TURKEY: VALLEY OF THE WOLVES AND ANTI-AMERICANISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 ANKARA 000783 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/SE E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: VALLEY OF THE WOLVES AND ANTI-AMERICANISM REF: ANKARA 451 Classified by Ambassador Ross Wilson; reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: The openly anti-American film "Valley of the Wolves - Iraq" continues to play to packed theaters across Turkey and appears certain to smash the Turkish box office record. The film has tapped into a deep well of anger and humiliation resulting from a 2003 incident in which U.S. troops arrested and hooded Turkish forces in northern Iraq. Our contacts have diverse views on the ultimate impact of the film: -- The Westernized business elite believes bilateral relations are strong and predicts that the film will not have a long-term impact. -- Journalists are divided, some confiding that the film reflects America's growing image problem in Turkey, while others are more circumspect. One opined that the movie was backed by those seeking to limit the GOT's room for maneuver in its relations with the U.S. -- andthat it would have precisely this effect. -- A senior-level MFA official urged that we not overreact to the film, which he said would only serve to magnify its impact and feed its popularity. -- A leading opposition politician denounced the movie, while noting that it "reflects popular sentiment" about America. -- Two strongly pro-U.S. Turks who live abroad but visited Ankara recently told us that friends and relatives believed the movie was satisfying and, worse, that it reflected actual events. These pro-U.S. Turks were deeply distressed by the images the film creates and worried about the film's impact, particularly on Turkish youth. End Summary. -------------- Film Likely to Set Record -------------- ¶2. (U) As of February 17, more than 3 million viewers had already seen "Valley of the Wolves - Iraq" since its February 3 premiere; the record for a Turkish movie is 4 million viewers. The film has been the talk of Turkey, at least until Hamas' arrival here on February 16 for discussions with Turkish authorities. -------------- GOT Leaders Comment on Film -------------- ¶3. (U) FM Gul on February 4 assured reporters that the film will not affect Turkey-U.S. relations. A member of Gul's staff later told us Gul had not seen the film. The daily Turkiye on February 9 published a lengthy, exclusive interview with Gul, during which the FM indirectly criticized the movie. Without mentioning Valley of the Wolves by name, Gul derided efforts to feed the feelings of patriotism and turn them into commercial profit. ¶4. (C) During a February 10 meeting with the Ambassador, True Path Party Chairman Agar averred that the movie is, in part, an indictment of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for allowing U.S.-Turkish relations to deteriorate to the point where the Suleymaniye incident could take place. Prior to the meeting, Agar had told reporters it was not appropriate for GOT leaders to attend the premiere and publicly praise the film. He also said the film reflects the sentiments of Turkish citizens. ¶5. (U) Mesut Deger, MP of the Republican Peoples' Party (CHP),called the Embassy February 17 to say that he had seen the film and believes it will create animosity between the U.S. and Turkey. He said he is sorry that the makers of the film eploited certain public sentiments in this way. -------------- ANKARA 00000783 002 OF 003 Media Contacts Disagree on Impact -------------- ¶6. (C) Media representatives disagree over the impact of the film. Vuslat Dogan Sabanci, CEO of the daily Hurriyet, told us she does not expect the film -- bankrolled by the Dogan Group, of which Hurriyet is part -- to have any political impact. She averred that the film is merely popular entertainment, which people know does not reflect reality. Hurriyet editor-in-chief Ertugrul Ozkok agreed, arguing that the U.S. is popular in Turkey, but the Bush administration and the war in Iraq are not. ¶7. (C) By contrast, Nur Batur, Hurriyet Ankara bureau chief, said the film reflects rising anti-American sentiment and will further erode the U.S. image in Turkey, particularly among youth. Evren Mesci, reporter for the daily Sabah, said the film will dominate the perceptions of young Turks for years to come, and wondered how the U.S. could counter the film's influence. Mucahit Oren -- board member of Ihlas Holding, which includes media assets, and whose father owns Turkiye and the TV station TGRT -- told us the film's backers oppose U.S. influence in Turkey. He said anti-U.S. sentiment peaked at the start of the war in Iraq and has slowly receded; this movie will spur its revival, and it will limit the GOT's ability to work with the U.S. on issues such as Iran. ¶8. (U) Though published press commentary on the film has been overwhelmingly positive, there have been some exceptions. Sabah editor-in-chief Fatih Altayli called the movie "virtual masturbation." Altayli told readers he will not see the film and urged readers not to either. Nuri Elibol of Turkiye rhetorically asked about the movie, "Other than turning our national feelings into money in (the filmmakers') pockets, what purpose does it serve?" Bugun columnist Cengiz Candar averred that the movie "treats the Turkish people like fools" by offering a "virtual vengeance" for Suleymaniye. -------------- Audience Includes Many Teenagers and Children -------------- ¶9. (C) U.S. Mission personnel who have seen the film note that a large percentage of the audience consists of teenagers and young children, some only 6-8 years old. A number of filmgoers have told the press that Valley of the Wolves is the first movie they have ever seen. Two concerned outside experts on Turkey told us they were worried that the movie would define the U.S. in the minds of many young Turk. One remarked that these young people would later perform their military service, and could perhaps comprise the most anti-American generation of Turkish soldiers ever. An FSN at Congen Istanbul reported that her 18-year-old son returned from the movie warning her, "Don't tell anyone where you work." He said the audience, which included many teenagers, was very emotional, cheering and clapping when the heroes killed American troops, and crying during other parts. -------------- View From the Street -------------- ¶10. (U) Popular TV personality Kadir Copdemir asked people on the streets of Istanbul about the film on a February 16 NTV program. All the people he spoke with said they had seen the movie; one said he had seen it twice. They agreed the movie is anti-American, but maintained that it reflects reality. All said they are not anti-American, but oppose U.S. foreign policy. A majority said it would be an exaggeration to claim that the U.S. is responsible for all the problems in the world. A majority also believed that Turkey would behave in a manner similar to the U.S. if it had the same wealth and power. -------------- Comment: Impact Will be Limited -------------- ANKARA 00000783 003 OF 003 ¶11. (C) Valley of the Wolves was made to cash in on public outrage over Suleymaniye, a painful memory for Turks of every political persuasion across the social spectrum. The movie panders to the insecurities of this country and its people. In it, the Turks stand up for themselves and put the arrogant Americans in their place, even if only on screen. The movie will contribute to anti-Iraq war and anti-Bush administration sentiment, but we do not believe it will lead to a major increase in anti-Americanism, which is already strong. GOT officials have assured us that it will have no influence on GOT policy toward the U.S., but its impact on the social milieu here will only be negative -- and that is something that neither we nor the Erdogan government can afford to ignore. WILSON