Posted on 10/30/2010 9:43:46 AM PDT by Texas Peartree
Our strategic policy towards Turkey needs to be reevaluated. Since the Clinton Administration our government has pushed Europe to embrace the moderate Muslim state of Turkey. The question is whether Turkey is still moderate enough to be part of the West. Our policy has included berating Western Europe for not fast-tracking Turkish membership in the European Union (EU). However, after five years of ascension talks, Turkey is no closer to membership than when they started.
Although no nation that has ever begun membership discussions and not subsequently been offered EU membership, the people of Western Europe (especially German, which has perhaps 5 million Turks) are dead set against Turkey joining. The idea of free labor migration from Turkey is frightening.
Putting aside EU membership, it might be the right time to reconsider Turkey's membership in NATO. In 2003 Turkey refused to allow coalition forces to use Turkey as a jumping-off spot for the invasion of Iraq. This was a shock from a fellow NATO member who housed US bases. Frankly, if America cannot use our forces in Turkey to project power, then why exactly are we there?
With the election of a more Islamic and less secular government under President Abdullah Gül, they have moved increasingly into an anti-US role. This change includes attacking US ally Israel. The "peace flotilla" is one example of this. A more immediate example is found in the fact that Turkey's strategic planners have just defined Israel as a "central threat" to Turkey. Of course, before Turkey launched armed “peace activists” at Gaza, Israel sold armaments to Turkey and trained Turkish soldiers. In other words, as recently as earlier this year, Israel was helping Turkey’s military. Keep in mind, however, that the Turkish military is the bulwark for secularism in Turkey. Thus, the Israeli’s helping...
(Excerpt) Read more at corybirenbaum.blogspot.com ...
“As God is my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly!”
I vote YES!
Wait ‘till after Thanksgiving...
Yes.Turkey is going over to the Other side.That is the side of Islamic Fundamentalism.That can’t blend well with Western Civilization.
I was ready to throw turkey under the bus after they refused to allow American troops to enter Iraq through their sand pit. That cost American lives.
IT was a result of a demand for a higher bribe that the U.S. refused to pay so Turkey pulled the plug for lucre.
Screw em.
There’s a reason why they call it Turkey! The country is one big Turkey!
It wasnt called the “sick man of Europe” durning WW1 for nothing.
I would rather like to see the USA leave NATO.
NATO was built to oppose the Soviets. They are gone, so why we are now guaranteeing security for 35+ nations in Europe (including Turkey) is beyond me.
Out! Out!!
A far better question is this: SHOULD THE U.S. BE IN NATO? I vote no. We can no longer afford to defend rich Western Europe. Let them defend themselves.
A voice of reason. Well said.
I stand corrected
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.