Sorry. My post was harsher than I intended. Old FRiend.....I've worked with the Turks. They are some of the best people on Earth. They are loyal and friendly. They value education, a Turk seargent I worked with had a degree in Finite Analysis. Most of them are Muslim, so what, as was explained to me, by a Master Seargent....who was laughing I might add "We're all Musilms because that is what is recorded on your birth certificate, and there isn't anyway to change it without lengthy legal time and money".
I was with the Turks when they went to Greece with their F-16's for joint excercises....the Ouzo and Raki flowed freely...and both militaries acted like they had found long lost brothers.
The Turks have and still do host the Israeli's, though toned down now. We are not talking about a bunch of tribal morons that live in the hills and take pot shots at Americans like in Afganistan. We are talking about a first world, modern country, with a a standing army only second to the US in NATO. Syria will be wearing their ass for a hat if they screw with the Turks.......and Assad knows it.....