Turkey Day

With fall approaching fast, Pentagon leaders are keeping a close eye on Turkey. Members of the high-powered Defense Policy Board met Sept. 13-14 at the Pentagon to “receive classified briefings and have discussions” on just that topic, according to a brief notice filed by the committee as a justification for keeping the meeting closed.

Participants included intelligence community folks, academic experts, U.S. European Command chief Adm. James Stavridis, the under secretaries for policy of the State and Defense departments and four former U.S. ambassadors to Turkey (sans Eric Edelman), according to the agenda. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was also scheduled to make an appearance.

“The committee concluded with a classified executive session and made recommendations to the secretary of defense,” DPB Chairman John Hamre wrote in a one-paragraph note, required by law even for closed meetings. There ends the information available to the public.

From what we're told, “economic growth, political development, NATO alliance, growing regional power -- how should we respond?” were some of the issues that came up. Of concern, says one person with knowledge of the matter, is the European Union's continued refusal to let Istanbul join its ranks -- a position that some U.S. officials fear could lead to country to align itself more and more with the Arab world instead of the West.