Turkey - TR

Dana Robinson4 said:The biggest drawback, however, is simply that it's Russian.

It’s like you guys don't even believe in actual free market competition anymore😉

So, three Russian planes are heading over to help out with those fires in Turkey.

That Be-200 firefighting plane went down while they were trying to tackle those fires over in Turkey:


Looks like 5 Russian crew members and 3 Turkish coordinators didn't make it out alive. 😢

There are no survivors of a Russian firefighter plane crash in Turkey
https://ria.ru/20210814/turtsiya-1745749814.html

Word on the street is that the big man himself is feeling under the weather, apparently dealing with some nasty side effects after getting his shots.
I guess everyone hits a wall eventually, even someone in his position.

I know I saw some report about this somewhere—I can't quite put my finger on where—but it sounds like his health is really taking a hit. It’s a shame, because Erdogan has always been such a powerhouse leader.

nimbleranger52 said:Word on the street is that the big man himself is feeling under the weather, apparently dealing with some nasty side effects after getting his shots.
I guess everyone hits a wall eventually, even someone in his position.

I know I saw some report about this somewhere—I can't quite put my finger on where—but it sounds like his health is really taking a hit. It’s a shame, because Erdogan has always been such a powerhouse leader.

Did you perhaps pick that up from some Russian disinformation outlet? Erdogan actually received 3 vaccine doses. He had two shots from the Chinese Sinovac and one from Pfizer, all administered four months ago, so I highly doubt there is any connection to vaccines if he is indeed ill.

The only logical explanation for this news is that it stems from the recent meeting between Erdogan and Putin, during which Putin recommended he get the Sputnik shot, only for him to dismissively note he had already opted for Pfizer. Naturally, the Russians have reverted to their old, reliable habit of launching yet another propaganda offensive against Western vaccines.

The worst report yet comes from Turkey, who kicked off those access negotiations alongside the US back in October 2005. Honestly, Turkey has been drifting away from the European Union for years now, so it’s no surprise the whole negotiation process is completely stalled.

Larry Walker24 said:The worst report yet comes from Turkey, who kicked off those access negotiations alongside the US back in October 2005. Honestly, Turkey has been drifting away from the European Union for years now, so it’s no surprise the whole negotiation process is completely stalled.

Look, if the English don't even want the EU, why on earth would the Turks?

Both were once conquering superpowers obsessed with their own prestige. Honestly, that’s about all they have left from their "glory days." 😁

The British don't seem particularly interested in reviving their old empire. The Turks, however, certainly are. And the French, too.

ValterUdarnik As stated by:
What is the greatest fear of that Anglo-Saxon bloc? It is nothing less than the resurrection of a Slavic consciousness, for if such an awakening were to occur, it would signify our inevitable ascent to dominance across Europe.

And that is precisely why Russia stands as their greatest adversary.
She is the only one capable of striking back at them with full military force.
Is she really the only one with access to such bottomless, inexhaustible resources, just like the rest of them?

One really ought to be cognizant of the fact that the Pentagon has explicitly delineated its military doctrine to identify Russia as the primary threat, leaving China as a secondary concern.

One really ought to pause and ask themselves: why exactly is this happening? If China is supposedly the world's rising superpower, then how on earth do we explain this reality?

Do you really believe that the official statements made by high-ranking officials, including both former and sitting presidents, somehow align with your little theory? One has to wonder, if the very leaders of this nation aren't backing your claims, then what exactly makes you think you've stumbled upon some hidden truth?

McCain once famously remarked that Russia is nothing more than a glorified gas station masquerading as a sovereign nation. Is there any other way to describe it? It is a regime built entirely on the volatile whims of energy exports rather than actual institutional strength or innovation. How can a country claim any semblance of global leadership when its entire foundation rests on the sale of fossil fuels?

Is it not absolutely remarkable how Obama chooses to characterize Russia? He has gone so far as to dismiss them as nothing more than a "regional power," suggesting that their recent maneuvers are driven solely by an underlying sense of desperation and weakness. One has to wonder, does he truly believe such a reductionist view holds any weight in the current geopolitical landscape? Is he attempting to downplay the complexities of their actions, or is this merely a calculated attempt to project an image of American dominance while ignoring the strategic realities at play? It seems a rather shortsighted assessment, wouldn't you agree?

Biden Warns: The Russian Economy Consists of Nothing But Nuclear Weapons and Oil Wells

In the meantime, Erdogan persists in his relentless policy of confrontation against Western powers, seemingly determined to clash with every major global authority.

Is it not absolutely staggering that Erdogan is now threatening to pursue legal action against ten different ambassadors stationed in Turkey? How can such blatant intimidation be tolerated in modern diplomacy?

On Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern threat to expel ambassadors from ten different nations—including heavyweights like France, Germany, and the United States—following their calls for him to release Osman Kaval, an individual accused by his administration of opposing the regime. Does he really believe he can simply brush aside the diplomatic pressure from such powerful allies? According to reports from Beta citing AFP, this escalation marks a significant confrontation between the Turkish leadership and the international community.

"I told our Secretary of State that we simply cannot afford to be welcoming toward them when they arrive on our soil," Erdogan remarked, according to reports from Turkish media outlets. Is it not a profound indictment of our current diplomatic standing when even the basic courtesy of a welcome becomes a luxury we claim we can no longer sustain?

On Monday, a coalition of nations—including Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United States—issued a collective demand for what they termed a "fair and swift resolution" to the case of Osman Kaval. This Turkish publisher and philanthropist has languished in prison for four years now, all without ever having faced a trial. How much longer can such an injustice be permitted to stand?

"Do you really think you have any right to lecture Turkey?" Erdogan demanded, adding that the Turkish judiciary remains entirely independent.

Have we truly stumbled upon yet another supposed hero among our community's self-proclaimed "anti-imperialists"?

Anthony Hill5 said:

ValterUdarnik As stated by:
What is the greatest fear of that Anglo-Saxon bloc? It is nothing less than the resurrection of a Slavic consciousness, for if such an awakening were to occur, it would signify our inevitable ascent to dominance across Europe.

And that is precisely why Russia stands as their greatest adversary.
She is the only one capable of striking back at them with full military force.
Is she really the only one with access to such bottomless, inexhaustible resources, just like the rest of them?

One really ought to be cognizant of the fact that the Pentagon has explicitly delineated its military doctrine to identify Russia as the primary threat, leaving China as a secondary concern.

One really ought to pause and ask themselves: why exactly is this happening? If China is supposedly the world's rising superpower, then how on earth do we explain this reality?

Do you really believe that the official statements made by high-ranking officials, including both former and sitting presidents, somehow align with your little theory? One has to wonder, if the very leaders of this nation aren't backing your claims, then what exactly makes you think you've stumbled upon some hidden truth?

McCain once famously remarked that Russia is nothing more than a glorified gas station masquerading as a sovereign nation. Is there any other way to describe it? It is a regime built entirely on the volatile whims of energy exports rather than actual institutional strength or innovation. How can a country claim any semblance of global leadership when its entire foundation rests on the sale of fossil fuels?

Is it not absolutely remarkable how Obama chooses to characterize Russia? He has gone so far as to dismiss them as nothing more than a "regional power," suggesting that their recent maneuvers are driven solely by an underlying sense of desperation and weakness. One has to wonder, does he truly believe such a reductionist view holds any weight in the current geopolitical landscape? Is he attempting to downplay the complexities of their actions, or is this merely a calculated attempt to project an image of American dominance while ignoring the strategic realities at play? It seems a rather shortsighted assessment, wouldn't you agree?

Biden Warns: The Russian Economy Consists of Nothing But Nuclear Weapons and Oil Wells

In the meantime, Erdogan persists in his relentless policy of confrontation against Western powers, seemingly determined to clash with every major global authority.

Is it not absolutely staggering that Erdogan is now threatening to pursue legal action against ten different ambassadors stationed in Turkey? How can such blatant intimidation be tolerated in modern diplomacy?

On Thursday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a stern threat to expel ambassadors from ten different nations—including heavyweights like France, Germany, and the United States—following their calls for him to release Osman Kaval, an individual accused by his administration of opposing the regime. Does he really believe he can simply brush aside the diplomatic pressure from such powerful allies? According to reports from Beta citing AFP, this escalation marks a significant confrontation between the Turkish leadership and the international community.

"I told our Secretary of State that we simply cannot afford to be welcoming toward them when they arrive on our soil," Erdogan remarked, according to reports from Turkish media outlets. Is it not a profound indictment of our current diplomatic standing when even the basic courtesy of a welcome becomes a luxury we claim we can no longer sustain?

On Monday, a coalition of nations—including Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, and the United States—issued a collective demand for what they termed a "fair and swift resolution" to the case of Osman Kaval. This Turkish publisher and philanthropist has languished in prison for four years now, all without ever having faced a trial. How much longer can such an injustice be permitted to stand?

"Do you really think you have any right to lecture Turkey?" Erdogan demanded, adding that the Turkish judiciary remains entirely independent.

Have we truly stumbled upon yet another supposed hero among our community's self-proclaimed "anti-imperialists"?

He’s certainly an impostor, though he tends to overcomplicate things; since he’s constantly surrounded by other local champions of anti-imperialism, his attempts to push those ideals beyond their usual boundaries inevitably run headfirst into theirs.

No, as long as there are small fish left that larger fish can collectively decide to swallow—operating under the logic that "if you won't enter my belly, there's plenty of room in someone else's, but you're getting eaten regardless"—they remain useful to one another.

The Turks are planning to give a group of diplomats a hard time, and there’s an American diplomat in that mix too...
https://ria.ru/20211024/posol-1755988817.html
"oh Turk..."

Emily Fox2 said:The Turks are planning to give a group of diplomats a hard time, and there’s an American diplomat in that mix too...
https://ria.ru/20211024/posol-1755988817.html
"oh Turk..."

Erdogan doesn't play games.
Quite the statesman, isn't he?👍

He even labeled the imprisoned Osman kaval a "Soros agent."https://www.dw.com/hr/nova-razina-su...kom/a-59608784

Erdogan backed down on deporting those foreign diplomats.
A little bit of backpedaling on the home front...
Then the Turkish lira took a sudden dive.
And just like that, the chocolate was wrapped up tight.

frozenhawk44 said:Erdogan doesn't play games.
Quite the statesman, isn't he?👍

He even labeled the imprisoned Osman kaval a "Soros agent."https://www.dw.com/hr/nova-razina-su...kom/a-59608784

Erdogan backed down and let the diplomats stay, claiming their new statement "shows they have stepped back from slandering our nation."
"We will be more careful now," he added.
The shift in Erdogan's stance came after the United States and several other nations issued identical statements, noting their respect for the UN convention stating that diplomats should not interfere in the host country's internal affairs.
DW correspondent Dorian Jones noted that Erdogan is framing the Western powers' statements as a "major diplomatic victory."
He trolls them, and they can't touch him. 😁
https://www.dw.com/en/turkey-erdogan...ats/a-59621772

The Sultan is playing that dangerous game of gambling with cheap money again just to juice the numbers before the election, but honestly, he’s already shaken the foundation so hard that hyperinflation is staring us right in the face. And the central bank? They’ve basically blown their entire budget and have nothing left in the tank.
Good luck to the Turks trying to shake this idiot loose.

I suspect we’ll see the UAE swoop in with a massive bailout soon, likely offering a better deal in exchange for increased "cooperation." It’s reminiscent of when Qatar stepped in last time.

Honestly, we’re looking at something that’s more than just a simple bailout—it’s a massive lifeline. Over the last two years, they’ve been draining the central bank's reserves to keep things afloat, burning through about $165 billion. Even if Qatar stepped up, or if the UAE decided to throw in the towel, they wouldn't come anywhere close to covering that kind of hole.
Plus, if you listen to the unofficial numbers floating around, inflation is already spiraling way past 50%.

It would be a beautiful thing if this signaled the end of Erdogan’s era, but history rarely shows a strongman stepping down simply because he wrecked the economy.

I fear Erdogan might be one of those leaders who stays in power indefinitely—or at least long enough to build a dynasty.

Look, I don't think Erdogan has actually solidified his grip on power enough to just completely steamroll the elections by wiping out or sidelining the opposition. I mean, if you look at what happened during the local elections, he actually lost control of some of the biggest major cities in the country.

The Lira is bouncing around again, showing some life. I wonder if Erdogan might try to call up his buddies in Moscow and Beijing to see if they’ll bail him out? Though, honestly, even China doesn't look like it's on solid ground lately, so at this rate, he's probably stuck looking toward Moscow for a lifeline