Turkey-key link between Europe and Islam

[stroller]

TURKEY IN TRANSITION
Less Europe, More Islam

For almost half a century, Turkey has been pursuing European Union membership. With negotiations now started though, enthusiasm is waning. And the influence of Islam is on the rise.
...
Is Turkey really becoming more Islamic? And particularly now, after coming so far on the way towards Europe? What is undeniable is that, one year after the opening of accession talks with the EU, the atmosphere in Turkey, with its 99 percent Muslim population, is increasingly anti-European, anti-Western and more nationalistic. Only one third of Turks support membership in the European Union, according to a survey published last week in the daily Milliyet -- a dramatic change for Turks, who have been big fans of Europe for so long.

A good a week before the planned publication of the latest EU-Progress Report, the government in Ankara now fears a further worsening of the climate. If the report is, as expected, negative -- sharply critical of the judiciary and the limited freedom of opinion, as well as the Turkish relation to the status of Cyprus -- then Turkey is on the verge of a "massive shock," the nation's papers say.

Turkey in Transition: Less Europe, More Islam - International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

[Butterfly]

Well, I am personally opposed for them to join. I think they sent the wrong message to the strong Euro partners when they supported the Iraqi war and GW Bush. They got seriously owned and made a disastrous strategic mistakes. Now they are paying for it. With such a stupid Turkish government in place and an unreliable partner on the top of that, I am glad they are not going to make it to the EU.

This is another nice story from the BBC

BBC NEWS | Europe | EU alarmed by Turkey reform woes

Titled was changed from "Fresh EU doubts over Turkish bid" by the BBC. Interesting.

BBC NEWS | Europe | EU to disappoint Balkan hopefuls

[lom]

Well, I am personally opposed for them to join. I think they sent the wrong message to the strong Euro partners when they supported the Iraqi war and GW Bush. They got seriously owned and made a disastrous strategic mistakes.

So what should we do then to Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Netherlands and Portugal who sent troops to Iraq

Yes, Turkey is whoring by getting loans, investments and direct money contribution from US in return for access to air bases.

But what to expect from a poor country (the same goes for the former east block countries that sent troops) when there is no straight EU policy for the Iraqi war ?

[Butterfly]

But what to expect from a poor country (the same goes for the former east block countries that sent troops) when there is no straight EU policy for the Iraqi war ?

Absolutely. Euro defense ministers are also guilty of that. But when you are a strategic partner like Turkey, you don't mess around by showing how "unreliable" you are, above all when your bid to join is already controversial. The other shitty small states that helped the US into Iraq are too insignificant to care, but Spain, Italy, and Denmark have a long history in the EU and are long term partners so a little fuckup from them can be excused. Since then, they have corrected their mistakes, and the new socialist governments in place are back on track.

[stroller]

Interesting to note that there are strong Islamist tendencies within Turkey, yet they (the gov) support the so-called war on terror, allowing the US to intimidate and launch attacks from their territory.

[Butterfly]

I think the radicalisation of muslims in Turkey is a direct effect of the War on Terror. Why would a country be so stupid to follow the US into such a silly war, and risk everything for it, even its own security at home, after spending years controlling their image and getting rid of all their own radicals ?

we don't need another "fucked up partner" in the EU, we already have England for that

[stroller]

Um, "fucked up partner" is not a term conducive to serious discussion, neither is comparing Turkey with the UK.

[HermantheGerman]

Interesting to note that there are strong Islamist tendencies within Turkey, yet they (the gov) support the so-called war on terror, allowing the US to intimidate and launch attacks from their territory.

Let's not forget that Turkey did have its own interest in the Iraq war. If I remember right they were promised by the U.S. that the Kurds will not be abel to establish their own State. This is a big concern for Turkey. If I remember correct the Kurds have some OIL too.

[Butterfly]

If I remember right they were promised by the U.S. that the Kurds will not be abel to establsi their own State.

Yep. And that would be double OWNAGE since the breakup of Iraq is going to be inevitable once the US leaves.

[man with no head]

I thought that Turkey denied the United States from using Turkish air bases as a staging point this go around? Wasn't there a big broo-ha-ha over that and NATO obligations prior to the invasion in 2003?

[lom]

^Initially yes, until they where offered enough ca$h..

[stroller]

Turkey had been a loyal US-ally but wasn't all that enthusiastic about the Iraq invasion.
Recent news:

...
All this is deeply worrisome for Turkey, which has already been following the growing chaos in this neighboring country with the deepest of consternation. It is as if all the nightmares that Ankara had concerning a U.S. intervention in this country are becoming reality.

Talk of dividing the country is therefore enough to send shivers up political spines in Turkey, where even the notion of a �federal Iraq� was too much to swallow initially. It is clear that Turkey's strong preference has been all along for an Iraq administered by a strong Baghdad, which would keep at bay Kurdish, Shiite or other political aspirations that risk dividing the country.

Turkey's 'Iraq headache' grows - Turkish Daily News Oct 26, 2006

[Marmite the Dog]

Interesting to note that there are strong Islamist tendencies within Turkey, yet they (the gov) support the so-called war on terror, allowing the US to intimidate and launch attacks from their territory.

Let's not forget that Turkey did have its own interest in the Iraq war. If I remember right they were promised by the U.S. that the Kurds will not be abel to establish their own State. This is a big concern for Turkey. If I remember correct the Kurds have some OIL too.

Why should't the Kurds be allowed to have their own country? It makes more sense to have a nation of kurds than form a nation built around religious distinctions.

[man with no head]

Whose land do you take away to make "Kurdistan?"

[Marmite the Dog]

Well, it looks like Iraq may become 3 seperate states before too long. The countries in that region complained (and still do) about the west forcing artificial borders upon them, so they should have no problems accommodating a more logical approach to national boundaries in the area.

[man with no head]

That is until you start taking land away from Turkey since many Kurds live there also.

Maybe it would be better to withdraw from the region and let them all sort out their differences. We could do that if we stopped using so much oil.