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2007-08-19 Europe

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Posted by lotp 2007-08-19 00:00|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 Could someone hit me with the cluebat please? I must have missed the first half of the story. Are these contested waters, or does Turkey think it owns the entire Med? Why is Turkey so PO'd that some companies put in bids on oil exploration that it is going to take action against their countries?

Posted by gorb 2007-08-19 05:37|| 2007-08-19 05:37|| Front Page Top

#2 Cyprus has been an independent country ince 1960, but throughout history both Turkey and Greece have claimed the island as their own and the population is divided between Turkish and Greek backgrounds. In 1974 the Greek Cypriots attempted a coup and in response Turkey occupied 1/3 or so of the island. There is a UN-monitored Green Line but the status of things there politically has been disputed ever since.

The Greek portion of Cyprus has essentially asserted control of all the oil in and around Cyprus by issuing this call for bids, including waters that in any case might be considered Turkish. Turkey is pissed that companies from the 4 countries mentioned (including the US) have responded with bids and that they are locked out of the decisionmaking process.

This is seen in Turkey as just one more example, as with the PKK operating in Turkey across the Iraqi border, of a failure on the part of Europeans and Americans to treat Turkey as a full partner despite its NATO status. It strengthens the hand of the Islamicists within Turkey by stirring up the perception of ill-treatment.

Posted by lotp 2007-08-19 06:21|| 2007-08-19 06:21|| Front Page Top

#3 of a failure on the part of Europeans and Americans to treat Turkey as a full partner despite its NATO status

A "full partner" which is military occupying, as you reminded, a sovereign country that happens to be an EU member, after an invasion that was marred by thousands of disapperances, rapes and the eviction of the native population and the bringing in of colonists from anatolia; and yet, the turks have the schtupazh to feel entitled to that EU membership. Bizarro world.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-08-19 07:58|| 2007-08-19 07:58|| Front Page Top

#4 ;-)

I don't endorse, I just report.

Posted by lotp 2007-08-19 08:06|| 2007-08-19 08:06|| Front Page Top

#5 Could someone hit me with the cluebat please?

My friend you seek the Kemallist Thought Club?

Posted by Thomas Woof 2007-08-19 08:22|| 2007-08-19 08:22|| Front Page Top

#6 My friend you seek the Kemallist Thought Club?

By being perceived of as supportive of the Greek-backed Coup _we_ are giving the Islamicist branch of Turkey's populace a big crowbar to pry away the Kemalist faction from its natural western symapthies.

Don't complain to me that the strategy works when you think it shouldn't.

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2007-08-19 20:23|| 2007-08-19 20:23|| Front Page Top

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