Is Turkey really our ally?

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 08:54:37 -0500

Based on recent events, including Syria, ISIS and now an attack on US Sailors, is Turkey sending us a message?

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2014/11/12/navy-ross-istanbul-turkish-youth-union-roughed-up/18907615/

Three Ross sailors assaulted by protesters in Istanbul

U.S. sailors roughed up in Istanbul, where destroyer Ross is now docked

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 8:58 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 08:58:16 -0500

I'd say they are our ally, but sometimes their internal/national goals outweigh what we are asking. Remember the problems with Desert Storm? Issues with the Kurds? They have to look out for their national interests, but I think they do try. And the fact that they recently allowed Kurdish fighters to transit their land to get to the fight against ISIS is a good example. That was probably not a popular decision among many Turks.

Response by SGT Criss M. made Nov 13 at 2014 9:13 AM

SGT Criss M. — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:13:21 -0500

The Turkish government are our allies as long as we keep sending them money.
Off subject:
The young Turkish men are violent thugs, not Islamic extremist. Germany is now paying the price for having their Gastarbeitern program in the 1960s and 70s. There a no go areas Turkish areas there, as well as other Islamic areas. It's terrible in Sweden, but they keep letting letting in more and more "refugees" in everyday.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 9:33 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:33:08 -0500

I said it before in college, everyone spies on everybody else. We do what is best for us. So if Turkey is wanting us to keep port there they will make a statement, even if they secretly or not so secretly hate us. We had issues with other countries that were friendly or "friendly" before such as Pakistan.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 9:43 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:43:44 -0500

I was there last October and everybody was very friendly to me. I was there both during Desert Storm and during a Med Cruise in 92/93. Again they were very friendly to me. At the same time there were incidents similar to this recent one. We were given lectures on not advertising our status as US military personnel.

My personal thought, is that you are going to have some that hate us but as a whole I think we are at the minimum tolerated and even possibly well regarded by a majority of people there.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Nov 13 at 2014 2:24 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:24:57 -0500

Remember this: everyone has their own agendas.....even allies. They are going to do what is good for them. If it happens to be good for their allies too, then bonus.

As for this incident, just remember that this was an intentional act by the fringe group in Turkey. Doesn't excuse it, but before you cast stones, realize that we have our own fringe groups here and we have as much control over their behavior as Turkey does. What will be telling about Turkey's attitutudes will be how they prosecute these punks.

Response by Jennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill made Oct 15 at 2019 10:23 PM

Jennifer Lee (Doerflinger) Hill — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 22:23:47 -0400

Turkey can play Footsie w Russia until the day comes when they're swallowed up.