RE: “The late Winston Spencer Churchill warned against it years ago, to no avail.”
What did Churchill say about Turkey vis-à-vis NATO? Turkey was admitted to NATO in 1952 and had at that time outstanding forces in Korea fighting communists alongside U.S. forces, et al. The Turkey troops were very much appreciated — I do not think that that is questioned.
Churchill led England’s W.W. I Navy against Ottoman Turkey. As colonial secretary (1920s) he had esteem for Kemal, wanted a reconciled Turkey against the Bolsheviks and wanted help for England managing Her affairs in the Middle East (former Ottoman territory). Churchill was against breaking up the country of Turkey following W.W.I.
What changed his mind about Turkey following the founding of the modern democratic Republic of Turkey in 1923?
I cannot find what happened. Thanks.
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Please forgive the confusion.
I referred to Winston Spencer Churchill, who was the GRANDSON of the famous Prime Minister, Winston Churchill or WW II era. The Grandfather WAS indeed a supporter of Turkey’s entrance into NATO in 1952.
A correction on my part: I misspoke — Churchill (the grandson, who died in April) warned Europe in 2005 NOT to allow Turkey to join the European Union/European Community, and said NATO should rethink their membership in NATO due to their radicalization, which he saw as a problem years ago.
Forgive my lack of clarity. Churchill the grandfather DID want and knew the West needed a united and secular Turkey to counterbalance the Soviet Block. Churchill the Grandson recognized that in the present era, the most virulent and relentless enemy of the west is not a Godless socioeconomic and political ideology, but a “God” infused socio-political religious system.
BTW, I have a great deal of respect for the Turks having worked with them and lived in Ankara.
IMO, their Islamist AKP no more speaks for the majority of Turks than the 1960s Marxist-Alinsky campus/street rabble and their ideological-issue Rat Party speaks for the majority of Americans.
Thanks again -- and BTW your description "'God' infused socio-political religious system" made this effort worth it.