Turkey to assume control of Benghazi airport

Turkey is assuming control of the Benghazi airport, and sending naval forces to patrol the corridor between the rebel-held city and Crete, as it prepares to join a London meeting on the international response to Libya.

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“Turkey said ‘yes’ to three tasks within NATO: the takeover of Benghazi airport for the delivery of humanitarian aid, the task about control of the air corridor and the involvement of Turkish naval forces in the corridor between Benghazi and Crete,” Erdoğan told a news conference at Ankara’s Esenboğa airport.

Turkey to assume control of Benghazi airport in Libya - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

We all know that this is really a secret plan for Turkey to recreate the ottoman empire by retaking her former territory.:2razz:

kaya'08 said:

“Turkey said ‘yes’ to three tasks within NATO: the takeover of Benghazi airport for the delivery of humanitarian aid, the task about control of the air corridor and the involvement of Turkish naval forces in the corridor between Benghazi and Crete,” Erdoğan told a news conference at Ankara’s Esenboğa airport.

Turkey to assume control of Benghazi airport in Libya - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

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You know what bothers me about this?? How much are we paying Turkey?

kaya'08 said:

“Turkey said ‘yes’ to three tasks within NATO: the takeover of Benghazi airport for the delivery of humanitarian aid, the task about control of the air corridor and the involvement of Turkish naval forces in the corridor between Benghazi and Crete,” Erdoğan told a news conference at Ankara’s Esenboğa airport.

Turkey to assume control of Benghazi airport in Libya - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

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Turks can't even run their own nation. So why should they be running an airport in a conflict zone?

Turkey is a beautiful country. Their military is very close to ours. They do their tourism beautifully and protect their heritage very well. I didn't see any abject poverty in Turkey, not in the cities and not in the country. For sure many people still appear to be living as they did a thousand years ago but it seems to me a beautiful thing. Maybe Kaya can tell us more about Turkey. It seems to me it is very well run. I had feared they were veering toward radical Islamism and maybe this is a sign they are not. Turks I met in Turkey reminded me more of Americans than any people I have ever met anywhere. They were eager, optimistic, open and outspoken.

MaggieD said:

You know what bothers me about this?? How much are we paying Turkey?

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It's a major Islamic Republic (in the sense that our country is a Republic), Maggie, in a VERY strategic location. Turkey is a very good friend to have in the world.

U.S.-Turkish friendship dates to the late 18th century and was officially sealed by a treaty in 1830. The present close relationship began with the agreement of July 12, 1947, which implemented the Truman Doctrine. As part of the cooperative effort to further Turkish economic and military self-reliance, the United States has loaned and granted Turkey more than $12.5 billion in economic aid and more than $14 billion in military assistance.

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Turkey

Marshabar said:

It's a major Islamic Republic (in the sense that our country is a Republic), Maggie, in a VERY strategic location. Turkey is a very good friend to have in the world.


Turkey

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I don't MEAN to be cynical, but, honestly, I can't help it:

As part of the cooperative effort to further Turkish economic and military self-reliance, the United States has loaned and granted Turkey more than $12.5 billion in economic aid and more than $14 billion in military assistance.

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Maybe this is payback time? Turkey

MaggieD said:

-- Maybe this is payback time? Turkey

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In the long term, the US has been keen to keep Turkey "onside" and Turkey is part of NATO too. Up until last year's gaza flotilla conflict there was a long history of contact between Turkey and Israel although Erdogan's policies had been seeking to drive a wedge into this - eventually there seems to have been a serious deterioration in business and military relations between the two countries.

As for "payback" - the US may have loaned and granted Turkey financial aid but the US has also (since before Obama) been pushing for Turkey to be admitted into the European Union. It would certainly be one of the more developed nations since the fall of the Berlin Wall to join however France has been blocking Turkey ever since the idea was first proposed.

Having been there myself, I can agree everything "Marsharbar" says however there's now the nagging doubt that Erdogan's policies could see an Islamist govt and policies remove the secular ideals. If however you watch any of the ME talking heads on the subject of developments in some of these countries where there have been mass protests - the ideal that many on the ground have wished for is a Turkey styled state in Egypt, Libya, Yemen etc etc.

If there's payback - it's more likely to be Turkey owing the US.

I wish we didn't have to be involved in the Middle East at all but there seems to be no way around it. The world needs oil, they pump it. We give foreign aid to countries that are a heck of a lot less useful than Turkey to our interests in the world. As far as I'm concerned we should start to pull back from this activity because our economy is in crisis. The stability of the world depends on the powerful US economy and the powerful US military, there's no way around it.

rathi said:

We all know that this is really a secret plan for Turkey to recreate the ottoman empire by retaking her former territory.:2razz:

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There's certainly an interest within some circles to reestablish a strong and profound presence in our former territories and in a way we have already succeeded that. Turkey is seen as a model and a "guide" state for Arabs, both within the political and civil scene. Our efforts to resolve conflicts in former Balkan territories and our role in this process of reconciliation both there and the Middle East is an another example of Turkeys "effective influence". As infinite said, this influence has helped create stability, Democracy and hope for the region. I sincerely believe that Turkey's new role in the region has helped Arab confidence and is a contributing factor to the change we see there today.

Idea's like creating an Ottoman commonwealth has been proposed. There ARE geopolitical restrictions to all of this though. Firstly, the Turkish take on Democracy is different to that of the Arab take on it. Our idea of Democracy (and not necessarily what we have achieved) is Western orientated whereas "Arab Democracy" lacks definition or any real meaning since it has never really been achieved yet, but with the significant Islamic influences it could mean many things that are not really "Democratic" in our sense of the word.

There are some Arab circles too that actually regard Turkey with suspicion because of its "re-rise" and there is still public discontent in Turkey about Arabs because of there betrayal to the Empire all those years ago.

MaggieD said:

You know what bothers me about this?? How much are we paying Turkey?

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Nothing. :2razz:

Gray_Fox_86 said:

Turks can't even run their own nation. So why should they be running an airport in a conflict zone?

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Okay that's crap. Put it this way. My damn country is fighting a civil war in the East that has killed 40,000 people, balancing our foreign policy between what makes our friends in the West Happy against what makes our friends in the East happy, currently occupying Northern Cyprus to stop Greek Cypriot hostility, regularly engaging in military dog fights with the Greeks over the Aegean to reinforce our borders, curbing Iranian influence and bordering onto the most destabilized regions in the world we're we are having to constantly track and detain refugee's and terrorists that are running from conflict or seeking conflict, all the while building a Democracy, trying to pass reforms for a hopeless EU membership, investing loads in education, science and the military, and have one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

If running a nation is the same as juggling 10 balls, nobody does it like we do.
Hell, we even have a saying that even if you where to stick American politicians into a Turkish parliamentary session they would find it too dramatic and partisan.

Marshabar said:

Turkey is a beautiful country. Their military is very close to ours. They do their tourism beautifully and protect their heritage very well. I didn't see any abject poverty in Turkey, not in the cities and not in the country. For sure many people still appear to be living as they did a thousand years ago but it seems to me a beautiful thing. Maybe Kaya can tell us more about Turkey. It seems to me it is very well run. I had feared they were veering toward radical Islamism and maybe this is a sign they are not.

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Well i currently live in Turkey and i enjoy the same quality of life here as i did in London. The only places you would see poverty is in the heavily Kurdish populated regions of the East but in light of the increasingly high economic performance here, these are issues that are being eased. I'm happy here. Radical Islamism? If so, then nothing i have seen. What the AKP is doing is trying to implement Democracy with Islam and showing that it is possible. Although due to our general secular orientation here in Turkey, this isn't being done to a degree that would be classed as outside the bounds of the EU. Do i like some of the stuff that AKP have done? Yes and No.

Fact is this Republic's existence is owed to Ataturk and Kemalism. We will never depart from it and its the only way we can enlighten, liberalize and move forward.

Turks I met in Turkey reminded me more of Americans than any people I have ever met anywhere. They were eager, optimistic, open and outspoken.

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Where did you travel?

Kaya, We traveled in Turkey about ten years ago. Spent a week in Istanbul then Kusadasi and areas around there, visited Selcuk and saw Ephesus and the other sites around there. Then on to Kusadasi and around the circle to Cappadocia, Ankara and back to Istanbul. I thought it would have been so wonderful to have grown up in Istanbul. Such a rich and fascinating tapestry of history.

I think you are very fortunate to live in Turkey. I remember thinking the soil in the farm land was the most fertile and beautiful I'd ever seen, the grass so green and rich. The vegetables are wonderful and delicious in the simple preparations of dolmas. Waaaaaa!:boohoo: I want to be there and have fresh bread and stuffed eggplant!

Marshabar said:

Kaya, We traveled in Turkey about ten years ago. Spent a week in Istanbul then Kusadasi and areas around there, visited Selcuk and saw Ephesus and the other sites around there. Then on to Kusadasi and around the circle to Cappadocia, Ankara and back to Istanbul. I thought it would have been so wonderful to have grown up in Istanbul. Such a rich and fascinating tapestry of history.

I think you are very fortunate to live in Turkey. I remember thinking the soil in the farm land was the most fertile and beautiful I'd ever seen, the grass so green and rich. The vegetables are wonderful and delicious in the simple preparations of dolmas. Waaaaaa!:boohoo: I want to be there and have fresh bread and stuffed eggplant!

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Dolma's :mrgreen:
You've made me hungry now. Its definitely a great city and i promise its better now than it was then. You should find time to come back someday!

Kaya

Turkey, as the gateway to both Europe and Asia, is one of the most strategic locations in the world. The entrance of Turkey into NATO, in 1952, was a major bulwark against Soviet expansion. Also, decisive battles throughout history have been fought on the isthmus located in Turkey. I would say that the military and economic aid we have paid to them is more than justified by what we have received from them as an ally.

I got a powerfully strong sense of history and empire in Turkey as I have experienced no where else in the world. Awesome place.