Posted on 07/09/2007 7:56:02 AM PDT by kellynla
I wonder how NATO feels about this?
Turkey is hearing the defeatist talk and rumours in Washington DC of our withdrawal next year. Those 140,000 Turkish troops are not amassing for some strikes against PKK in Iraq... this is just the superficial official reason. They are waiting for our withdrawal, to fully invade Kurdistan and annex Kirkuk. Expect the Iranians to do something similar soon.
Turkey has long complained of U.S. inaction against separatist rebels...
Tough Shiite, Turkey. We will help you as you have helped US.
Uh-Oh......was April Glaspie seen in Istanbul recently?
Imagine what could be done if the various countries in the region were to act together for once.
Good point, I didn’t think about that possibility.
Imagine all the people living live at peace...
Nothing will focus the Iraqi politicians quite like the prospect of a Turkish invasion and the loss of the northern oil fields.
If I was ruling Turkey (or Syria, Saudi, etc) then I’d be preparing for war too. When the US cuts and runs, the whole place will become a huge war zone, between Kurds, Shites and Sunis. If there’s gonna be a war, then you really need to be ready for it.
I was thinking more along the lines of removing theocracies and installing secular gov’ts here and there.
Ottoman Empire, part 2?
“Ottoman Empire, part 2?”
The Ottomans ruled Iraq for 1000 years, and arguably did a better job than anyone since 1919.
The Ottoman Empire was the Islamic Caliphate. Add to this the absence of radical Islamist terrorism as a violent opposition and a technological state comparable to the late bronze age... and there is little dysfunction to expect.
The Ottomans BTW also excelled at murdering Christians like no other Muslim people.
I agree. They don’t want to mess with the Turkish army.
It might be a good thing. Turkey is a secular nation. Maybe they can turn Iraq into one also.
I’ll bet Europe is worried now.
Don't you know man that if someone just took BushCheneyCo out of office everyone would just start loving each other man. Nothing but ice cream sundaes, ultimate frisbee tournaments, and the Euphrates would be a river of chocolate with cute little gumdrop paddle boats for everyone to ride on!
The Ottoman Empire was a Caliphate, but Turkey is not.
The army is the only thing keeping Turkey as a secular state and they won’t allow it to be otherwise.
“The Ottomans BTW also excelled at murdering Christians like no other Muslim people.”
They generally worked like the mafia — they made you offers that you couldn’t refuse. They paid off the local tribal leaders who in turn kept the peace (and money flowing back home), and killed anyone who didn’t like the arrangement. Saddam simply did the same.
The Armenians were seen as a threat, for any number of reasons, and they were dealt with in typical Ottoman fashion.
What a novel idea.
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.