Speaking of Dog Whistles: Rick Perry Talks Crazy About Turkey

"...a country that is being ruled by, what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists..."

Here is a temperate statement in response just now from the Turkish ambassador to the United States. At the moment, the United States has its disagreements on some issues with the Turkish government, as it does with most of its other allies. And in Turkey as in many parts of the world the role of Islam in secular government is an ongoing political issue. (Turkey has a longer record of wrestling with this question than just about any other modern state. See: Kemal Ataturk, career and thoughts of.) But "Islamic terrorists"???

As the Turkish ambassador puts it:

Contrary to statements during the debate, Turkey receives no significant sums of foreign aid dollars from the U.S. Indeed, Turkey is a strong and growing trading partner with the U.S. in general, and with Texas in particular creating thousands of jobs throughout that state....

While it was unfortunate, we do hope this episode in last night's debate leads to a better informed foreign policy discussion among the Republican Party candidates, one where long-standing allies are treated with respect not disdain.

I call that a glass half-full perspective! Maybe this episode got no notice because of Perry's past debate record and the fact that he's not going to win the nomination. Still I thought it deserved mention.

Update. A reader on what might have happened:

My guess would be that he thought he was talking about Pakistan, and mixed up the countries. The argument about being governed by terrorists can be made about Pakistan, and there has been a fair amount of comment recently.  Mr. Perry just blanked on the country and grabbed the first one he could find in the "Middle East" category in this head.
 
Of course, this may be giving him too much of the benefit of the doubt....