In mid January, Dr. Lesser visited Turkey at the height of the Gaza crisis, with Turks captivated by the ongoing Ergenekon investigation, and on the eve of Barack Obama's inauguration. His discussions revealed deepening concerns, not just about the obvious effects of the global economic crisis, but also about the basic trajectory of Turkish society, governance, and foreign policy.

An early Obama visit to Turkey would send an important signal regarding the significance of the relationship, and not just to Turks. Ideally, the visit would be part of a higher-profile European tour.