http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/locals-...sCatID=341

This story tells about how 8 people in Bodrum have attacked a US soldier in retaliation to the 2003 Süleymaniye events, in which our soldiers have been treated by the Americans like dogs, with bags put over their heads.
Now, don't get me wrong. I too have howled for retaliation for this shameful humiliation our soldiers had to endure at the hands of the foreigner.
However, attacking a US soldier who had nothing to do with it seems to me like a rather....useless enterprise.
Now the group of people who have attacked the soldier face 16 years of prison.
Obviously this is not the only time this happened. International media states that this was done by "nationalists", whereas I know for sure that this is the work of a leftist group called the TGB, a group supported by the Turkish worker's party.
To be honest, even though I can't say I'm devastated by whatever happened to the US soldier, I could say that in terms of justice, nothing has been served.

The US government did not really face any repercussions for insulting our army members, through their army members, meaning, their government.
My view? I believe that this is akin to watching a porn movie, and bragging about fucking the chick that was in that movie.
They did something, but at the same time, they didn't.

It was obviously the duty of the government to actually pressure the US government, but the anti-American sentiment has risen to such proportions, one can never know where the next move of anarchy will show itself, no matter with what intent, this leads only towards more injustice.

As I said before, I'm not really devastated about this, but I believe an injustice was done towards that particular US soldier, who was ganged upon and forcibly bagged, like our own soldiers have faced injustice by the US army members.
Maybe the US should consider this as a warning, to whatever happened before during the days of the cold war, where leftist-leaned youth have kidnapped an American soldier and thrown eggs towards a US military ship, however, things were different back then, as the "leftist-leaned" groups were actually soviet puppets and communists, who were threatening the integrity of the public back then.
This act of injustice, however did not carry similar intents due to soviet sympathy, but rather pure anti-american sentiment.
I too share that sentiment, but the weapon I would have used would not be a bag, but a pen.

For at the end of the day, what did the American public really understand from this enterprise? Nothing. It just served to create a similar sentiment towards Turks in America, putting our interests in jeopardy, whereas a written statement that clearly outlines the problems would have garnered a better response. Unfortunately, the incident is still being loaded on the backs of nationalists, although we too oppose the US military presence in our lands, we want them gone by government action, something that actually matters.

The attack on the soldier was unjust. I have reservations about the way the USA (and Europe, for that matter) has treated Turkey in the last 10 years. It's like we WANT Turkey to wind up another Islamic theocracy.

(June 5, 2012 at 7:59 am)kılıç_mehmet Wrote: For at the end of the day, what did the American public really understand from this enterprise? Nothing. It just served to create a similar sentiment towards Turks in America, putting our interests in jeopardy, whereas a written statement that clearly outlines the problems would have garnered a better response.

Now you understand our insanity.

Here, our very news is calculated to spread hearsay and serve corporate interests. It's all in the business of making money, which I thoroughly understand.

The better question is, who is served through these actions? Which set of groups, from financial backers who expect political or industrial control, to political ideologues interested only in ruling, in Turkey does this event serve the best?

I'd look at the news services for certain groups -- you'd find they are a public face for an agenda. The ones who are the most self-congratulatory over this are probably closer to the puppet masters.

(June 5, 2012 at 7:59 am)kılıç_mehmet Wrote: Unfortunately, the incident is still being loaded on the backs of nationalists, although we too oppose the US military presence in our lands, we want them gone by government action, something that actually matters.

As long as you're prepared to forfeit the aid and support, fair enough. However, powerful interests in the US would no doubt resist as their investments in Turkey would be at jeopardy -- this reminds me a bit much of pre-revolutionary Iran, right up to before the revolt, though. There were also powerful interests that also went too far and contributed to the poor treatment of the Iranians, backing the Shah at all costs.

History warns you.

Quote:The better question is, who is served through these actions? Which set of groups, from financial backers who expect political or industrial control, to political ideologues interested only in ruling, in Turkey does this event serve the best?

This even served no one in Turkey.
It was just done by a group of hot-headed leftists, who thought they were doing in for "our independence" or something.
Independence is not gained through assaulting foreign soldiers, it's done by securing our economic and technological independence.
I'm fairly certain that there was no corporate interest in this thing.

Quote:I'd look at the news services for certain groups -- you'd find they are a public face for an agenda.

Certainly they are in most cases.

Quote:As long as you're prepared to forfeit the aid and support, fair enough.

Certainly. I think we need to get off the NATO train as soon as possible.

Quote: However, powerful interests in the US would no doubt resist as their investments in Turkey would be at jeopardy

I don't know what kind of investments the US has in Turkey other than purely geopolitical interests. Yeah, they sell Coca Cola, have McDonalds, Starbucks and etc. They can stay.
But our important stuff, like our farming industry, energy industry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and etc. should be in public hands.

Quote:There were also powerful interests that also went too far and contributed to the poor treatment of the Iranians, backing the Shah at all costs.

The Shah, like our current president, was a notorious American puppet, who was almost too keen to secure his position by aligning itself with American oil interests.
Our current president is doing the same right now.

Quote:As long as you're prepared to forfeit the aid and support, fair enough.

ALL international government aide aid is given as some form of quid pro ,not altruism. A common paybacks for the US is influence and or a military presence. Religious organisations are every bit as disingenuous..

How do you know that the party being blamed is not the party responsible?

(June 5, 2012 at 7:13 pm)padraic Wrote: ALL international government aide aid is given as some form of quid pro ,not altruism. A common paybacks for the US is influence and or a military presence. Religious organisations are every bit as disingenuous..

I think I implied that aid is given for pro-US policies and support in my statement. But thanks for clarifying further.

(June 5, 2012 at 7:50 pm)Moros Synackaon Wrote:

(June 5, 2012 at 7:13 pm)padraic Wrote: ALL international government aide aid is given as some form of quid pro ,not altruism. A common paybacks for the US is influence and or a military presence. Religious organisations are every bit as disingenuous..

I think I implied that aid is given for pro-US policies and support in my statement. But thanks for clarifying further.

Oh, sorry, I missed that implication.

Have I mentioned I'm old and easily confused?