A former US ambassador to Turkey once informally observed that the country “lacks the PR gene." The controversy swirling around former national security adviser Michael Flynn over his ties to a Turkish businessman who clearly hired him to lobby on Turkey’s behalf is a further example of how inept Turkey is at promoting itself.

The retired general conceded in a filing with the Justice Department that a $500,000+ deal he signed with Turkish entrepreneur Ekim Alptekin prior to taking office “could be construed to have principally benefitted the Republic of Turkey.” By all accounts, it did not benefit Turkey at all.

The affair has spurred a slew of unfavorable articles in the American media probing Flynn’s relationship with the businessman and his Dutch-registered company Inovo. It's not just Flynn who's come out looking bad.

Alptekin initially denied that the contract was for lobbying, saying it was mainly to do “geopolitical analysis.” He still denies any ties to Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party or receiving any money from the Turkish government to pay Flynn.