Posts by slyridge74

Kenneth Palmer7 said:So the fix for the migrant crisis is bringing in Turkey—basically adding another 80 million potential immigrants to the mix?! 😵

The level of foolish ideas being floated here is staggering.

What’s next? Treating alcoholism with cocaine shots?! 😁

I suppose that could work since all 80 million won't head to Europe at once, and besides... honestly, the European Union isn't what it used to be. If a lot of people from Turkey try to move to the European Union, they'll probably head back pretty soon out of disappointment, mostly because there aren't many good jobs left for those who aren't considered high-value. That's just how things are, and I don't think it'll change. You might feel superior to someone from Turkey, a German might feel superior to you, and I'll probably feel like I'm the best of them all...
By bringing in Turkey, you basically create a buffer zone that protects the European Union from groups that are even more disadvantaged than Turks. It's just how "realpolitik" works, I guess.😉

Kenneth Palmer7 said:So the fix for the migrant crisis is bringing in Turkey—basically adding another 80 million potential immigrants to the mix?! 😵

The level of foolish ideas being floated here is staggering.

What’s next? Treating alcoholism with cocaine shots?! 😁

I could probably cry about this with you or cheer for some solution that makes us feel better, but I honestly think things are just exactly as I laid them out. There isn't much we can actually change since it's all outside our control, so I guess we're just talking in circles.

Richard Wilson4 said:Look, the Chancellor isn't some dictator running the whole European Union, so she can't just call all the shots on her own. Plus, nobody's actually going to back her up if she tries.

The Greeks, Cyprus, and half the rest of the continent—especially France—are never going to let Turkey into the EU. Honestly, there’s probably going to be a massive fallout or a total leadership shakeup within her own party before they ever see that happen.

It seems pretty obvious that Germany calls the shots in the EU, and the Greek debt crisis is a decent example of that. But even though Germany is basically the boss in Europe, they don't really have much freedom to act independently, so I suppose you shouldn't view them as the main driver of conflict. Everyone knows who's in charge and who's just following along. Maybe the UK is the only country in the EU with its own distinct foreign policy, but strangely enough, their role in the union feels pretty small, and their interests seem pretty aligned with the USA. The USA has been pushing for Turkey to join the EU for a long time now. I guess Germany is in a bit of a tight spot lately; with the possibility of instability from places like Syria or Iraq spilling over into their borders, they might have to follow Washington's lead, even if it's uncomfortable.
I imagine the USA would prefer a somewhat fractured Europe... you'd have to be looking the other way not to see that. Things are getting pretty intense, and I feel like what we're discussing right now is just a minor hiccup compared to what's coming.

I guess the Turks might be the only ground force in the region capable of actually settling things in Syria in favor of the USA, given how everything looks on the ground right now. It feels like this proposal was drafted elsewhere, likely intended to rebuild the significant trust Turkey has lost with the West. Maybe if they get the green light and some EU support, they'd be willing to step up and foot the bill for the conflict, provided they're given a free hand to handle the Kurdish issue.