RE: [A-List] Re: Turkey: Robert Fisk analysis

["Mark Jones" <markjones011@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

To judge from past statements by the Clinton and Bush govt's, the latter
just days ago, the US is very keen to get Turkey inside the EU. The thinking
seems to be that this would weaken attempts to make a federal EU superstate
based on the Schengen area, and introduce very divisive new political and
religious processes into the EU mix. Like Poland, Turkey would also join as
a stalking horse for Washington.

It was time (was time long ago) to abandon the notion that the Bush regime
is intellectually challenged or doesn't have a big and perhaps viable
strategy.

Mark

> -----Original Message-----
> From: a-list-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:a-list-admin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Michael Keaney
> Sent: 06 November 2002 07:55
> To: a-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [A-List] Re: Turkey: Robert Fisk analysis
>
>
> Sabri writes:
>
> It is highly
> likely that AKP is a US creation. I don't have any concrete
> evidence of this but many noisy signals I keep getting and then
> using to update my beliefs in a Bayesian fashion point that way.
>
> ------
>
> Here's something else to further confuse you: newspapers here
> yesterday were
> featuring articles stating that the AKP government was going to initiate a
> "drive" for EU membership, which doesn't sound very much like a
> clean break
> with the previous regime, but which also raises questions about
> whether this
> possible creation of the US is still in the pocket of its
> possible creator.
> Is Turkish entry into the EU regarded as something that would
> strengthen or
> weaken the EU by the US? What would be its strategic value? Personally I
> still hold to the belief that if the Turkish people wish to join then they
> should be welcomed with open arms and not excluded on grounds of invidious
> distinction (religion, ethnicity). But all the same it would be useful to
> know (or somehow divine) the thoughts of those attempting to
> re-draw the map
> of the Near East, and how the AKP fits into all of this.
>
> Fisk is an honourable man whose head and heart are generally in the right
> place. My guess is that he's so pissed off with US policy that
> this distorts
> his appreciation of the bigger picture from time to time. Like it does us
> all, from time to time.
>
> Michael
>
>
>