Turkish parliament's double-fisted knockout

Asia Times ^ | 3/4/2003 | Robert M Cutler

[a_Turk]

Dr Robert M Cutler, http://www.robertcutler.org, is Research Fellow, Institute of European and Russian Studies, Carleton University, Canada

[a_Turk]

ping..

[anniegetyourgun]

"Press reports, especially in North America, suggested that a deal between Ankara and Washington was just a question of money, using the metaphor of the bazaar to explain Turkish negotiating behavior."

And this is the American administration's fault?

[Mortimer Snavely]

Saving this for later comment.

[dead]

The American administration also appeared to assume that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara could make its parliamentary deputies fall into line as easily as the Republican Party in the US can whip its congressmen and senators into supporting administration policy.

That alone set off all sorts of “clueless” alarm bells.

I guess this genius never heard of Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins, Lincoln Chafee, Arlen Specter, John McCain, etc.

[a_Turk]

Let's forget about fault.. The western press is used to portraying us as lowlifes. It sells. Being pro Turk in the west is not fashionable just like being pro American in Saudi isn't.

[Dog]

This all comes down to the Turkish Government is nothing but a bunch of incompetent boobs.....who couldn't run a small US City.....let alone a country. They will reap what they sow.....the economy in tatters because they didn't know how to get a bill thru the Parliament.

Bye Bye Turkey!!!!!!

[Dog]

All it would have taken was to send home several of the MP's who were going to abstain......but not the gang who is running Turkey today they couldn't think on their feet fast enough.....

[anniegetyourgun]

You think you've got it bad. The western press is even better at portraying their own President as lowlife.

[AntiGuv]

The second result of the Turkish vote that has passed almost unnoticed is . . . The same vote that rejected the American aid package failed to authorize Turkey's military intervention in northern Iraq.

The wide ramifications of this widely unremarked aspect of the vote in Ankara will be explored in a subsequent article.

I noticed this immediately, but didn't think it worthy of remark - much less any subsequent articles. The Turkish parliament will approve such a deployment - as a separate measure, if necessary - whenever the Turkish military chooses to ask for this. Even without explicit authorization, the Turkish military will deploy as it sees fit, regardless...

[AntiGuv]

Actually, that's an excellent - but little noted - indication that, for all the sound & fury, the Turkish government doesn't really want this to pass. Now, the next question one would ask oneself is: Why?

[cake_crumb]

"And this is the American administration's fault?"

The article was written by a member of the Canadian Inte-LECT-UUUUUUUULE Elite. EVERYTHING is the American administration's fault.

[Dog]

I really think ....they are out of their league.

I heard that 90% of the new government had never served before in the government..

[hgro]

This sounds like the Dimocrat minority in the Congress of the U.S.A. A collection of dim bulbs, crooks, labor toadies and hollyweird suckups.

[anniegetyourgun]

I missed that....and you're right....it 'splains lots....

[Beck_isright]

But a_Turk, democracy in our nation works to the highest bidder! You need to get your nation up with the times. Right now if you have the money to rent at least 20 Demorats or Republicans you can get something passed benefitting your business. </sarcasm off

On a more serious note, you have to remember that our media is designed to inform on the level of the average Sesame Street viewer. On several other threads I challanged FReepers to show their knowledge about Turkey and it's past but with no response. The reality is that Turkey is waiting to see who will be a partner economically if you ask me. Russia, the EU, the US and Asia are all trying to win Turkey's favor. So far I would say the EU and US have done a rather crappy job on every level.

[Beck_isright]

"And this is the American administration's fault?"

Yes. Powell didn't want to get his hair mussed and let the bush leaguers in State handle this. Gee, what a suprise the Albright appointed career idiots screwed this up. So yes, it is the administration's fault; for not paying attention to a major detail.

[Allan]

Dr Robert M Cutler, http://www.robertcutler.org
is Research Fellow, Institute of European and Russian Studies,
Carleton University, Canada

He also is a frequent guest on the excellent
Batchelor and Alexander program
(available via internet, WABC M-S from 10pm-1amET)
which is a tremendous source of valuable information
on the 'war'.

[Thud]

Thanks. This part was interesting:

"... The same vote that rejected the American aid package failed to authorize Turkey's military intervention in northern Iraq ..."

[Shermy]

Partly it is a failure of the Bush Admin. to take care of this earlier. This "vote" should have occured long ago. The delay in finishing this war, for reasons of the American election cycle or what ever is biting us back. So is the "lefty" anti-war (really anti-finishing the war) gobbledy-gook gaining traction. And in Turkey, where the Admin did nothing to explain and sell its position to the public. Additionally with the UN nonsense the US fails to play hard-ball with France which is actively stabbing us in the back, not just expressing disagreement. Our govt. doesn't explain France's craven, pecuniary, and imperial interests, so the truth is relegated to discussion only on talk radio and the like, and the world-wide "opinion" makers of mass media can thereby ignore it. We should be burning the French govt. with daily releases of their oil deals, corrupt weapons inspectors, etc., but it is not done. there is no "mainstream" group of people, academics, whatever, who will discuss it and keep the truth in the news because they don't want to consider anything that distracts from their talking points that all faults and blame lay on America, opposing "voices" are pure and not uninformed or financially conflicted.