turkishgambit en - Comments

System Error in Turkey - OLé

OLé — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:58:51 +01:00

The Constitutional Court just ruled out an AKP ban. A wise decision in a time of Turkish turmoil!

Tough luck for the secular CHP - they won’t gather led-down AKP votes. Instead they should question their political standing and righteousness.

Malaysia vs. Turkey - Malezyali

Malezyali — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:55:31 +01:00

When Malaysia obtained independence from the British in 1957...Malaysia should be a secular country, with Islam as the Official religion and the king should be the head of state in accordance to British Constitutional Monarchy.

Malaysia should be just like UK.

When Dr. Mahathir became the Prime Minister he was the first premier to declare Malaysia as an Islamic nation.

Due to Islamisation by the missionaries in 1980s, the Muslim women started wearing the hijab from 1% the 1970s to 90%+ today.

The Nationalists believe that Malaysia is an Islamic country.

The Islamists believe that Malaysia is not an Islamic country.

The Social Democrats (DAP) want Malaysia to be a secular country.

Malaysia vs. Turkey - Wei Nye

Wei Nye — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 00:57:57 +01:00

Hi, Senerdem,
I recently found out about this new through a Turkish friend. I was utterly shocked the first time when I heard it. I do think it's unfair to spread such news about Malaysia based on so little resources and lack of investigation. I am from Malaysia and Muslim women are not obliged to wear the head scarf. It is a matter of personal choice. I am a little upset that the media has made such a bad impression of my country. I hope that not all Turkish people would fall for this news and at least make some initiative to do some research before believing it entirely. Thanks for the article, by the way.

Invading Northern Iraq: Threat or Bluff? - Ulpian

Ulpian — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:59:29 +01:00

I never intended that remark about taking the oilfields seriously. What I meant was that if the situation collapses into outright war, with every regional participant involved, there would be nothing more to lose.

Of course, this would mean the whole regional Kurdish 'nation' at perpetual war with Turkey.

This is a difficult one. Turkey has recently made perfectly proper concessions to Turkish Kurds and she has no reason to accept incursions from terrorist Iraqis who just happen to be Kurds too. Iraq must police its own people, and America must support this - but this isn't happening. I sometimes wonder if Turkey isn't being manoeuvred into a position where she finds herself fighting a slow-burn tribal war on her eastern frontier, in which innocent people will be killed, while having the international liberal community haranguing her for aggression, intolerance and all the historical Armenian stuff. The Cyprus issue will inflame once more, and generally Turkey will find herself even more friendless than she is already - and all no fault of hers. The diplomatic stakes here are huge. I wish Turkey the best of luck.

Invading Northern Iraq: Threat or Bluff? - senerdem

senerdem — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:56:47 +01:00

There sure will be an operation in Northern Iraq actually there is right now and has been for three years operations at the region but not a large scale one... I can assure you Turkey is not after the oil of Northern Iraq. If that was the case the country would have joined the US invasion of Iraq without a second thought... The targets are simple PKK militia and extending the current buffer zone at the border a bit more... This does not need a full fledged military campaign... the aims determine the type of the campaign that you will undertake...

Invading Northern Iraq: Threat or Bluff? - Ulpian

Ulpian — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:58:21 +01:00

Nor do I. What would be the outcome; a happy peace in the border area - no? There would be another endless, politically destabilizing, money hemorrhaging and internationally isolating disaster, and this would hurt Turkey badly.

Only when the regional situation deteriorates into absolute chaos can Turkey move, in which case she might as well take the whole of northern Iraq, with its oil, and be done with it.

Invading Northern Iraq: Threat or Bluff? - yasin

yasin — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 13:49:37 +01:00

but conditions became more and more heavier for the government especialy after latest's border clashes pkk-military.
and now if all turkey come to the point that anyway war comes to turkey even turkey doesnt go towars it, so sensation "ready to pay any price" will overcome.

Invading Northern Iraq: Threat or Bluff? - Erisa

Erisa — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:09:24 +01:00

Nice reasoning. Neither do I believe Turkey has the wish and capacity to undertake a large scale military action in Northern Iraq. Best, E.

Malaysia vs. Turkey - senerdem

senerdem — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:30:24 +01:00

Dear Malaysian,
Your comments precisely shows how shallow this whole discussion in Turkey is. I must say I don't have any idea about Malaysian history or politics. I don't believe that an ordinary Turkish citizen can have such knowledge. That is why the Turkish media can say anything about Malaysia and people believe in their comments. Because the media is the only source that people can reach about your country. I'm really glad that you commented to that problem. In just a couple of sentences you showed how peculiar their stories are.

Malaysia vs. Turkey - Malaysian

Malaysian — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:58:19 +01:00

>>right after the Malaysian government let women with headscarves to enter the universities and to the public sphere, a huge transformation towards Islam unleashed

it seems that the paper dont know anything about Malaysia, I'm a Malaysian and from my knowledge its never been a policy to allow or disallow any muslim to wear a headscraves to enter public universities.

from my knowledge too, its not the goverment that started the islamisation, its the private sector, for example i remember its the private tv station that started using woman with headscraves as news commentator, while the goverment tv only follow suit years after that.

i guess its the people realisation of islamic value, fyi, according to the survey done on malay muslim, its was found that they regard themself as muslim first and malay second.

The president is dead, long live the new president - Senerdem

Senerdem — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 19:00:24 +01:00

Indeed you're right Elina. There are some positive changes in the country. But what I'm trying to say is the hay days may be over in a couple of months. Prime Minister Erdogan is a clever man and he managed to conceal many serious problems from the public eye for the sake of the elections. He presented the country like a success story. I'm not saying that the developments of the last couple of years are insignificant. But AKP practically did nothing about the Cyprus issue or Kurdish issue... Problems like these ones may very well become huge crisis for the country. Turkey approaches to a turning point in its history and the government will be forced to take some crucial decisions. That is the main uncertainty.

The president is dead, long live the new president - elina

elina — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:21:32 +01:00

Hey senerdem!

I read your comment with great interest and i really understand your concerns as it is my concerns too all beeing a Greek.
I have read in the Babelblogs all the comments about Turkey getting member in the EU, comments on vote results and all that and if i had to make a point, a comment it would be a good, a positive, an optimist one..
I think it s a historical moment for Turkey, i receive all those changes as a big turn for the Turkish people and change of orientation for the Turkish nation. From where Turkey began and where is heading right now. Probably you know better than me the situation some years, or life in Turkey some decades ago. Europeans would characterise this phenomenon as "progression", but is it what you feel like? Of course there are problems to face but all of the countries have problems- I firmly believe that is a (positivly) significant time for Turkey!!