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.

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Film Likely to Set Record
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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.

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GOT Leaders Comment on Film
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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.

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Media Contacts Disagree on Impact
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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.

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Audience Includes Many Teenagers and Children
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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.

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View From the Street
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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.

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Comment: Impact Will be Limited
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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