July 2003 incident in the Iraqi city of Suleymaniye, in which U.S. forces arrested and hooded 11 Turkish special forces soldiers for activities aimed at creating instability in northern Iraq. Americans in the movie are depicted as evil and sadistic: U.S. soldiers kill for pleasure, including massacring an entire wedding party for no reason, and a Jewish-American doctor harvests organs from dead Iraqis for shipment to markets in Tel Aviv, London, and New York. In the end, the Turks prevail by killing large numbers of Americans in extended scenes of graphic violence. There is also a political overlay suggesting that U.S. forces aim to eliminate the Turkmen minority and subsequently Arabs as well from Iraq in order to hand the country over to the Kurds. The film is likely to be less of a success in Arab capitals, since it also portrays the Iraqi Arabs as helpless without the Turkish Rambo's intervention. The Dogan Group ) Hype and Distortion -------------- ¶3. (U) More than 10 million USD, the largest budget ever for a Turkish movie, went into the production of "Valley of the Wolves ) Iraq," an extension of Turkey's most popular television series. Although the precise financial arrangements are unclear, the Dogan media group, which controls roughly half of Turkey's media market ("Hurriyet," "Milliyet," "Radikal," and "Posta" newspapers as well as CNN-Turk and the popular Kanal-D),was a major sponsor. The Dogan group has shamelessly used its media outlets to plug the film, often at the expense of fairness and accuracy in news coverage. In December, Turkey's leading daily "Hurriyet" featured as front-page news the Suleymaniye incident (now 2-1/2 years old),complete with staged photos of Turkish special forces with hoods placed over their heads, for three consecutive days. Although the articles were built around details relating to Turks who served as translators during the interrogation of Turkish special forces, the reporting dredged up inflammatory images of the most neuralgic episode in recent U.S.-Turkish relations. ¶4. (U) In January, "Hurriyet" also regurgitated a fabricated story that first appeared in 2004, claiming that Turkish forces along the Iraq border had taken a U.S. military liaison officer prisoner, stripped him naked, and interrogated him before he was released. The report ran in various forms on the front page for three days straight, and failed to mention that both the Turkish General Staff and the Embassy looked into the story when it was first published and determined that it was a fabrication. Kanal-D subsequently ran a 15-minute interview with the retired Turkish military officer who planted the fabrication along with preview scenes from the forthcoming movie. Mrs. Erdogan: "I Felt Very Proud" -------------- ¶5. (U) Gala premieres of the movie in Istanbul and Ankara attracted a slew of Turkish VIPs, including the Prime Minister's wife and daughters, several cabinet ministers, the Speaker of Parliament, the Deputy President of the Constitutional Court, ANAP chairman Erkan Mumcu, a number of ANKARA 00000451 002 OF 002 Turkish business leaders, and American actor Billy Zane, who plays a prominent role in the film. Those invited to the Istanbul gala were greeted by a row of Turks decked out in U.S. military uniforms similar to those worn by American troops in Iraq. When asked whether the film would have a negative effect on U.S.-Turkish relations, Trade Minister Kursad Tuzmen, who attended the opening in Istanbul, responded, "No, this is only entertainment." The PM,s wife, Emine Erdogan, appeared on television following the screening in Ankara and stated "I was thrilled. It was wonderful. I felt very proud." Industry Minister Ali Coskun, who also attended the Ankara gala, gushed to the media, "I loved the movie. And may God protect the Turks." Both galas were given extensive press coverage in all Turkish media, and clips from the movie are being repeated on all TV channels. ¶6. (U) Asked about the motivation behind the film, Metehan Demir, former news coordinator at Kanal-D, said it's very simple -- "money." He said that the producers realized they had an opportunity to use the way people felt about the United States and the occupation of Iraq to make a huge amount of money, and that's what they did. Others have seen a political motive behind the film. A lawyer in Istanbul filed a legal action to prevent the movie from being shown, arguing that "revenge cannot be taken by a film." The lawyer said he wanted the film banned for fear that it would "diminish the hatred we have for Americans" by allowing Turks to vent their frustration at the cinema. ¶7. (SBU) Regardless of the intention, embassy contacts warn that while most Turks will understand the revenge scenes are fictional, they will accept the premise that Americans have committed widespread atrocities in Iraq and deliberately undermined Turkish interests. "Even though the movie does not claim to be history," a correspondent at "Vatan" told us, "people will believe it. It will have a subconscious effect." Embassy Response -------------- ¶8. (U) We have taken a deliberately low-key tone in responding to the many questions we have received about US reaction to Valley of the Wolves. Without commentary on the film, we have noted that it is intended as entertainment rather than as history. And we have tried to shift focus onto the facts of our long-standing partnership. ¶9. (C) Comment: This film - which manages to offend almost every ethnic group, save the Turks - will likely be a smash hit and big money maker here. It will be seen by hordes of young, impressionable Turks, many of whom will internalize the fictionalized message that Americans are evil. And that will reinforce an already negative view by many Turks of U.S. policies in the region. End Comment. WILSON