It doesn't look as if relations with the US will "straighten out." First off, even if it's being repeated over and over that the Israel trip lightened things up, the main thing on the billet is Erdogan, who didn't supply US Ambassador Edelman with a meeting date for 6 weeks. The US finds Erdogan's stance on this subject "deliberate and unacceptable."

For this reason, and despite Bush's reminder yesterday in Moscow to Erdogan that they were "expecting" him soon in Washington, the US still hasn't given a confirmed date for a meeting between Bush and Erdogan. The Greek delegation, which asked for a meeting with Bush long after us, received their confirmation quite a while ago, for May 20. Turkey sent its Foreign Ministry's Charges d'Affaires especially to take care of this issue, but he still hasn't come up with a date either. Almost a month has passed now since Turkey's request for a meeting at the White House.
 
Both countries' governments present their relationship as "fantastic, no problems," but in point of fact, there is a problem. It is being said that there are some very interesting plans in the US mindset regarding Erdogan's visit, and that a date according to these plans will be given. Erdogan is heading to the US for his daughter's graduation ceremony anyway, but it is being said that the date for a meeting with Bush will be given sometime in June, which will force Erdogan to make two trips to the US.
 
Anyway, while all this is going on, Ukranian leader Yushenko also wants to come make an official visit, but to Turkey, and in June. If Yushenko's timing clashes with the US rendezvous, and if Erdogan is forced to cancel the US trip, Washington will say "We gave him an appointment, but he didn't keep it." In this way, an almost "professional tension" will have been created.
 
In addition to all this, the replacement for current US Ambassador Edelman, who is leaving in June, is now clear to the US. But this person will not replace Edelman immediately, not until the fall at least. In this way, the US is sending the message to Turkey that "You shouldn't see yourselves as any sort of world center. Look, we can take care of business in your country even without an ambassador." Edelman new job at the Pentagon will include many dealings with Turkey, the country in which he experienced so many problems.
 
It is strange that the focal point of the current problems between the US and Turkey is so often the Pentagon now. It used to be that whenever there arose a problem between the two countries, the Pentagon would enter the scene and find a solution. Now it is the opposite. The Pentagon is experiencing problems with Turkey, and the US State Department is trying to find solutions.