Understanding Turkey’s Compulsions. Washington needs to hold Ankara’s hand.

National Review ^ | 3/26/2003 | Mansoor Ijaz

[Calpernia]

Add on the information from this thread too: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/875764/posts

[Conspiracy Guy]

Ive heard that Turks will stare up at the rain until they drown. I don't know if it's true.

[a_Turk]

You read pretty fast, I see.. A regular genius.

[Cicero]

Sorry, I have long admired the Turks. But this is an extremely serious matter that could quickly become catastrophic. I don't believe the vote was an accident, because if it had been the generals could have quickly straightened it out. They did not.

That tells me that the whole thing was planned. If they had merely said "no," we would have been offended but would have no major gripe. As it was, they deliberately led us on, stabbed us in the back at a crucial moment, and are on the verge of invading Iraq in a move that may well lead to war between Turkey and the United States.

This is major stupidity. It's still curable now, although barely. But if they proceed with their plans to invade Iraq, forget about it.

[Cyber Liberty]

To heck with holding Turkey's hand.

We need to get a firm grip on their arms. They have designs on the northern front, and I envision having to stop them before this is done.

[Calpernia]

Try explaining yourself a little more before 'name calling'.

[a_Turk]

>> I don't believe the vote was an accident, because if it had been the generals could have quickly straightened it out. They did not. That tells me that the whole thing was planned.

You usually have pretty good insight. Yet here, where it ended up being about just 3 or 4 votes you talk of a plan.. Seems ridiculous to me.

The general had obtained his terms.

The general hoped not to have to interfere in the democratic process by voicing his opinion before the vote.

This is the 21st century man! We can't continue to be seen as being run by the military.

[American in Israel]

Great find this article! Thanks for the post, I have been wondering why Turkey is suddenly shooting itself in the foot. This explains some of the undercurrents.

[a_Turk]

Accusing Turkey of supplying Chinese arms to Irak is a stretch. Taks one hell of an imagination, perhaps even genius.

[steve-b]

Only two military generals in history have seized power by coup to create a modern state, then transformed their newly minted countries into representative democracies before going on to became the first democratically elected presidents of their nations: George Washington and Kamal Ataturk.

When the hell did George Washington "seize power by coup"?

[Fury]

Ozkok is respected by the US and within the US military and diplomatic community. I believe he did the US and Turkey a favor by "clarifying" via actions and deeds, Turkey's position as previously articulated by the Turkish political leadership.

A good article. Thanks for posting.

[Calpernia]

First off, I'm not accusing. I supplied information in reference of the article for discussion.

SECOND, why is it a stretch? Turkey ALREADY shipped Iraq the 12-foot-wide magnets for calutrons used to enrich uranium to weapon grade, for the State Electric Establishment which is a front company for Nassr State Establishment, which procured equipment for the SCUD enhancement program and for Taji [a chemical weapon and industrial arms complex which also produced components for uranium enrichment]

So what is the imagination?

[Cicero]

I said very little about the Turkish mess for the first couple of weeks, because I didn't think we really understood what was going on.

Now we do. The situation isn't completely irretrievable yet, merely dismal. But it's extremely important to speak out clearly now about the dangers of a Turkish land and oil grab, because if they actually go down that path the results will be disastrous--for Turkey most of all.

The article suggests that France may have egged Turkey on, with secret promises of a quick entry into NATO. I wouldn't be surprised, because the Belgian protests didn't sound real to me. If so, Turkey had better think hard about who they want to ally themselves with, the U.S. or France. France has never been the most reliable of allies.

[Cicero]

NATO--I mean Europe.

[a_Turk]

>> When the hell did George Washington "seize power by coup"?

Neither Washington nor Ataturk seized power by coup in the sense that we're used to. They did seize power from the rulers of the day by means of revolution.

[Servant of the Nine]

This is the 21st century man! We can't continue to be seen as being run by the military.

It is more modern than being seen as run by religious lunatics, which is how Turkey is seen now.

There was a considerable feeling in the US that the solution to the Middle Eastern problem was to reconstitute the Ottoman Empire. To turn the entire area into a Turkish dependancy and let the Turks secularize it. To make Turkey once again, a great power.
That has gone out the window.

So9

[Howlin]

Try explaining yourself a little more before 'name calling'.

I have a guess: apologist.

[Calpernia]

I didn't understand

[a_Turk]

>> I supplied information in reference of the article for discussion.

You posted a link here on this thread without even reading the article. That's plainly bad form. If you're going to "supply" then at least read the darned thing and comment on its contents.