Sweden’s membership of NATO took a big step forward on Monday after Turkey agreed to remove one of the last major roadblocks in return for help in reviving Turkey’s own chances of joining the European Union.
Everything with Erdogan has a price. He keeps wavering between supporting European efforts in the Russo-Ukrainian war and sucking up to his good friend, Czar Vladimir III. He agreed to buy S400 missiles from the Russians, but that didn't go over so well with his erstwhile allies. He also wanted to buy upgraded F-16s and F-35s, but that got a general reaction of "go fuck yourself" in Washington.
Erdogan probably feels the need to woo back Turkey's friends. He's also making nice with Greece, but that'll only last until he feels the need to show Turks that he's a tough guy. That seems to be a peculiar affliction with elected wannabee autocrats.[1]
I don't believe that Erdogan's so-called "charm offensive" will have any lasting effect. Every other nation in Europe and the Middle East knows who he really is.
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[1] See, Viktor Orban, Chimpy and the TOFF.
I wouldn't sweat it. The way your team is running things, NATO is a laughingstock and the way America treats her allies is a big part of that.
ReplyDeleteHoly moly, actually a civilized comment from you, Glen. I didn't think that you had it within you.
ReplyDeleteWell done, sir.
But to your point, I doubt if the Russian tank crews, who have been sent to their Maker by Javelin and N-Law AGTMs, those killed by various MANPADs, and the Russians who have been killed by US-supplied HIMARS, Storm Shadow missiles and NATO-supplied artillery would agree with you. Neither would the Russians launching cruise and hypersonic missiles, who have seem them shot down in fireballs.
ReplyDeleteYour guy's forces have been stymied and are being driven back, because his asset was unable to cripple NATO.
Comrade, since the asset is still claiming he won in 2020, what about the 22nd Amendment, Section 1 “ No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice…”? Doesn’t say anything about being in the office after being elected, just “elected…more than twice”…
ReplyDeleteThings change
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdSr3RqkqYg
It's also a tough time to be a Kurd in Turkey, but that's not a surprise to the Kurds.
ReplyDeletehttps://apnews.com/article/greece-turkey-erdogan-mitsotakis-nato-67314c467d33f53f13ea2fdb3ae81d48#:~:text=ATHENS%2C%20Greece%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,Minister%20Kyriakos%20Mitsotakis%20said%20Wednesday.
ReplyDelete