Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ANKARA5018
2006-08-31 14:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:  

SUPER MASONIC PUPPIES AND OTHER INSULTS: ANKARA'S

Tags:  OPRC PREL KPAO TU IS LE 
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Dianne Wampler 09/01/2006 08:38:39 AM From DB/Inbox: Dianne Wampler

Cable 
Text: 
 
 
UNCLAS ANKARA 05018

SIPDIS
CX:
 ACTION: PA
 INFO: PMA ECON AMB DCM POL

DISSEMINATION: PAO /1
CHARGE: ICAS

APPROVED: PA:DSREEBNY
DRAFTED: PA:SMORIMURA
CLEARED: PA: KSCHALOW

VZCZCAYI940
RR RUEHC RUEHDA RUEHIT
DE RUEHAK #5018/01 2431450
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311450Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8299
INFO RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 1049
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 1187
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005018 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/PPD, EUR/UBI, INFO EUR-DAS C.GRAFFY, INR/R/EUR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PREL KPAO TU IS LE
SUBJECT: SUPER MASONIC PUPPIES AND OTHER INSULTS: ANKARA'S
"ASK THE AMBASSADOR" OFFERS A SNAPSHOT OF TURKISH PUBLIC
OPINION DURING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 005018

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/PPD, EUR/UBI, INFO EUR-DAS C.GRAFFY, INR/R/EUR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC PREL KPAO TU IS LE
SUBJECT: SUPER MASONIC PUPPIES AND OTHER INSULTS: ANKARA'S
"ASK THE AMBASSADOR" OFFERS A SNAPSHOT OF TURKISH PUBLIC
OPINION DURING THE CONFLICT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HEZBOLLAH


1. Summary: During the course of the July-August conflict
between Hezbollah and Israel, there was a noticeable change
in the nature of comments and questions coming into Embassy
Ankara's "Ask the Ambassador" website feature. Before the
conflict, most of the approximately 30 messages received per
week involved visa-related questions. During the most
intense days of fighting, the majority of messages contained
condemnations and accusations (sometimes vulgar, often
vitriolic) against perceived U.S. support of Israel's
"inhuman attacks" and U.S. hypocrisy for defending Israel's
right to self-defense while telling Turkey it would be
"unwise" to launch cross-border operations against the PKK in
northern Iraq. While submissions to "Ask the Ambassador" are
by no means a scientific survey, they do provide an insight
into at least the short-term effects of the extreme media
images and coverage of the conflict on Turkish perceptions.
End Summary.


2. In March 2006, Embassy Ankara added the "Ask the
Ambassador" feature to the Post website to provide a
mechanism by which visitors could communicate with the
Ambassador. Until the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel,
approximately 30 messages per week came in through the
feature. Most of them asked questions about visas or study
in the U.S., while others posed questions on such topics as
Iran policy, the war in Iraq, U.S. interest in the Black Sea
and dealing with the PKK.


3. As the conflict heated up, so did the quantity and tone
of messages to "Ask the Ambassador." We received 65 messages
during the week of July 17, and almost 200 during the
month-long course of the war. Most messages condemned the
U.S. for "double standard" policies, with some asking why the
U.S. did not take action to stop Israel. One message read,
"Stop the Israeli violence in Lebanon. Zionist barbarians
are killing babies. You are not a super power; only a super
Masonic puppy." Another writer asked, "How can you find
Israel's actions right when it is responsible for the deaths
of tens of thousands of innocent people?" A third
questioned, "Why are you calling Israel's cruelty
self-defense and (sic.) while considering all Muslim attacks
as terrorism? Aren't the U.S. and Israel the biggest
terrorists in the world?" One writer asked, "May I learn
whether you are a human being or not?"


4. Complaints that the U.S. defended Israel's actions
changed into charges of complicity in the wake of the July 30
Qana bombing. Reacting to the graphic images of dead
children in Turkish newspapers and TV, one writer asked,
"Does it give you pleasure to see the pictures?" Another
asked, "When will you stop murdering children?" A third
commented, "The U.S. gave Israel bombs to be used on the
Hezbollah shelters but children's bodies come out of the
shelters; those children could be yours." Another writer
asked, "Why is the U.S. allowing Israel to kill innocent
civilians...while pressuring Iran...? Isn't this sheer
hypocrisy?"


5. A number of messages also accused the United States of
practicing a double standard, by accepting/supporting
Israel's military actions across its border while not
supporting cross-border operations by the Turkish military
against the PKK in northern Iraq. One writer asked, "Israel
has the right to launch a cross-border operation and Turkey
doesn't?" Another wondered why the U.S. is maintaining a
"double standard" against the PKK and "doing nothing,"
concluding that "with this approach the U.S. is giving a
helping hand to anti-western sentiment and to radicals."


6. When the conflict came to a halt, the easing of the
intense media barrage was accompanied by a sharp decrease in
condemnation messages sent to "Ask the Ambassador." The
Embassy place an answer on the "Ask the Ambassador" site that
accurately described U.S. policies on Lebanon, while Embassy
officers drew on Washington guidance and speeches to directly
rebut spurious allegations and false accusations.


7. COMMENT: It is clear that the conflict between Israel
and Hezbollah stirred and aggravated the feelings of those in
Turkey who hold negative views of the United States. The
daily stream of graphic images and strong commentary from the
Turkish and regional media translated into a burst of anger
directed squarely at the U.S. It remains to be seen whether
the conflict will have a lasting effect on Turkish public
opinion toward the United States. Embassy Ankara will
continue to monitor "Ask the Ambassador" submissions to
provide one quick and direct indicator of Turkish moods in
the coming months.


Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/

WILSON