Turkey Does Matter
In addition to all the hullabaloo going on in the Swamp on the Potomac, Pres. Trump will be attending a NATO conference in London in December.
From the article: The focus, NATO watchers agree, will be on three presidents who have shaken the alliance in recent years. U.S. President Donald Trump began his criticisms of NATO while still campaigning for office, and during the last meeting of NATO leaders hinted at possibly leaving the alliance. The decisions by President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an of Turkey to buy a Russian air defense system against the wishes of NATO, as well as to move forces into Syria, has led to open questions about whether Turkey remains a viable NATO ally. And most recently, comments from French President Emmanuel Macron shocked allies with critical comments about NATO in an interview with the Economist, where he complained of “brain death” in the alliance.
All those issues — not to mention the U.K.’s own election just days later, which could have major reverberations in Britain’s relations with its European allies — means “this could get a little ugly, and all the positive agenda items [planned] could get drowned out by the noise,” said Alexander Vershbow, a former NATO deputy secretary general and American ambassador.
Added Richard Hooker, a former director for Europe and Russia on the National Security Council, “I think the timing of the leaders meeting is unfortunate. There’s a convergence of controversies and events that are going on right now… I’m not optimistic that it’s going to go smoothly, or that there are going to be a lot of smiles.” – article
Turkey matters, because its goal may be reacquiring land lost in the breakup of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, and subsequent decades of warfare. Last week, Iran announced the discovery of a 53 billion barrel oil field, which might provide that country with income it needs and takes its tiny mind off hijacking ships in the Persian Gulf. Iran used to be part of the Ottoman Empire, over 100 years ago.
This ought to be interesting.
Category: Foreign Policy, NATO
Not so sure Persia was ever part of the Ottoman Empire. Persia and the Turks squabbled and fought over Azerbaijan, the Persian Gulf islands and other parts in the eastern Ottoman empire, but did the Ottomans ever occupy Tehran or eastern Persia?
At the time of the Sykes-Picot Treaty, no, Turkey did not govern Persia or have a claim on it. However, that does not mean that Turkey does not have an unspoken urge to gain control of the Middle East. Part of what was then the Russian Empire (and Stalin’s land grab) extended to the northern border of Persia, which might logically be a reason for Russia to be backing Turkey.
In a brief nutshell, the Ottoman Empire’s major conflicts over the past few centuries were with the Russian Empire, mostly over territories in the Balkan and Caucuses regions. The Russians were vying with the British for control and influence in Persia, mostly because both of them wanted the oil. The Russians still want that oil, which is the same reason they’re currently meddling in Venezuela.
Russia’s interest in Syria dates back only as far as 1971, during the Cold War, when Assad’s father gave the Soviet Union a lease to occupy the naval base at Tartus, a much-coveted warm-water port, which gave the Soviet Navy year-round access to the rest of the world via the Mediterranean Sea.
Did a quick Google Foo on maps of the Ottoman Empire SgtBob and none of them showed Persia as being overrun/absorbed by the Turks. Irregardless, those people have been killing one another since Cain and Abel days and they will never stop till they are all dead. The last two still standing will beat one another to death with sticks and rocks.
Prolly no telling how many 100s of billions, if not trillions of $ the American Taxpayer has spent in defense of that whole area. The Soviets missed their chance when they didn’t come pouring over the border around about the mid 70s. JMHO
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it’s Turkish delight on a moonlit night
Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you’ve a date in Constantinople
She’ll be waiting in Istanbul
~ Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants
Heard that in the barracks sooooooo many times at Ft. Ord 1989 – 1992. Good memories.
Turkey HUMOR….
Hey, Thanksgiving is getting close,
and it’s a healthy laugh break
(from all the Stolen Valor military PHONIES).
(Curly) “Separate 2 eggs.”
MORE Turkey Humor.
So REMEMBER, keep an eye out… for Angry Pete.
Which raises the eternal question:
If Russia attacked Turkey from the rear, do you think Greece would help?
Basting properly always helps, as long as it’s done evenly.
The only time Turkey is important in my world is on Thanksgiving. But I would like every Islamist on the planet dead and forgotten.
As a purely Southern Infidel, I give Thanks over a baked pork hammed beast…and a bacon egg, sausage, grits & cheese breakfast casserole with cat heads FIRST thing that morning.
With all due respect to Ben Franklin…damn a turkey. And with all due disrespect to them…Damn Turkey’s gubmit.
Grits ….. yum-yum … with plenty of salt, pepper, butter …. and sunny-side up egg yolk mixed in.
Them Northern boys thought grits was cream-o-wheat and mixed in milk & sugar?
Vinny: How could it take you five minutes to cook your grits when it takes the entire grit-eating world 20 minutes?
Mr. Tipton: Um… I’m a fast cook, I guess.
Vinny: [across beside the jury] What? I’m sorry I was over there. Did you just say you were a fast cook? Are we to believe that boiling water soaks into a grit faster in your kitchen than any place on the face of the earth?
Mr. Tipton: I don’t know.
Vinny: Perhaps the laws of physics cease to exist on your stove! Were these magic grits? Did you buy them from the same guy who sold Jack his beanstalk beans?
All this Northerner knows about grits is what I learned from the My Cousin Vinny movie.
Regular, creamy, or al dente?
My Idahoan father used to mix his grits with milk and sugar, mainly to irritate my south Texas mother.
Sacrilege! 🙄 😯 😥