Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | Reason : Commentary | print version

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Ankara Shows Its Hand

by Christopher Hitchens

Reposted from
http://www.slate.com/id/2216518/
blank

The most underreported story of the month must surely be the announcement by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that he no longer supports the accession of Turkey as a full member of the European Union. His reasoning was very simple and intelligible, and it has huge implications for the Barack Obama "make nice" school of diplomacy.

At a NATO summit in Strasbourg in the first week of April, it had been considered a formality that the alliance would vote to confirm Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the prime minister of Denmark, as its new secretary-general. But very suddenly, the Turkish delegation threatened to veto the appointment. The grounds of Turkey's opposition were highly significant. Most important, they had to do with the publication of some cartoons in a Danish newspaper in 2005 lampooning the Prophet Mohammed. In spite of an organized campaign of violence and boycott against his country, and in spite of a demand by a delegation of ambassadors from supposedly "Islamic" states, Rasmussen consistently maintained that Danish law did not allow him to interfere with the Danish press. Years later, resentment at this position led Turkey—which is under its own constitution not an "Islamic" country—to use the occasion of a NATO meeting to try again to interfere with the internal affairs of a member state.
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Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | Permalink

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1. Comment #368323 by Philster61 on April 22, 2009 at 12:16 pm

How can Turkey "Veto" the appointment of Anders Fogh Rasmussen if it isnt a member state? They can say what they want but they have absolutely no power or influence in this matter. Agree with Hitchens.Turkey shouldnt be part of the EU.
If President Obama wants Turkey as part of the EU,why dont they become part of the United States instead?

Other Comments by Philster61

2. Comment #368329 by Tezcatlipoca on April 22, 2009 at 12:22 pm

Turkey is a member of NATO to which this refers. I believe it's veto is a based on a load of crap however.

-edit-second sentence for clarity

Other Comments by Tezcatlipoca

3. Comment #368330 by Friend Giskard on April 22, 2009 at 12:23 pm

"How can Turkey "Veto" the appointment of Anders Fogh Rasmussen if it isnt a member state?"

Turkey is a member of NATO, but not the EU. It is also named after a kind of big chicken.

Other Comments by Friend Giskard

4. Comment #368332 by Diogenes of Sinope on April 22, 2009 at 12:26 pm

Rasmussen's only offence is not to have apologised for (read: condemned) the Danish press, thus compromising its freedom.

It beggars belief that this can be construed as hostile.

Other Comments by Diogenes of Sinope

5. Comment #368333 by decius on April 22, 2009 at 12:27 pm

Finally. It took a while, but they eventually got it right.
Hopefully, more countries will come to share France's position.

Other Comments by decius

6. Comment #368336 by Philster61 on April 22, 2009 at 12:31 pm

"Turkey is a member of NATO, but not the EU. It is also named after a kind of big chicken."

It certainly is.But I dont think theyre aware of that fact. I initially misread it.Turkey is still vying for EU membership.This wont help their cause.

Other Comments by Philster61

7. Comment #368339 by Mr Blue Sky on April 22, 2009 at 12:33 pm

How rare for some of us Brits to applaud a frenchie! The Cyprus problem will not go away and the Islamists will continue to infiltrate and badger the Turkish administration. I hope it is a long time before we accept them in and that they are forced to show by deeds that they can play on our side to our rules for our mutual benefit (Europeans and Turks including Kurds that is)

Other Comments by Mr Blue Sky

8. Comment #368340 by kaiserkriss on April 22, 2009 at 12:33 pm

The current Turkish government is only minisculy more tolerant than other Islamic governments.

To allow them access to the EU with attitudes and agenda so aptly described by the Hitch should be unsupportable by most civilized people.

The opposition in Turkey on the other hand does believe in separation between church and state, and should be allowed the opportunity to begin negotiations for membership. jcw

Other Comments by kaiserkriss

9. Comment #368343 by stereoroid on April 22, 2009 at 12:35 pm

To be blunt: if they try that kind of tactic in an international forum, then Turkey's much vaunted secular status is dead, and probably has been for years. It had to happen, anyway, since a state should reflect the will of its people, and 99% of the people in Turkey are Muslim. I doubt that Obama has "permanently alienated" the French, though - I think they get that Obama is still finding his feet on the international stage.

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10. Comment #368360 by Cromwell on April 22, 2009 at 12:53 pm

Has Ankara not already shown its hand. The banner on RD homepage points out that this site, and thus any comments we may make, is currently BANNED IN TURKEY

Other Comments by Cromwell

11. Comment #368395 by ridelo on April 22, 2009 at 1:20 pm

What is the best strategy for preventing Turkey from drifting farther away from secularism? Will the secularists not be disappointed if Europe turns its back to Turkey? Is it possible that Erdogans behaviour was only a show for the religious home front?
Or... maybe I'm not good at politics at all.

Other Comments by ridelo

12. Comment #368425 by NewEnglandBob on April 22, 2009 at 1:46 pm

9. Comment #368343 by stereoroid:

since a state should reflect the will of its people, and 99% of the people in Turkey are Muslim.

The bolded comment above violates secularism, rule of law and most types of freedom, especially of any minorities. I feel this is as wrong as can be.

Other Comments by NewEnglandBob

13. Comment #368450 by Mr DArcy on April 22, 2009 at 2:12 pm

It must be the materialist in me that suggests that European capitalism needs a source of cheaper labour power than can currently be provided in order to compete with the likes of China and India. The political enthusiasm for, or opposition to, Turkey's proposed entry into the EU perhaps has more to do with the economics of profitability than religious posturing abouts so-called "rights".

Other Comments by Mr DArcy

14. Comment #368464 by Stafford Gordon on April 22, 2009 at 2:25 pm

How does Christopher Hitchens know that things are being done "by sweetness alone"? He can't!

I'm beginning to have my doubts about the man.

Other Comments by Stafford Gordon

15. Comment #368495 by Philster61 on April 22, 2009 at 2:54 pm

Must admit.Hitch is a constant source of new words for me.I thought I was well versed in the english language.But once in awhile Hitch always throws in a word that I never seem to have heard before. "Untrammeled". Theres a new one.Well for me anyway.

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16. Comment #368525 by bungoton on April 22, 2009 at 3:22 pm

The comments about Turkey being named after a bird are backwards. The bird was named after the country. There is a very tasty type of fowl from Turkey that became well known in England. The English started calling them Turkey Birds. Later any tasty fowl was called a Turkey and when North America was settled by people from England the name was used for those delicious and large birds native to North America.

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17. Comment #368554 by Lucas on April 22, 2009 at 4:18 pm

It is also named after a kind of big chicken.

Very mature.

Other Comments by Lucas

18. Comment #368559 by Goldy on April 22, 2009 at 4:29 pm

Simple answer to this problem. Mention the Kurds and the Armenian Genocide.

Other Comments by Goldy

19. Comment #368599 by Hellene on April 22, 2009 at 7:13 pm

Let us hope that secular Turks take their country back.

Other Comments by Hellene

20. Comment #368601 by NakedCelt on April 22, 2009 at 7:16 pm

Turkey's recent behaviour doesn't belong in the EU, I'd agree. But on the other hand, denying Turkey a place in the EU is not going to help the cause of secularism in the country -- or in the region. Maybe the solution would be to answer "No for now" to the Turkish membership request, and explain very clearly why. That should at least help give Turkish secularists some extra clout in local politics.

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21. Comment #368607 by Alternative Carpark on April 22, 2009 at 7:27 pm

Make a note of the word "untrammeled", I like it, and want to use it more often in conversation...

Hopefully, this will be the final, decisive nail in the coffin for Turkey's EU hopes.

As far as EU membership is concerned, Turkey can get stuffed!

Di, did you see what I did there?

I said that Turkey could get stuffed because Turkey is a kind of 'big chicken' and you stuff something up 'em before you cook 'em. The Turkey referred too in the article is not a bird, but a country and countries can't be stuffed - that would be silly - but through clever word-play I took the poultrified meaning of the word and I....

Anyway, nice one, Hitch.

Other Comments by Alternative Carpark

22. Comment #368630 by j.mills on April 22, 2009 at 8:39 pm

NakedCelt suggests:

Maybe the solution would be to answer "No for now" to the Turkish membership request, and explain very clearly why. That should at least help give Turkish secularists some extra clout in local politics.

...except that's kinda been the position for 10 or 20 years now. Letting 'em in throws away the leverage. Keeping 'em out doesn't seem to have fixed the problems. Maybe if we all stopped going on holiday there, they might start to get the message!

Other Comments by j.mills

23. Comment #368634 by lastgreekstanding on April 22, 2009 at 8:51 pm

Goldy,

Simple answer to this problem. Mention the Kurds and the Armenian Genocide.

...and the illegal military and settler occupation of the Republic of Cyprus.

Hellene,

Let us hope that secular Turks take their country back.

It makes no difference whether Turkey is a secular state or an Islamic state---it would still be an intolerant state. Look at its record. All the atrocities---genocides, pogroms---against the Greeks, Armenians, and Kurds occurred under Kemalism, i.e., secularism. In the 1990s when Bill Clinton was calling Turkey "a beacon of democracy in the region," the SECULAR Turkish generals were ordering the systematic destruction of Kurdish towns and villages in southeastern Turkey. Thousands of towns and villages were destroyed. Tens of thousands of Kurds were killed or maimed. Millions of Kurds were displayed.

There is a member here who has the nerve to use a picture of Kemal Ataturk as his avatar. Kemal Ataturk ("father of the Turks") was a murderous, monstrous man. This beast has been hailed as a man ahead of his time. I agree---he foreshadowed the genocidal likes of Adolf Hitler by a generation! When in 1920 the Armenian Republic was formed in the Caucasus, consisting mainly of survivors from the first Armenian genocide of a few years before, Kemal Ataturk ordered his army to destroy this newly found state. Over 200,000 Armenians were butchered before the Russians were able to step in and stop the Turks. (Remember, this was the 2nd genocide against the Armenians; in the first, a few years before, the Turks slaughtered over 1,000,000 Armenians in Anatolia.)

Btw, the Greek government, like any other EU member, has a veto in the matter of Turkey's entry in the EU. Unfortunately, its hands are tied. It cannot use it. There is a lot of pressure from the United States and other much stronger EU countries for it not to use the veto.

~lgs

Edit: Please also read Christopher Hitchens' aritcle in Slate, Telling the Truth About the Armenian Genocide, www.slate.com/id/2215445/

Other Comments by lastgreekstanding

24. Comment #368645 by Raiko on April 22, 2009 at 9:48 pm

It's still a mystery to me how a country with such a backdated views on the treatment of women, on religion and on law procedures was accepted into the European Union in the first place. There are more reasons than comics to deny Turkey the benefits of being in the EU. For example, they'd first have to acknowledge and learn to protect human rights a lot more than they do.

Other Comments by Raiko

25. Comment #368654 by mordacious1 on April 22, 2009 at 10:44 pm

Leaving the politics aside, one might ask, "Would Turkey's membership in the EU benefit the EU?". I do not see how. Turkey, the last time I looked, is the largest debtor nation to the IMF. Their economy is like a yo yo, but with more time spent down than up. There would be migrations of Turks into EU nations that would disrupt the economies of those countries. I also do not see EU membership changing the negative aspects of Turkey's cultural problems. So for now, I would not give them membership.

As to NATO...I would hope that the EU becomes more self-reliant, as to defense, and that NATO can become a thing of the past. America can still have defense treaties with the EU without being the alpha dog that it is now. I do not think that Turkey (and some other countries) woud be members of NATO now, without the U.S. pushing for it.

Other Comments by mordacious1

26. Comment #368655 by lastgreekstanding on April 22, 2009 at 10:56 pm

Raiko,

What I find strange is that Turkey wants to join the EU yet still refuses to recognize the Republic of Cyprus---an EU country!

Other Comments by lastgreekstanding

27. Comment #368659 by lastgreekstanding on April 22, 2009 at 11:19 pm

Mordacious1,

You asked, "Would Turkey's membership in the EU benefit the EU?"

I'd like to ask, "Why does the US so strongly support Turkey's membership in the EU? I think once we have the answer, Raiko's "mystery" of Turkish accession into the EU will be solved.

Other Comments by lastgreekstanding

28. Comment #368675 by mordacious1 on April 23, 2009 at 12:19 am

LGS

America has been kissing Turkey's ass for years. Someone thinks that they are a bastion in the region against islamic fundies. Deluded, I think, although they have the potential to be such.

Of course, a radical islamic Turkey would be bad news for everyone. The problem is, they know this and use it as the cornerstone of their foreign policy.

Other Comments by mordacious1

29. Comment #368678 by Goldy on April 23, 2009 at 12:29 am

Turkey, a NATO member. Greece, another NATO member.
http://www.fas.org/news/cyprus/990115-cyprus.htm

INTRO: SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY GREEK PLANS TO DEPLOY
RUSSIAN MADE S-300 SURFACE-TO-AIR MISSILES ON THE ISLAND OF CRETE
WILL DANGEROUSLY ESCALATE MILITARY TENSIONS BETWEEN THE TWO NATO
ALLIES. GREECE LAST MONTH DECLARED IT WOULD PROBABLY DEPLOY THE
MISSILES AFTER GREEK-CYPRIOT PRESIDENT GLAFCOS CLERIDES ANNOUNCED
HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT DEPLOY THE CONTROVERSIAL MISSILES ON
THE DIVIDED ISLAND OF CYPRUS. MR CLERIDES' DECISION FOLLOWED
SUSTAINED TURKISH THREATS TO DESTROY THE MISSILES IF THEY WERE
DEPLOYED.

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30. Comment #368703 by gcdavis on April 23, 2009 at 1:13 am

Turkey should not become part of the EU. If the argument is that it will help consolidate the democratic values of that country then by the same token I am sure that Obama would love to expand NAFTA to include Venezuela and other Central and Latin American states.

Despite its secular constitution Turkey is an Islamic country and membership of the EU would allow free travel within the EU to 72 million Moslems. Islam represents a threat to democracy and western secular values, even the moderates if forced to make a choice by some as yet unseen event, will always opt for Islam over country.

In the words of De Gaulle Non!

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31. Comment #368727 by gazzaofbath on April 23, 2009 at 2:20 am

I'm quite happy for Turkey to join the EU - eventually. But on grounds that require it's constitution to maintain secular safeguards, more than they have at present.

It's not that many years since ex-fascist and very poor Spain and Portugal joined the EU, church dominated Ireland and Poland too. All those countries have benefitted not just economically but, I would suggest, culturally from the flow of secular 'liberal' ideas back into their countries.

And don't forget that our own UK still has its nominal head of state as head of the state church.

I hardly think that Turkey joining the EU would open the floodgates to Islamic ideas seeping into the EU. On the contrary, secular ideas are more likely to go the other way.

But it is true that the Turks need to have it made clear on how they should organise their constitution BEFORE they come in. The critical thing is a firmly secular constitution - a firmer commitment to secular ideads on an everyday basis will come with engagement. If we leave the Turks to drift then they are more likely to drift away from western secularism, not towards it.

Other Comments by gazzaofbath

32. Comment #368732 by gcdavis on April 23, 2009 at 2:32 am

gazzaofbath
Although you make a strong case, I think that Islam is an enormous danger, because of the question of allegiance. Most Moslems including moderates will choose Islam over the country in which they happen to live if some future conflict of values occurs. Islam is continually trying to expand and dominate and is essentially undemocratic.

Other Comments by gcdavis

33. Comment #368761 by geckoman on April 23, 2009 at 4:05 am

On the positive side, were Turkey to join the EU, all manner of EU directives etc would become law there-many which protect women, minorities etc. If found in breach, Turkey would be fined millions per day.

That said, I'm with lastgreekstanding. A smell of general dodginess permeates most of Turkey's history I reckon.

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34. Comment #368787 by SoManyStars on April 23, 2009 at 4:57 am

Exceptionally nice of Ankara to reveal it's hand in advance as to how little they really know about the workings of democracy.

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35. Comment #368788 by Dark Matter on April 23, 2009 at 4:57 am

Surely the question of Turkey's membership of the EU is for the existing member countries of the EU. I have no idea why Obama is championing Turkey but if he thinks this would be a good idea then shouldn't he asking the American people if Turkey should be a member of the USA?

Well down to France and Denmark for opposing this and reminding Turkey how a democracy actually works. Personally, I think that the very fact that Richard's website is banned is enough to deny them membership but this article gives plenty of other good reasons.

Dark Matter.

Other Comments by Dark Matter

36. Comment #368839 by ridelo on April 23, 2009 at 6:19 am

Comment #368788 by Dark Matter on April 23, 2009 at 4:57 am
...I have no idea why Obama is championing Turkey...

Because he needs the airbases and so?

Other Comments by ridelo

37. Comment #368844 by Dark Matter on April 23, 2009 at 6:26 am

Ridelo,

"Because he needs the airbases and so?"

I was wondering. In that case why doesn't he campaign for Turkey to be made part of the United States?

Dark Matter.

Other Comments by Dark Matter

38. Comment #368848 by Peacebeuponme on April 23, 2009 at 6:31 am

LGS

What I find strange is that Turkey wants to join the EU yet still refuses to recognize the Republic of Cyprus---an EU country!

It will be interesting to watch, particularly if you are Serbian. No doubt the Occupied Territory of Kosovo will get EU membership soon. Serbia will then have the same issue as Turkey with respect to it joining.

Other Comments by Peacebeuponme

39. Comment #368850 by aquilacane on April 23, 2009 at 6:35 am

What the hell does the US have to do with anything going on in the EU? That's like Germany negotiating Mexico's bid to get in on NAFTA.

Other Comments by aquilacane

40. Comment #368863 by Rasmus_Holm on April 23, 2009 at 6:47 am

The actions of Turkey at that summit were disgraceful, however as a Dane I lost all the respect for Anders Fogh Rasmussen for agreeing to taking the post under the conditions impossed by the Turks.

Following the election AFR on the Saturday was in quite a hurry to resign on the Sunday, so he could go to Turkey on Monday for the Meeting of Civilizations and say things he could not possible have said as a PM. He came dangerously close to apologizing for the cartoons, and said the Danish government would look at the situation with the Kurdish TV station. As it stands they will not be shut down. Also I was less than impressed that Obama helped broker that deal.

Quite why he interferes with whether or not Turkey should join the EU is beyond me. It is frankly not his business.

Other Comments by Rasmus_Holm

41. Comment #368962 by Mel Olontha on April 23, 2009 at 8:46 am

I wrote a lot of stuff about this already in the RDF-forum. Certainly there is always some obnoxious Turkish nationalist that accuses you of "crusader-mentality" when you mention Turkeys abysmal human rights record, the ethno-religious cleansing of Cyprus (many of the so called Turkish Cypriots didn't even speak Turkish but were simply Greek-speaking Muslims) and the attempts of its elites to turn history into somekind of nationalist self-serving pan-turkic fairy tale with the Armenians and the Jews as part of a big Rothschild-conspiracy to keep the Turk down.

The problem with Kemalist secularism is that it is not secularism but rather somekind of nationalist religion, a totalitarian militarist racist ideology with Kemal as its prophet (which is not necessary Kemals fault whose legacy was ambivalent but rather of his successors). That goes surprisingly well with a certain state-controlled version of orthodox Islam (btw. not 99% of Turks adhere to the form of Sunni-Islam that the state likes, there are many religious minorities that are simply discriminated thus you don't know how many there are: Alevis, Yezids, Christians, Jews and indeed many Atheists).

The problem is that Europeans harbour many delusions about this country, they fantasise about "democratic islam" (even though the AKP favours the so called "Malaysian model") or its supposed "secularism" while what this means in Turkey is religious discrimination.

I'm still in favour of a EU-membership of Turkey. But I think this needs a throughout cultural revolution that brings real secularism and real democracy instead of fascist mob-rule.

A must read about this topic:

Niels Kadritzke; Headscarves, generals, and Turkish democracy
http://www.eurozine.com/articles/2008-02-01-kadritzke-en.html

Perry Anderson; After Kemal
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n18/ande01_.html

Also worth to read: Maureen Freely, Why they killed Hrant Dink
http://www.eurozine.com/articles/2007-06-06-freely-en.html

Also Christopher Hitchens wrote a great book about Cyprus including the Turkish invasion of 1974, it's out of print unfortunatelly but try to find it in a library near you:
http://www.amazon.com/Hostage-History-Cyprus-Ottomans-Kissinger/dp/1859841899/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240501335&sr=8-1
I hope his publisher decides on a reprint.

Other Comments by Mel Olontha

42. Comment #368972 by larhule on April 23, 2009 at 9:00 am

"What the hell does the US have to do with anything going on in the EU£"

Retarded question.

Other Comments by larhule

43. Comment #368994 by Damned Dirty Ape on April 23, 2009 at 9:40 am

When will we stop pretending the Islam is such a nice peaceful religion that to paraphrase Obama, has done so much good in the world? Let's face it, Islam will never play nice. I'm glad France is smelling the B.S. before it is too late.

Other Comments by Damned Dirty Ape

44. Comment #368995 by zengardener on April 23, 2009 at 9:43 am

So I wrote a letter to my President. I don't think any country with so little protection of free speech should be allowed... well... to exist.

It begs the question, "Is this all about military bases?" What about human rights? Why does the U.S. have any say?

Other Comments by zengardener

45. Comment #369010 by Lucas on April 23, 2009 at 9:59 am

Good to see that lastgreekstanding has managed to overcome his genetic and cultural bias against Turkey and Turks. His kind of clear thinking will surely solve the Cyprus problem. I mean, if he were to just spout emotionally based anti-Turkish sentiment that only serves to support his own ego without any rational thought, I'd be very disappointed.

Punk.

Two of my best friends in the world, like brothers to me, are named Mustafa and Haralambos. Somehow they've both acquired a perspective on the world that is not determined by the etymology of their names or the geographic region from whence came their DNA. Apparently this is just too much effort for some folks.

Other Comments by Lucas

46. Comment #369017 by dochmbi on April 23, 2009 at 10:15 am

Finnish

Pronunciation

* Hyphenation: an‧ka‧ra
* IPA: [ˈ�'ŋk�'r�']

Adjective
ankara (comparative ankarampi, superlative ankarin)

1. harsh, hard, strict (person)
2. harsh, sharp, fierce (weather, winter)
3. barren, austere, desolate (landscape)

I think that's sort of fitting...

Other Comments by dochmbi

47. Comment #369187 by lastgreekstanding on April 23, 2009 at 3:47 pm

Lucas,

Good to see that lastgreekstanding has managed to overcome his genetic and cultural bias against Turkey and Turks. His kind of clear thinking will surely solve the Cyprus problem.

It has nothing to do with my genes or my cultural heritage. I simply have a bias against military occupiers and holocaust deniers. So please leave my genes and cultural heritage out of it.

A just and final settlement of the Cyprus problem can only come from the Cypriots themselves and not from interfering outside parties, be they Greece, Turkey, Britain, or the United States.

I mean, if he were to just spout emotionally based anti-Turkish sentiment that only serves to support his own ego without any rational thought, I'd be very disappointed.

Recalling the Turkish genocides (yes, plural) against the Armenians and other atrocities against other ethnic groups is not "emotionally based anti-Turkish sentiment."

Just the facts, ma'am.

Two of my best friends in the world, like brothers to me, are named Mustafa and Haralambos. Somehow they've both acquired a perspective on the world that is not determined by the etymology of their names or the geographic region from whence came their DNA.

Cliche overkill, spaceman.

Give my regards to Mustafa and Haralambos.

Apparently this is just too much effort for some folks.

Was is it too much for you to read some serious material on the subject at hand before you spouted your nonsense?

I strongly suggest you make the effort to read Mel Olontha's reading suggestions in post 41. I would also like to add Perry Anderson's "The Divisions of Cyprus" in the London Review of Books:

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v30/n08/ande01_.html

Reading is power, spaceman. Go for it!

Best,

~lgs (a genetically handsome Greek)

Other Comments by lastgreekstanding

48. Comment #369191 by Goldy on April 23, 2009 at 3:59 pm

Mel Olontha

many of the so called Turkish Cypriots didn't even speak Turkish but were simply Greek-speaking Muslims

I recall a cartoon of a Turk and a Greek arguing in Anatolia (I think). From the late 19th entury or the turn of the century. They were identical in the drawing.
I also recall a program where someone genotyped Greek adn Turkish Cypriots (they had to be natives, not immigrants). Guess what - they were the same, genetically - distinct from Greeks and Turks.

This was in teh Independent recently
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-eu-must-not-shut-the-door-on-turkish-membership-1664402.html

Other Comments by Goldy

49. Comment #369197 by Abdul al-Hazred on April 23, 2009 at 4:06 pm

Greek,

A just and final settlement of the Cyprus problem can only come from the Cypriots themselves and not from interfering outside parties, be they Greece, Turkey, Britain, or the United States.

Amen. The protracted problem here isn't one that can be solved by a Western Nation influencing the locals. Especially after Kissinger (the arch imperialist) spent so much time propping up a despot in Cyprus, precisely to bury the local issues underneath an oppressive government overcoat.

All those things you suggest for reading seem good. There was another great bit I read about in an Urban Conflict class some years ago, however I fail to recall either the name or the author.

And thank you for recalling the Turkish genocideS. Which is precisely correct. The decimation of Armenians was only a snapshot in time their suppression of Kurdish identity is but the latest incarnation of the not-quite-yet-dead Turkish imperialism which sustained 700 years of Islamic "Caliphate". The key to helping secularism and anti-Islam along in the Middle East starts with self determination for the Kurds.

Other Comments by Abdul al-Hazred

50. Comment #369211 by Goldy on April 23, 2009 at 4:24 pm