IAP Political Forum

NATO is becoming really a thorn in the side for all its members. Turks are nearly on the verge of war on Iraqi Kurds despite American anger. Americans are supportive of them. Should we expect Turks will fight Americans to subdue those damned Kurds? How do you like that kind of partnership? Sadly enough, there has been another precedent of the kind when back into 2003 Turkey refused the USA troops to deploy through its territory to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Definitely, Turks are irritated by the fact that USA have got their own agenda in Iraq separately from that of NATO one and Turkish position as well.  Generally support for NATO in Turkey declined from 53% in 2004 to 44% in 2007. That’s really a challenge! I know that some Turkish military see NATO as tool to serve mostly interests of USA and Europe. Well, Americans added meat to it when started supporting Iraqi Kurds, Turkish sworn enemy. Ankara thinks now that USA have undermined the spirit of NATO where all members are partners. The latest rumor among the military is that Turkey will suggest vital changes in NATO at some extraordinary meeting of the alliance. High time imo.

I do not think that it will come to the point of discussing our membership in NATO. We do not have any option other than being a part of western alliance. Our economy is closely connected to EU because of almost 20 years of customs union with the EU. Iran or Syria can not replace that dependency. Ther may be superficial conflicts but that's  all

NATO is a relic of the Cold War. It has long outlived any legitimate purpose it may have had.

OswaldTheOsprey

The US official position on the issue is that they will fight the Kurds on behalf of the Turks, making a Turkish incursion into Iraqi-Kurd territory unnecessary.

If there is a problem here, it became one the very day the USA decided to invade Iraq.  Ergo, if there is a challenge to NATO alliance, it originates with actions of the US Government, not Turkey.  Turkey's interest in the issue has long been a matter of fact.

So you hold the operation in Kosovo was a travesty?

Likewise, NATO invoking Article 5 after the 9/11 attack - you consider this unjustified and illegitimate?  This would apply to the NATO operation in Afghanistan.  Are you suggesting that it is illegitimate?

I am suggesting that international meddling is wrong. Which is one reason the U.S. is hated. I am an isolationist who favors letting other nations solve their own problems.

OswaldTheOsprey

]
That makes Turkish intervention in Kandil Mountain inevitable! We would gladly let you do it for us. It is not an easy job.

Isolationism is all well and fine, as long as it holds across the board.

Btw, the US is not hated internationally for 'meddling'.  Indeed, the greatest pro-US support in the world came from the US Marshall Plan which was 'meddling'.

No, the US is hated because of its consistent (and material) support for dictatorships and against democratic movements around the world.

Big difference.