Author Topic: US cancels aid package to Turkey (Read 1136 times)

Hortlund · « **on:** March 03, 2003, 02:20:45 PM »

bwhahaha suck it down Turks.

Guess what, the war will still come to Iraq, there will still probably be hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing to Turkey. There will not be any Turkish forces setting up a buffert zone in N Iraq, though there will be alot of Kurdish activity on that border.

There will however, not be any $ 6 billion aid package from the US.

Congratulations...smart move on that vote...now face the consequences of it...buh bye Turkish economy.

Frogm4n · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:27:45 PM »

They did what they thought was right and i salute them for it. If it was the smart thing to do we wont know for a while. But im glad to see some countrys cannot be bought still.

Hortlund · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:31:20 PM »

Yeah they are entitled to make any desicion they want, I agree completely.

They are however, about to learn a valuable lesson on the consequences that comes with each choise they make. $6 billion is alot of money, now they will face the same costs without that contribution...that will hurt alot. Heck it might even create a serious situation in Turkey...economic recession combined with Kurdish aspirations for a free Kurdistan.

But I bet France will bail them out *cough*

Kelly[KGN] · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:31:43 PM »

Hi,

Hortlund, just a quick question, do you need an aproval for your postings from any US citizen, or are you allowed to write them without their help?

Swoop · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:34:30 PM »

Hort,

what Turkish economy?

Ever been to Turkey? $1 US is a lot.

Hortlund · « **Reply #5 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:38:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Swoop
Hort,

what Turkish economy?

Yeah, I know. I havent been to Turkey, but Ive got friends who have.

Seriously this will hurt the Turks enormously. And they dont really have the EU to back them up either. I suppose France and Germany will try to put together some kind of EU aid package, but somehow I suspect the Brits wont be thrilled at the idea of funding the Turkish no to help in the war against Iraq.

The combination of an emormous influx of refugees, decline in tourism (because my bet is that the 2003 tourism season will be below average), militant Kurds that see an opportunity for a country of their own...it spells disaster for Turkey really. Combine that with the threat of Saddam launching something at Turkey...

I bet there are some seriously nervous Turks in Istanbul/Ankara/wherever their government sits pondering over the consequences of this.

Hortlund · « **Reply #6 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:44:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kelly[KGN]
Hi,

Hortlund, just a quick question, do you need an aproval for your postings from any US citizen, or are you allowed to write them without their help?

Hi Kelly,
no I dont need aproval of every specific post. The way it works is me, Animal, Midnight Target and Weazel sit down every Sunday night in a chat session and draw up plans on what I should post and when. The I spend the week trying to follow this plan to the best of my abilities.

This is of motivated by a desire to cause unrest and confusion among the European posters on these boards. The basic idea is that the Euro anti-war front will be split and disorganized when they realize that there are some Euros that actually support the US policy on terror.

Thanks for asking!

And if you want to help, just send me an email, and I will forward this weeks secret BB post-plan.

Best regards
Steve

Frogm4n · « **Reply #7 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:45:17 PM »

I respect turkey alot more now actually. They proved they have alot more character then i thought by standing up for themselves and saying we will handle the problem ourselves if it does indeed become one.

Kelly[KGN] · « **Reply #8 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:49:18 PM »

Hortlund, I'm not anti-war...i'm anti-brainless.

Toad · « **Reply #9 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:50:00 PM »

Now the possibility of solving the problem of governing Iraq includes the option of an independent Kurdistan. Give the Shiites a place in the South and the Sunnis the middle and align them in a loose confederation and it may be possible to avoid a lot of the problems.

I think the Turks will love an independent Kurdistan.

Hortlund · « **Reply #10 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:50:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kelly[KGN]
Hortlund, I'm not anti-war...i'm anti-brainless.

Good for you Kelly. You should tell people that more often in conversations.

AKIron · « **Reply #11 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:52:32 PM »

Turkey got greedy, was holding out for more. Same thing happened in the Phillipines years ago. We're too damn generous in the US, look what we're doing in the Phillipines today. Turkey will probably still get their handout down the road.

Hortlund · « **Reply #12 on:** March 03, 2003, 02:57:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad
I think the Turks will love an independent Kurdistan.

Actually I'm starting to come around to that idea too.

Give the Kurds northern Iraq as an independent Kurdistan. I mean that nation is bound to be US friendly. Make sure all Iraqi northern oil fields are within these borders.

Amusing consequence #1:
All French and German current oil contracts becomes null and void.

Amusing consequence #2:
As part of a big aid package to Kurdistan, the US could offer help with exploiting these fields. Like for instance, US companies pay all costs for exploiting the fields and splits the oil profits with Kurdistan. Everybody benefits. Especially the Kurds who are right now living in huts made of dry mud. Give them real houses, a good job working the oil fields and a good salary...its a classic win-win situation.

Amusing sub consequence #1:
OPEC monopoly is broken, oil prices will sink.

Amusing sub sub consequence #1:
This will hurt the Saudi economy.

Dead Man Flying · « **Reply #13 on:** March 03, 2003, 03:00:12 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Frogm4n
I respect turkey alot more now actually. They proved they have alot more character then i thought by standing up for themselves and saying we will handle the problem ourselves if it does indeed become one.

Caving to myopic electoral concerns does not mean you've got character. I strongly doubt that the Turkish parliament "stood up for themselves" so much as the individual members feared the electoral backlash of supporting the United States with a general public squarely against war in Iraq.

That's democratic politics, and that's fine by me. A democracy should represent the interests of its citizens, but that doesn't mean it was, objectively, the right decision for Turkey in the long run. In fact, by most measures it was a horrendous decision that will only come back to bite them in the bellybutton many times over -- economically, militarily, geographically, and geopolitically. Turkey's decision has not made war less likely, and they will now suffer the consequences of war without any of the benefits offered to them from the United States. And that's clearly myopic politics.

-- Todd/Leviathn

LePaul · « **Reply #14 on:** March 03, 2003, 03:11:05 PM »

What I find interesting is that they were complaining that promises for past aid, after Desert Storm, never happened. Here they had a chance to cash in, with gurantees, and said "Nahhh".

Wonder what their currency is worth today?