Can we talk about Turkey for a bit?
Discussion
http://sputniknews.com/politics/20160217/103491319...
Similar to the Sweden, Germany, and rm, other 'talk' threads...but not about those soppy, wishy-washy, hand-wringing, liberal, leftie, socialist types, but about the solid, true grit, true blue, sensible, affirmative action decisions of the great Erdogan...erm...
Welcome to the EU brother.
Similar to the Sweden, Germany, and rm, other 'talk' threads...but not about those soppy, wishy-washy, hand-wringing, liberal, leftie, socialist types, but about the solid, true grit, true blue, sensible, affirmative action decisions of the great Erdogan...erm...
Welcome to the EU brother.
t out. Bognor Regis for me, all the way. I could push the boat out and go to the Isle of Wight, lol. It's sad because Turkey was the first Muslim country to really attempt a secular and democratic (ish) form of government. It was the seat of the last caliphate and could have used its position in the Muslim world to drive meaningful change. Unfortunately it seems to be going in the other direction now. Admitting them into the EU is utter insanity and reason enough in itself to leave.
The serving PM was a backer of Turkeys ascension to the EU a few years ago. Still in NATO as well remember, operate quite a few F16s as well as a some old F4s.
I don't know if it's still true but a couple years ago they held the world record for imprisoning journalists. Not on a per capita basis, just an outright record.
I don't know if it's still true but a couple years ago they held the world record for imprisoning journalists. Not on a per capita basis, just an outright record.
Erdogan is an out and out Islamist, various (unconfirmed) sources say he's directly supporting ISIS.
He's supporting a very conservative Islam, removing the ban on islamic headgear for women in government buildings etc. One never saw islamic headgear in Istanbul 3 years ago, now he seems to be allowing/threatening/forcing women to wear it.
He's threatened Germany to release all of the estimated 2.5 million Syrians into the EU if he doesn't get immediate EU priveliges.
He has a specialised troop of engineers who destroy and remove any Christian signs in the old Armenian areas of Turkey (if in doubt read "From the Holy Mountain" by William Dalrymple)
IMHO he's a dangerous despot wanting to reign over a new Ottoman Empire!
NOT to be trusted in ANY way whatsoever, and this is confirmed by my turkish neighbours!!!
He's supporting a very conservative Islam, removing the ban on islamic headgear for women in government buildings etc. One never saw islamic headgear in Istanbul 3 years ago, now he seems to be allowing/threatening/forcing women to wear it.
He's threatened Germany to release all of the estimated 2.5 million Syrians into the EU if he doesn't get immediate EU priveliges.
He has a specialised troop of engineers who destroy and remove any Christian signs in the old Armenian areas of Turkey (if in doubt read "From the Holy Mountain" by William Dalrymple)
IMHO he's a dangerous despot wanting to reign over a new Ottoman Empire!
NOT to be trusted in ANY way whatsoever, and this is confirmed by my turkish neighbours!!!
Extremist fighters being bussed into Aleppo by Turkish coaches. Erdogan is a raving madman
https://www.youtube.com/embed/8UPkJBQHFQc
https://www.youtube.com/embed/8UPkJBQHFQc
Octoposse said:
eatcustard said:
Turkey is no better than any other Islamic country, If they get into the EU, we are finished
I think it is inconceivable that they will be (it does take unanimity by existing members? If so, there's enough countries with painful folk memories to veto it). 
gothatway said:
eatcustard said:
I want to know why our PM wants Turkey to be part of the EU
Because he's hard of thinking ?Or perhaps he was told by the EU gods that he had to support expansion as a price for that wonderful deal he achieved the other week ?
Halb said:
The paper was published today full of pro-Government stories. They didn't waste much time. A country that was well on the path to the first world is being taken back to the Stone Age by an utterly corrupt despot. And the EU sent a delegation over for a 'chat' the other day. It's disgraceful. JMGS4 said:
Erdogan is an out and out Islamist, various (unconfirmed) sources say he's directly supporting ISIS.
He's supporting a very conservative Islam, removing the ban on islamic headgear for women in government buildings etc. One never saw islamic headgear in Istanbul 3 years ago, now he seems to be allowing/threatening/forcing women to wear it.
He's threatened Germany to release all of the estimated 2.5 million Syrians into the EU if he doesn't get immediate EU priveliges.
He has a specialised troop of engineers who destroy and remove any Christian signs in the old Armenian areas of Turkey (if in doubt read "From the Holy Mountain" by William Dalrymple)
IMHO he's a dangerous despot wanting to reign over a new Ottoman Empire!
NOT to be trusted in ANY way whatsoever, and this is confirmed by my turkish neighbours!!!
I was working in Turkey on a show for 2 weeks in early 2013. At first it all seemed very relaxed and chilled, we had a fixer at the border to ease the passage in of myself and the other 12 truck loads of gear and all was rosy. There was a decent late night bar, (open till 2am) near the gig and it all seemed very civilised and moderate. The locals were telling us though that there was an uneasiness felt by many, that things were changing and the more moderate ways they had and were becoming used to, could be changing and heading back in the general direction of the past.He's supporting a very conservative Islam, removing the ban on islamic headgear for women in government buildings etc. One never saw islamic headgear in Istanbul 3 years ago, now he seems to be allowing/threatening/forcing women to wear it.
He's threatened Germany to release all of the estimated 2.5 million Syrians into the EU if he doesn't get immediate EU priveliges.
He has a specialised troop of engineers who destroy and remove any Christian signs in the old Armenian areas of Turkey (if in doubt read "From the Holy Mountain" by William Dalrymple)
IMHO he's a dangerous despot wanting to reign over a new Ottoman Empire!
NOT to be trusted in ANY way whatsoever, and this is confirmed by my turkish neighbours!!!
We went back there, (Istanbul) in the summer on a different tour and the place did have a slight different feel to it. We still had our fixer at the border, but this time instead of the normal 4-5 hour customs clearance to get in, it took 10 hours and we only just legally made it to the gig in time to get things setup for the show. This was unusual. Even the 2am bar, was now only allowed to open till 10pm.
On the night of the show, the somewhat political "Star," of the show decided that at the end of the gig he'd stand up on stage and make a few statements having a direct dig at the powers that be in the Turkish government. This is all well and good when your limo is on standby at the side of the stage, to whisk you straight off to the nearby private airfield, where your private jet awaits to fly you on to the next city
The "local officials" though that were at the show were not impressed, we were quickly tipped off that not all was well and surprisingly the load out that night took twice as long as normal
Then for some reason we were not allowed to leave in small groups as we were loaded as usual, but were held by the "powers that be" 
until the very last truck was loaded, and then we were escorted out of the city in 1 big convoy. 28 artics which was a right pain in the arse.Trying to keep 28 artics together through the busy streets of Istanbul is never easy. Surprisingly on the whole 4 month tour, this particular drive was always going to be the tightest to get from Istanbul to the next gig in Prague. So much so, that our company had flown out an extra 28 drivers so that we were double driven for this leg. On a big tour like this one, everything is very, very well planned in advance by the production and tour people to make sure we keep rolling along like a well oiled machine, especially when crossing non EU borders. It had all been planned well in advance that we would head for the closest most direct crossing at Edirne. Surprisingly as we headed along as one big group we came across a police road block on the motorway, and were informed by the police
that there had been an "incident" and that we were being diverted in a different direction They informed us that the only way we could go from here, was down to Ipsala and that we would have to cross into Greece instead of Bulgaria. This added a huge chunk of time onto our journey but we had no choice. The only problem was that our fixer was at the original border, and his phone was mysteriously switched off. HMMMMM!
When we arrived at the Turkish/Greek border we were not welcomed with the normal open arms as usual, and despite our best efforts, (bribes) the Turks were having none of it. Gone was the normal helping out and "assisted" border passage, but they were dead keen to stick the dogs in every single truck and trailer we had there that night
Istanbul to our original border, and clearance into Bulgaria would normally have taken 7-9 hours. This night though with all the shenanigans it took a hell of alot longer. For legal reasons
I can't remember exactly how many hours, (cough) it took, but it was a lot 
It certainly made for a much more spirited drive the rest of the way to Prague, so much so that we couldn't make it, even with our double drivers. We just got into Hungary, where another 28 drivers that our company had flown out were waiting to take over and keep the wagons rolling to Prague. Originally i think we were due to have had the last truck in Prague on show day at about 4am ready to offload, on the day that truck rolled in at 4pm
Somehow though, the crew still got the set built and the show started a little late at 9pm.
Got to love them Turkish officials
How much did Europe give them last year, to sort out their borders, people smugglers etc? was it 3 billion euros?
Seems they have spent it so wisely, that they are now demanding a shed load more money, as well as a load of euro travel visas for "their people." Shady barstards. I'm assuming that the idiot powers that be in euro land will just roll over and play dead and give the Turks exactly what they want.
I think the powers that be in Turkey, and our spineless greedy Eurocrats are certainly making it easier for me to make my decision on my in or out vote
Edited by chilistrucker on Monday 7th March 20:36
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35749837
Turkey will soon be a member of the EU by the sounds of this article.
Turkey will soon be a member of the EU by the sounds of this article.
gruffalo said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35749837
Turkey will soon be a member of the EU by the sounds of this article.
NO NO NO!!! This is just a backdoor EU membership for Turkey... and the majority of EU members do NOT want it. It is the European Union not the Asian Union!!! It's just BLACKMAIL by Erdogan and his henchmen! Another €3 billion and free membership? FECK OFF!!!Turkey will soon be a member of the EU by the sounds of this article.
AND how soon would Turkey then issue ALL IIs with turkish passports and give them free entry into the rest of the EU under Shengen???
ARE ALL politicians completely blind (and stupid)?
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