Posted on 04/07/2002 12:37:59 PM PDT by a_Turk
Clearly it makes you think. What do you think is going on?
Let us hope that Israel has finally realizes that Turkey is no friend to humanity.
Does that mean the more radical islamic arabs, don't really care for Turkey?We have been labeled "infidel" by them on a number of occasions. We were really brimming with honor when Usame called us infidels.. LOL!
The Turks had a "soft spot" for the Jews based upon their hatred for Christians. Jews naturally took advantage of the Turks' offer and participated in crimes against Christians as well.
The "Kristallnacht" of 1955
The night of 6th to 7th of September 1955, a Turkish mob in Istanbul, organized and directed by state authorities, conducted a vicious pogrom against the Greek Community of Istanbul. As a result:
Sixteen Greeks died (the 90-years old Fr. Mantas was burned alive), and thirty two were severely wounded.
At least two hundred Greek women were raped. Hundreds of Greeks were tortured.
Seventy three churches and twenty three schools were vandalized, burned or destroyed.
One thousand four houses were looted; 4,348 stores, 110 hotels, 27 pharmacies and 21 factories destroyed.
The Patriarchal and other Greek cemeteries were desecrated. The dead bodies of Patriarchs were unburied and profaned.
Relics of Saints were burned or thrown to the dogs.
In 1958-1959, a new anti-greek wave took place. Turkish nationalist students embarked on a campaign of leaflet distribution outside Greek shops, encouraging the boycott of Greek businesses.
In 1964, all Greek nationals, permanent residents of Istanbul (people who were born and lived in Istanbul but retained the Greek citizenship) were expelled from the country on a two-day notice. Eventually, the Greek community of Istanbul shrunk from eighty thousand souls in 1955 to only forty eight thousand in 1965 now less than 2500.
We defeated Japan and Germany about fifty years ago too. NOW they are our close allies. Japan especially dear to us.
So it is with Turkey. Whether YOU like them or not, regardless of atrocities they committed decades and decades ago... they ARE now our very close allies, one of the only members of nato that has been willing to put boots on the ground, and their money where their mouths are. The seem to have licked their "religious extremists" problem, cheifly the muslidiot extremists. I think we should try cutting them a little slack.
I am sure you don't want to sound like a supporter of the euroweenies and the palestinian nail salesmen brigade.
The turks are doing good. Let em be.
It's time to stop genuflecting to the Arabs, compromising our interests and principles on the absurd assumption that we can't do whatever we need to do — attack Iraq, defend Israel, support freedom in Iran, and openly acknowledge the manifest superiority of the Turkish model for all Muslim nations — without Arab blessings. Afterwards, relations may well improve since, as bin Laden himself put it, "People naturally prefer the strong horse," i.e., everybody loves a winner. We are the winners; let's act like it. We deserve to win, and so do our natural coalition partners: Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and Christians who believe in freedom, progress, and tolerance. Let's all pray together that President Bush knows it too, and will act on it, boldly, and soon.
God help us... a person with a brain!
I saw a turkish beach on the Black sea... and a turkish woman in a NICE bikini... that means it's safe for civilized folks to visit.
And it also means that careful transit of oil and product from this "san diego" like area of the world, SHOULD bring about some mega expansion of the economy... given the proper stimulus, and stability of governance.
Looks like they could use a little WESTERN capitalization of the infrastucture too. Says two things... DANGER and OPPORTUNITY to make lotsa money... If I were younger and wealthier... heh heh... a nice place to have a residence.
I like what I have seen on the net. You live there? You should be OUTSIDE if it looks like that at the beach...
Jews are NOT perfect. But, who is. It is instructive to consider, one cannot be a jew-hater, without hating Jesus... the apostles and rejecting most of the bible's authors. Another words, the whole foundation in human history for christianity.
It reminds me of nothing more strongly than a little kid crying, "Mom! Timmy hit me back, make him stop!"
Ecevit is a wimpAnd hen-pecked by his wife. Swear at times you'd think she's running the country. Especially with her general amnesty crap.
"Anti-Israeli protests mark the weekend
On the weekend, thousands of people across Turkey participated in anti-Israeli demonstrations to protest the assaults of Israeli forces on the Palestinian people and the siege of Palestinian President Yasir Arafat in Ramallah. Meanwhile, a group of Turkish parliamentarians reached out to Jerusalem to make contacts with Palestinian and Israeli authorities.
In Ankara, about 4,000 people gathered in a downtown square Saturday despite heavy rain, chanting: "Down with Israel!" and burning Israeli and American flags.
In the northwestern Turkish city of Bursa, police detained 23 members of a far-left party who staged an unauthorized protest against Israel, the Anatolia news agency reported.
Police also detained three people in an anti-Israeli demonstration in Istanbul's Taksim Square. A group gathered in the square on Saturday to protest Israel's actions, and as they march to Istiklal Street, police intervened.
A group representing the Kamu-Sen and Egitim-Sen labour unions placed a black wreath at the Israeli General Consulate in Istanbul.
Ecevit regrets 'genocide' accusation against Israel Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said Saturday that he regretted having used the word "genocide" earlier this week to describe Israel's campaign in the Palestinian territories.
Turkey typically has good relations with Israel, but Ecevit told a political party meeting Thursday that "genocide is being committed" by Israel against the Palestinians. Ecevit later downplayed his use of the word, saying it had led to interpretations he had not intended.
On Saturday, Ecevit went a step further, expressing regret. "I attach great importance to the people of Israel," Ecevit told reporters. "I wish I hadn't used that upsetting expression, I wish I hadn't caused upset."
Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, has forged close military ties Israel in recent years. Turkey has also sought to maintain good relations with the Palestinians, who enjoy strong public sympathy here.
Ecevit's speech sparked speculation that the U.S.-backed Israeli-Turkish friendship was buckling under pressure from the Turkish public, which has condemned Israeli sieges in the West Bank. Thousands of Turks have staged anti-Israel demonstrations in the past week, and opposition politicians have called on the government to cancel a recent $668 million tank modernization deal with Israel. "
You cannot keep everybody happy, all the the time. End of story!
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