How do Europeans feel about the Kurds these days? When I was growing up in Germany in the 70s and 80s they weren't super popular but I'm guessing with Turkey turning to fundamentalism the attitudes have changed?
UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
21–30 of 139 posts
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#22Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#23How do Europeans feel about the Kurds these days? When I was growing up in Germany in the 70s and 80s they weren't super popular but I'm guessing with Turkey turning to fundamentalism the attitudes have changed?
Why would Germans have had an opinion at all on Kurds? Were there a number that immigrated there in the 70s or earlier?
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#24That's not a very good threat. Diversity is Europe's strength and they will be welcome with open arms!
You forgot the /s. Last refugee crisis destroyed any future plans for expansion of the Schengen zone, helped Brexit and propell right wing parties at elections in EU member states and also further distance the southern states from the north as they were left to deal with the crisis alone. Edit: I'm not blaming the refugees, I'm highlighting that if Europe was so united as you suggest we wouldn't be having these issue…
Or, a bunch of wealthy lads looking to get even wealthier teamed up with a bunch of xenophobes and racists with friends in the publishing industry to scam the entire UK. Depends on your point of view I guess.
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#25Why is Turkey in NATO? At this point Their behavior is nothing but antagonistic at best and downright nefarious at worst.
because: a) Turkey is the (almost literal) culture gate between Europe and the Middle East, this is in itself very valuable. b) Largest army in Europe. c) Erdogan still has to restrain himself because he has treaties with NATO allies. Otherwise we might get a second unhinged Putin. That would cause a real headache for the EU that tries to stop immigrants from reaching its borders by millions.
The EU can always stop immigrants no matter the quantity if there is political will.
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#26Earlier quoted context omitted.
If Turkey got kicked out of NATO on bad terms, who do you think will step in to fill the power vacuum?
What power vacuum? What power projection is Turkey really capable of?
Turkey is a huge trading partner to the US and not really a rival. They make the chassis to our next-gen fighter planes, for example. Why toss that aside?
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#27That's not a very good threat. Diversity is Europe's strength and they will be welcome with open arms!
You forgot the /s. Last refugee crisis destroyed any future plans for expansion of the Schengen zone, helped Brexit and propell right wing parties at elections in EU member states and also further distance the southern states from the north as they were left to deal with the crisis alone. Edit: I'm not blaming the refugees, I'm highlighting that if Europe was so united as you suggest we wouldn't be having these issue…
[deleted]
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#28Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#29Why is Turkey in NATO? At this point Their behavior is nothing but antagonistic at best and downright nefarious at worst.
because: a) Turkey is the (almost literal) culture gate between Europe and the Middle East, this is in itself very valuable. b) Largest army in Europe. c) Erdogan still has to restrain himself because he has treaties with NATO allies. Otherwise we might get a second unhinged Putin. That would cause a real headache for the EU that tries to stop immigrants from reaching its borders by millions.
>Turkey is the (almost literal) culture gate between Europe and the Middle East, this is in itself very valuable.
If this were true why do ME refugees not want to stay there?
>Largest army in Europe.
Okay, but if they're more culturally similar to the ME, as your first point implies, than to e.g. Germany doesn't it become a little problematic for employing this army in NATO's current theater of operations?
>Erdogan still has to restrain himself because he has treaties with NATO allies...
This is a great argument for why entangling alliances with people who aren't really your friends or are too culturally distant to even pretend as much are a terrible, awful idea. I believe we fought a World War because of this once.
Re: UN Security Council Holds Closed Hearing on Turkey: Syria Update
#30How do Europeans feel about the Kurds these days? When I was growing up in Germany in the 70s and 80s they weren't super popular but I'm guessing with Turkey turning to fundamentalism the attitudes have changed?
Why would Germans have had an opinion at all on Kurds? Were there a number that immigrated there in the 70s or earlier?
There's other reasons to have opinions about populations being systematically oppresssed besides them being immigrants (or refugees).