Either the Turks have taken a sudden interest in checking out the primary sources the history books are based on, or something else is at work. Many have pointed to this story of gangbuster sales for Mein Kampf in the old lands of the Ottoman Emperor.

Some disappointment, but no big surprise, for those who recall this entry about the hold of far-Left anti-Americanism on the Turkish public at the moment. Now, there's no sin in owning and reading the book. I have a copy. But it's not exactly the type of thing that you'd expect to be a mass-market success. Something else beyond a purely intellectual interest in history is likely at work, no?

Tigerhawk puts the numbers into perspective:

The Daily Star article gets the reporting right to start:

Note my emphasis - on perception. It's no surprise people may be interested in re-examining Hitler in a different light, considering how badly twisted the reporting and analysis is - from Iraq to Israel - how dictated by opportunity politics. The article gets it dangerously wrong just two paragraphs later, here:

It's not the policy, it's the perception. Iraqis are more positive than ever, and still, there are those who insist on marching against "the war" even at this late date. What a world they must live in. What a world they are creating for those who don't hear anything different...different form the unceasing drumbeat of negativism and "Bush is Hitler" comparisons. Some people need to look in the mirror and see if perhaps some of their own - let's be charaitable and say well-meaning - rhetoric has anything to do with this...for excusing hatred and for conflating perception with reality.