U.S. blames EU for Turkey drift

The US likes to blame others for its own shortcomings. Why don't the Yankees put their money where their mouth is and offer to make Turkey their 51st state? That's assuming Ankara wants this, which is most doubtful.

Since when does the US dictate who joins the EU? If the Americans want to make Turkey feel loved then they can get on with it, but the idea that we should take in an unassimilable mass of people just to ensure that Israel retains an Islamic friend is ludicrous. Let them into NAFTA if you must.

What a nonsense. To blame is the ultra-islamistic government under Erdogan, who, as "good muslims", "naturally" oppose Israeal. Well, and of course Israel itself is to blame it's unprofessional and bloody actions against these ship convoys.

This could have been expected, it was only a matter of time after a non-secular government has been elected in Turkey.

The US, as usual, can only look to the past and remember that it rejected Turkey's plea under the Kemal-Ataturk government after WWI to become a US-sponsored "Mandate" within the failed League of Nations. The dead Ottoman Empire could have had a strong guiding hand in the US, but the US Congress decided to stay out of the League because of its refusal to commit itself to boundaries, even though the League would have been a new type of colonialism/imperialism. I guess the US wants it great weapon buyer in Ankara to stay docile and not upset things further in the Middle East, but blaming the EU is laughable when you consider these facts. I don't care about Turkey's well-being at all, but blaming the EU is short-sighted...why would the EU countries want an Islamic nationalist state in the Euro club that would be the 2nd most populous state and whose inhabitants would further flood the Euro workforce when people do not want them there? Turkey is not European, look at what it did to the poor former Christians in Bosnia, Albania, and Bulgaria. This nation is the catalyst of all the ethno-religious problems that have plagued the Balkans since the end of the 14th century.

It is simply shocking to see the US blaming the EU for making Turkey turn its back on the Western world (that being the US and EU). I'm not saying the EU policies will have any influence, but come on... would it even occur to the US it might actually be their own foreign policies that make a country like Turkey become less Western loving?

This is not to say that I think Turkey should be treated one way or the other. But it is pretty evident to most people with some field experience that the US foreign policies are without doubt one of the most compelling reasons for any country to dislike Western cultures (deserved or not is another discussion). Though I might not be a fan of the country, I can't blame Turkey for being effected by it.

The US should get its act together and stop always blaming other for their own wrong doings. It sadly an all to familiar an typical American way off dealing (or actually not) with things. Most of all they should start respecting international law, something they have been braking every time and again ever since the second world war.

Mr Gates
Mind your own business and do not twist the truth.Try to find the source of the problem inside the breaking marriage between turks and israel and do not blame us europeans.Do not forget that the first creak happened in the alliance when Turkey refused to buy loads of israeli tanks.No wonder those overrated Merkavas proved to be nothing but a moving iron .Thank to russian armour piercing weapons and well trained Hezbollah fighters the Merkava deal between Turkey and Israel was cancelled and as we know business can have a bad effect even on the strongest marriage.Little spitting between Israel and Turkey started around that time.Another important step was when powerful israeli lobby in US gave a green light to acknowlagement of armenian genocide( a right move IMO)earlier they had been the bigger opposers of it in order not to offend their turkish allies in the middle east.Anyway we here in Europe have a very bad historic experiance with turks and it is justified that we do not want to live under one roof with them(apart from their bosnian and albanian allies who run with twice as big turkish flags after the a victory of the turkish selected soccer team than the turks themselves..If most americans want it make Turkey the 51st state of USA.Of course all this is just Hyphotetical and anyway I doubt americans would vote yes.As to EU your comments similarly to some others reflect that is has nothing to do with either word European or Union.It does not serve the interests of most europeans and is about to fall apart anyway.Slowly but surely it turned into Misled Inhumane Remote Controlled European Absurdistan abreviated as MIRCEA.

Sheridan,
You as a muslim would naturally defend Turkey,as Turkey is also muslim nation.

Your religion has short sighted you personal views.

As for Turkey being more european than european nations; who are you trying to convince, yourself?

While I'm no particular fan of Turkey unless it comes with stuffing and mashed potatoes, it's too ridiculous to blame Turkey's rift with the US and Israel to be caused by the EU. Gates needs to realize that Turkey borders other countries and at the end of the day is a Middle Eastern country. The only thing "European" about Turkey is that it is located in what used to be the heart of the Byzantine Empire. Those who think Istanbul is more European than most Balkan cities (which to an extent is true) has little to do with Ottoman ingenuity and more to do with the urban planning of Constantinople.

Well, one can ask what business the US have with the EU. But this is not the question, since they are right in this point. Turkey has been bared out the EU ever since, and it was only a question of time until this will back fire. The incidents in the Mediterrean where several Turkish nationals got killed in international waters are just the ignition. Turkey has all reason to be upset. EU should start thinking above their own boundaries and see that Turkey would be the perfect interjunction between the West and Middle East, including Israel. Morevover, Turkey is getting more and more regional power with certain ambitions. It is necessary that Ankara/Istambul are friendly towards the West, more important than any other country which wants to join EU, currently. Europe has failed to support Turkey and opened the door for those (soft?)-islamists like Erdogan. It is necessary to bring the European elements back to Ankara. Istambul is one of the most European cities in Europe, more than some capitals in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

When are the Americans going to get it into their thick skulls that we do not under any circumstances and for all the rice in China want Turkey in the EU?

They are not a European nation and never will be. This rift is simply the natural path that was expected to happen anyway. Now we can only hope that those millions of muslim immigrants in Europe get the hint as well that they do not belong in Europe.

America, go start another war somewhere where there is oil or human rights abuses or whatever and leave us alone! We do not need your advise and we certainly need Turkey in the EU as much as a man needs a third nipple.

"As for Turkey being more european than european nations; who are you trying to convince, yourself?"
(Another Canadian Serb, 10 June 2010 15:35)

He was talking about Istanbul, not the whole Turkey. It's well known that this city is very modern and European, indeed.
But there are big other parts, with a majority of the population, which are closer to medieval times than to the 21st century. And thats why it's possible that someone like Erdogan became prime minister.

I agree with Frattini
http://www.faz.net/s/RubDDBDABB9457A437BAA85A49C26FB23A0/Doc~E8C30430374B141E384BA78B411A6824E~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html

Well, one can ask what business the US have with the EU. But this is not the question, since they are right in this point. Turkey has been bared out the EU ever since, and it was only a question of time until this will back fire. The incidents in the Mediterrean where several Turkish nationals got killed in international waters are just the ignition. Turkey has all reason to be upset. EU should start thinking above their own boundaries and see that Turkey would be the perfect interjunction between the West and Middle East, including Israel. Morevover, Turkey is getting more and more regional power with certain ambitions. It is necessary that Ankara/Istambul are friendly towards the West, more important than any other country which wants to join EU, currently. Europe has failed to support Turkey and opened the door for those (soft?)-islamists like Erdogan. It is necessary to bring the European elements back to Ankara. Istambul is one of the most European cities in Europe, more than some capitals in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.

Sheridan,
You as a muslim would naturally defend Turkey,as Turkey is also muslim nation.

Your religion has short sighted you personal views.

As for Turkey being more european than european nations; who are you trying to convince, yourself?

Since when does the US dictate who joins the EU? If the Americans want to make Turkey feel loved then they can get on with it, but the idea that we should take in an unassimilable mass of people just to ensure that Israel retains an Islamic friend is ludicrous. Let them into NAFTA if you must.

I agree with Frattini
http://www.faz.net/s/RubDDBDABB9457A437BAA85A49C26FB23A0/Doc~E8C30430374B141E384BA78B411A6824E~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html

Mr Gates
Mind your own business and do not twist the truth.Try to find the source of the problem inside the breaking marriage between turks and israel and do not blame us europeans.Do not forget that the first creak happened in the alliance when Turkey refused to buy loads of israeli tanks.No wonder those overrated Merkavas proved to be nothing but a moving iron .Thank to russian armour piercing weapons and well trained Hezbollah fighters the Merkava deal between Turkey and Israel was cancelled and as we know business can have a bad effect even on the strongest marriage.Little spitting between Israel and Turkey started around that time.Another important step was when powerful israeli lobby in US gave a green light to acknowlagement of armenian genocide( a right move IMO)earlier they had been the bigger opposers of it in order not to offend their turkish allies in the middle east.Anyway we here in Europe have a very bad historic experiance with turks and it is justified that we do not want to live under one roof with them(apart from their bosnian and albanian allies who run with twice as big turkish flags after the a victory of the turkish selected soccer team than the turks themselves..If most americans want it make Turkey the 51st state of USA.Of course all this is just Hyphotetical and anyway I doubt americans would vote yes.As to EU your comments similarly to some others reflect that is has nothing to do with either word European or Union.It does not serve the interests of most europeans and is about to fall apart anyway.Slowly but surely it turned into Misled Inhumane Remote Controlled European Absurdistan abreviated as MIRCEA.

The US likes to blame others for its own shortcomings. Why don't the Yankees put their money where their mouth is and offer to make Turkey their 51st state? That's assuming Ankara wants this, which is most doubtful.

It is simply shocking to see the US blaming the EU for making Turkey turn its back on the Western world (that being the US and EU). I'm not saying the EU policies will have any influence, but come on... would it even occur to the US it might actually be their own foreign policies that make a country like Turkey become less Western loving?

This is not to say that I think Turkey should be treated one way or the other. But it is pretty evident to most people with some field experience that the US foreign policies are without doubt one of the most compelling reasons for any country to dislike Western cultures (deserved or not is another discussion). Though I might not be a fan of the country, I can't blame Turkey for being effected by it.

The US should get its act together and stop always blaming other for their own wrong doings. It sadly an all to familiar an typical American way off dealing (or actually not) with things. Most of all they should start respecting international law, something they have been braking every time and again ever since the second world war.

What a nonsense. To blame is the ultra-islamistic government under Erdogan, who, as "good muslims", "naturally" oppose Israeal. Well, and of course Israel itself is to blame it's unprofessional and bloody actions against these ship convoys.

This could have been expected, it was only a matter of time after a non-secular government has been elected in Turkey.

"As for Turkey being more european than european nations; who are you trying to convince, yourself?"
(Another Canadian Serb, 10 June 2010 15:35)

He was talking about Istanbul, not the whole Turkey. It's well known that this city is very modern and European, indeed.
But there are big other parts, with a majority of the population, which are closer to medieval times than to the 21st century. And thats why it's possible that someone like Erdogan became prime minister.

The US, as usual, can only look to the past and remember that it rejected Turkey's plea under the Kemal-Ataturk government after WWI to become a US-sponsored "Mandate" within the failed League of Nations. The dead Ottoman Empire could have had a strong guiding hand in the US, but the US Congress decided to stay out of the League because of its refusal to commit itself to boundaries, even though the League would have been a new type of colonialism/imperialism. I guess the US wants it great weapon buyer in Ankara to stay docile and not upset things further in the Middle East, but blaming the EU is laughable when you consider these facts. I don't care about Turkey's well-being at all, but blaming the EU is short-sighted...why would the EU countries want an Islamic nationalist state in the Euro club that would be the 2nd most populous state and whose inhabitants would further flood the Euro workforce when people do not want them there? Turkey is not European, look at what it did to the poor former Christians in Bosnia, Albania, and Bulgaria. This nation is the catalyst of all the ethno-religious problems that have plagued the Balkans since the end of the 14th century.

While I'm no particular fan of Turkey unless it comes with stuffing and mashed potatoes, it's too ridiculous to blame Turkey's rift with the US and Israel to be caused by the EU. Gates needs to realize that Turkey borders other countries and at the end of the day is a Middle Eastern country. The only thing "European" about Turkey is that it is located in what used to be the heart of the Byzantine Empire. Those who think Istanbul is more European than most Balkan cities (which to an extent is true) has little to do with Ottoman ingenuity and more to do with the urban planning of Constantinople.

When are the Americans going to get it into their thick skulls that we do not under any circumstances and for all the rice in China want Turkey in the EU?

They are not a European nation and never will be. This rift is simply the natural path that was expected to happen anyway. Now we can only hope that those millions of muslim immigrants in Europe get the hint as well that they do not belong in Europe.

America, go start another war somewhere where there is oil or human rights abuses or whatever and leave us alone! We do not need your advise and we certainly need Turkey in the EU as much as a man needs a third nipple.