Turkey Enthusiastic About U.S. 'Greater Middle East'

[DuctapeFatwa]

Turkey is enthusiastic about the United States' so-called "Greater Middle East Initiative", which was at the heart of recent talks between Arab foreign ministers, according to Turkish commentators and analysts.

The U.S. administration gave Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan the green light during his visit to Washington in January to promote the initiative in view of Turkey's pivotal role in the plan and the region, journalist and writer Sibl Araslan wrote Monday, February 16, in the daily Vakit.

Vakit said that Israeli Labor Party Chairman Shimon Peres discussed the initiative in camera with left-wing leaders during his visit to Turkey on Saturday, February 14.

Ahmet Tas wrote in the daily Yeni Safak that the U.S. used its global war on terror in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and military juggernaut in Afghanistan and Iraq as a tool to press ahead with its nascent initiative.

"They want to send the unmistakable message that 'we can force our project by force,'" he wrote. Americans believe that the peoples of the Middle East would support the initiative to head off devastating wars and a repeat of the Iraqi tragedy, added the journalist.

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2004-02/17/article09.shtml

[Voltaire99]

1. People "would support the intitiative to head off devastating wars"

That is the point of astonishing violence, isn't it? To teach the cautionary lesson. See, ye peoples of the Middle East, how we strew your women and children in ashes to the winds. Ain't democracy great?

Here's your new voting booth; here's your mortgage; here's your utility bill; here's your Wal-Mart. Thanks for the oil!

[DuctapeFatwa]

2. Yes. give me your money, close your eyes and count to 100 or I'll kill ya

That is US foreign policy. That is the status quo.

Too bad it is so popular with the voting class, as it is not in their best interest.

[daleo]

3. Turkey may be hoping to recreate the Ottoman Empire

Perhaps they want to be Bush's partner in carving up the middle east, hoping for a nice slice of the action.

[hang a left]

4. What was that I remember a little while back about a

pipeline through Turkey?