Said Erdogan: “You cannot make Turkey take a step back with sanctions. They need to know the following: we are not tied with an umbilical cord to the U.S.”
Good. Rapidly re-Islamizing Turkey has not been a reliable ally of the United States for some time, and it is foolish to pretend otherwise. This sham alliance, and others as well, should be ended.
“US Slaps Sanctions on 2 Turkish Political Leaders Over Andrew Brunson’s Detention,” by Samuel Smith, Christian Post, August 2, 2018:
The Trump administration followed through on its threats to take action against Turkey over the detention of American Pastor Andrew Brunson by sanctioning two top government officials on Wednesday.
The U.S. Department of the Teasury’s [sic] Office of Foreign Assets Control announced that it has sanctioned Turkey’s Minister of Justice Abdulhamit Gul and Minister of Interior Suleyman Soylu, both of whom lead agencies that are responsible for the arrest and imprisonment of the 50-year-old North Carolina native.
“Pastor Brunson’s unjust detention and continued prosecution by Turkish officials is simply unacceptable,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. “President [Donald] Trump has made it abundantly clear that the United States expects Turkey to release him immediately.”
The sanctions come after Vice President Mike Pence and Trump vowed last week that they would slap “significant” and “large” sanctions on its NATO ally over Brunson’s detention. Pence made the promise during his keynote speech last Thursday at the State Department’s Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, a day after Brunson was released to house arrest after over a year-and-a-half in prison….
Brunson appealed to a Turkish court this week to be released from his home detention. However, his appeal was rejected on Tuesday.
Brunson, who has served as a church leader in Izmir for over two decades, was accused of having connections to an Islamic organization blamed for the 2016 coup attempt against the Erdogan government and was also accused of having connections to Kurdish militants. He has denied all charges. Many feel that he is being used as a political pawn to pressure the U.S. government to extradite Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen.
“We’ve seen no evidence that Pastor Brunson has done anything wrong and we believe he is a victim of unfair and unjust [detention] by the government of Turkey,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday. “As a result, any property or interest in property of both ministers within U.S. jurisdiction is blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.”
The sanctions against Gul and Soylu are pursuant to the executive order issued last December by Trump which states that “serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”…
The Turkish government has claimed that it cannot intervene in Brunson’s case because it is being handled by the judicial system. Brunson has had three hearings so far in which only questionable secret witness testimony has been presented against him. His next court hearing is in October….
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom lists Turkey as a “Tier 2” country of concern for religious liberty.
“In 2017, the state of religious freedom in Turkey worsened. Proposed changes in the educational curriculum, an increase in government funding solely for Sunni mosques, and a lack of movement with respect to legal status and registration for non-Muslim communities have led Turkey on a downward trend,” a 2018 USCIRF report states, adding that the nation’s strict secularization prevents religious communities from obtaining full legal status.
“The majority of the other longstanding religious freedom concerns remain unresolved, including the return of expropriated minority properties, the delay in providing dual citizenship to Greek Orthodox Metropolitans so they can participate in the church’s Holy Synod, and equal funding for religious minority community buildings from the public budget.”
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the U.S. on Sunday that it risks losing a “strong and sincere partner” if it continues pressuring it over Brunson.
“You cannot make Turkey take a step back with sanctions,” Erdogan declared. “They need to know the following: we are not tied with an umbilical cord to the U.S.”
On Wednesday, he claimed that “Turkey has no problems related to [religious] minorities.”
“Threatening language of the U.S. evangelist, Zionist mentality is unacceptable,” Erdogan told reporters. “We will continue on the path we believe in without the slightest concession to our freedom, sovereignty, or judicial independence.”
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
why evil United States is still irresponsible entity believing in that posture of dictating to other nations what they must do or must not do despite the fact that hegemonic control over international community it had been enjoying has ended?. Turkey is equal to task, evil United cannot dictate to it what it must do or must not do as Erdogan said. Those saction weapons cannot work on Turkey.
savage mad devil Trump is fully aware that Turkey has independant judicial system. Why not allow jucidicial process to determine whether Mr Brunson is guilty as charged or innocent to be released?you just call on Turkey to release him immediately and unconditionally.will mad devil Trump allow that to be made to the judicial system of the evil United States?
gravenimage says
Notice that Ibrahim itace muhammed is standing for the persecution of Christians. Given his calumny against them–and all Infidels–here, this should not surprise.
Susan B says
Gravenimage, “calumny” What a great word, had to look it up.
gravenimage says
Thank you, Susan. 🙂
Jayell says
Is our reverred Mr. Muhammed actually standing for ANYTHING? I’m afraid the only impression I ever get from his offerings is a string of what he thinks is insultng invective cobbled together with a few vaguely impressive-sounding ‘intellectual’ terms that are either irrelevant, incorrect or plain ridiculous and are no doubt supposed to give his episodes of irate islamic verbal vomit some semblance of rational substance. However, I salute all you noble JW-afficiandos who seek to dignify his curious contributions with a reasoned reply, but you are wasting your time. By the way, what’s all this ‘Turkey is a sincere ally’ business? Since when did ‘islam’ and ‘sincerity’ go together? Is there actually an arabic equivalent for ‘sincere’ since that concept doesn’t appear to exist in the islamic mindset, assuming that being ‘islamic’ actually requires having a ‘mind’.
gravenimage says
Jayell, I’m afraid Ibrahim itace muhammed stands for lots of things–raping women and children, robbery and piracy, violent conquest of the Infidels, and genocide. It’s just that all of these things are evil.
And I never reply directly to this vicious Muslim apologist, which would indeed be a waste of time–instead, I just parse his appalling spewings for any interested readers here.
infidel says
U are a DISGUSTING Islamist Ibhrahim tace. I can picture U in my mind with that beastly face with that henna dyed orange beard with that funny cap and ankle high trousers that add to the hellish caricature , lusting for non-Muslim women and property and of course endless hatred and scheming against non-Muslims. If U are living in a non-Muslim country, the authorities should seriously track U down because U are surely a danger to the lives of innocents around U.
sam says
NO Muslim country has an independent judicial system, Turkey not withstanding. Islam in in its totality governs through the Qur’an and its prophets words. No one in any Muslim enclave is free to express or worship unless agreed upon its government\s. Contrastingly, any Muslim in the Dar al Harb has untrammeled freedom. Yet, Itace either tongue in cheek or as a usual Muslim strategy is on a marketing spree trying to promote a failed philosophy and religion. Islam Erdogan and other Muslim leaders have shown can only bloom with belligerence , bellicosity and extreme violence. Islam in the 21st Century find itself inert circumambulating not only the Ka’ba but also its failed scriptures. No respectable human being can condone Erdogan or any of his Muslim cohorts ensconced in their conflict prone mindsets
Raja says
Sam, Excellent summary of the psyche of the Muslim mindset and Muslim majority nations…
Phil Copson says
Itace – you know perfectly well that Turkey hasn’t got an independent judicial system, and that tens of thousands of people from all walks of life – soldiers, teachers, university staff, civil servants, court officials etc – have been imprisoned or fired from their jobs for opposing – (or even being suspected of opposing…) – the tyrannical Ertogan regime.
Why don’t you just admit what we all know – that as a keen islamist, you fully support the suppression of human rights, just so long as it’s you doing the suppressing ?
ron says
Hey Ibrahim itace muhammed, PHUCK OFF, you and your swine country !
Mano says
Turkey is an islamic fundamentalist state. That why turks are seeking assylum on Greece.
elee says
Hey Jay Boo…..while we’re on the subject……look into (1) Turkey’s Fifth Column in Europe, where huge expat populations provide a base for who-knows-what Turkish operations; and (2) Turkey’s huge Diyanet complex outside Washington DC.
EXHATEISLAM says
To Ibrahim itace MO HAM MAD
Take your dirty mouth and comment to your fxxxing brothers, you have no clue what justice means.
elee says
I find myself much inclined to believe a rescue operation may become necessary. The Turks obligingly created a huge clear open area in “Izmir” when they burned all the Greeks with their houses a century ago. Bring on that Ottoman slap Caliph Erdogan!
gravenimage says
Yes–the destruction of Izmir–then Smyrna, and Turkey’s wealthiest and most cosmopolitan city–a hundred years ago was the greatest atrocity of the Armenian Genocide.
Phil Copson says
With respect, GI – the extermination of several million Armenians was the greatest atrocity of the Armenian Genocide; the destruction of Izmir and Smyrna was (presumably?) the greatest act of destroying non-islamic cultural artefacts.
gravenimage says
Phil, I meant that the destruction of Smyrna was the greatest *single* atrocity of the Armenian Genocide–not the only one.
And–with all respect–you are mistaken in believing that the destruction of Smyrna involved just the destruction of cultural artefacts, awful as that was.
Smyrna was an important port and trading center. It was actually more than half Infidel–Greek, Armenian, and Levantine Christians, and a large Jewish population.
The city had been largely untouched by the Armenian Genocide raging in the rest of the Ottoman Empire, but in 1922 Muslims went on a rampage, most intensely targeting the Greek and Armenian quarters. They raped and murdered, and set the entire city on fire. Survivors gathered down by the quay, where they were trapped between the water and the burning city.
Some were rescued, largely through the heroic efforts of American charity worker Asa Kent Jennings, who organized American, British, and other European ships to take survivors in shifts to safety in Greece–most of the ships’ captains shamefully had previously followed orders and not intervened. He was able to save up to 250,000 people.
Still, up to 100,000 people–mostly Christians–were murdered in just a few days. Turkish authorities not only did nothing to stop the destruction, they in many cases joined in.
The city–or its smoking ruins–had almost no surviving Christians left after this atrocity. The Turks would even wipe out its name.
mariam rove says
And because of this the Turkish Lira took a free fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!M
DHazard says
“You cannot make Turkey take a step back with sanctions…”
A step back from what? Their forward march to the past?
gravenimage says
+1
Susan B says
Again, thank God for Trump. Finally a President for the free world.
Brian hoff says
The turkish people will unite more behind the turkish leader against the global trump.
Susan B says
Brian Hoff, think again, many muslims are waking up to the evil of islam. Any cult that can jail your for questioning it or murder you for trying to leave must have a lot to hide. In the connected world of today it is no longer possible to conceal the truth. Islam is a lie built on lies and can only be sustained by more lies and violence. Exposing islam and unraveling the lies that muslims have been brainwashed with from birth will aid in the demise of this horrific cult. Education and truth are the greatest threats to islam. islam will eventually fold like the deck of cards that it is.
“800 million Muslims out of 1.4 billion are illiterate – that’s a whopping 57%!
“Fact to realize is, Muslims have been poor, illiterate, war mongering savages for 1,400 years because they are kept hostage by Islam – a 7th century hate ideology perpetrated by a criminal and lunatic who suffered depressions, raped, murdered and robbed other people, flew around on a ‘winged’ donkey, and had no control at all of his bestial urges, desires and distorted ego.””
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Susan B, you mean your Satan god you call Holy Spirit says no one should dare blame mithraist christians for the worst atrocities they committed throughout human history because they are his children created in his image?
Susan B says
Oh, Ibraham, nice to hear from you, needed my “dealing with a psycho deranged maniac” fix for the day. By the way, how is your medication working out? By your comment I see you have been a bad boy and forgot to take them. When I am confronted with mohammedan trolls like you it is almost comical because your *calumny comments are so demented it is hard to keep from laughing.
Then I remind myself that you are not kidding; that you really are a very irrational, unhinged, psychotic, following in the footsteps of your false prophet from hell.
*Thanks Gravenimage, love this word, it is so fitting when dealing with mohammedan trolls.
gravenimage says
What does Ibrahim itace muhammed consider the “worst atrocities…committed throughout human history”?
He has said here before that these include such matters as not allowing child “marriage” and forced marriage, not allowing Muslims to rape and enslave us, and taking any measures–no matter how scattershot–to protect Infidels from Jihad terrorism. *Ugh*.
Jayell says
Interesting to see that Mr
Muhammed’s attempt at a reply to Susan B is not a reasoned argument citing the points she makes but just the usual formulaic mud-ball of pseudo-theological buzz-words which, no doubt, is presumed to intimidate (if not demolish) with the sheer force of its epic islamic wisdom. Or something delusional like that. We really are impressed, Mr. Muhammed, but not in quite the same way as you might imagine.
gravenimage says
In other words, the vicious “Brian hoff”–really, “DefenderofIslam”–is saying that Muslims in Turkey are uniting behind the persecution of Christians. *Appalling* admission–but grimly likely accurate.
Avenger says
Brian Hoff
Who gives a rats ass if the the turkish population follows Erdogan. They already chose that little dictator over the secular government in 2016’s failed coup attempt. This is the perfect opportunity for Europe and the US drop them from NATO and sanction the hell out of them.
The US needs to evacuate its military personnel, destroy or remove all military hardware and level the infrastructure of the once occupied bases. If we leave anything intact it will be used against us or our allies.
Without US backing, Erdogan and his wretched followers would be a slab of raw meat in a neighborhood of wolves.
Peter Buckley says
Like all other “muslim countries”, Turkey has a “problem” that just keeps getting bigger and bigger:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-43981745
rubiconcrest says
Young Turks are not as easily brainwashed as they were in the past.
gravenimage says
I hope you are right–but I have seen little evidence of this.
Carol says
It’s interesting that Izmir, where Pastor Brunsons’ congregation met was previously named “Smyrna” All of the churches in Revelation were in what is now Anatolia, Turkey. For a brief time, Turkey was part of the modern age when Mustafa Keman Aturak, their first republican president in the 20’s had a big influence in bringing Turkey out of the dark ages of the Ottoman Empire into the light and renounce their barbarian heritage. Now, with Erdogan in power, they are reverting back to their old Islamic ways and it’s getting darker day by day.
gravenimage says
Unfortunately, Carol, the terrible destruction of Smyrna happened under Attaturk. He was for modernization in many ways, but did little to end the Armenian Genocide.
eduardo odraude says
And while Trump is at it, how about massive sanctions on Saudi Arabia for its brutal treatment of non-Muslims? The same with Pakistan. And now Indonesia.
Enough of sacrificing non-Muslim minorities to supposed US strategic interests abroad. Large parts of the Islamic world need to be heavily sanctioned immediately for discrimination against and destruction of religious minorities.
Susan B says
eduardo, one step at a time. Trump is working at warp speed as it is. I believe Trump will start going after one islamic country after another. His biggest concern, however, should be to save Europe and the West from the globalist; the puppeteers of the islamic invaders.
gravenimage says
I’d love to see it, Eduardo. Trump has already put both Pakistan and the “Palestinian” territories on notice:
“Vice President Pence: ‘President Trump has put Pakistan on notice’”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2017/12/vice-president-pence-president-trump-has-put-pakistan-on-notice
“Trump: Palestinians unwilling to talk peace, so ‘why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?’”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/01/trump-palestinians-unwilling-to-talk-peace-so-why-should-we-make-any-of-these-massive-future-payments-to-them
And I agree with Susan–we are already seeing amazing progress. I am heartily glad to see it.
gravenimage says
US slaps sanctions on two Turkish leaders over Pastor Brunson’s detention, Erdogan defiant
………………………..
Good to hear!
mortimer says
The US should recognize Kurdistan and move its garrisons there.
Turkey has to choose to play up as a reliable partner of NATO or get out.
Turks are playing with fire with Erdogan. He is leading them to their assured destruction.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Flakey:
“‘Butcher’ no more? Assad in charge of Syria good for our security, says Israeli defense minister”
https://www.rt.com/news/434972-israel-assad-power-syria/
gravenimage says
Assad is probably the least of the evils in the region–that’s all.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
I just posted the news article, that’s all.
But my reading of the article is that Israel’s position has done a complete 180 degree reversal. No one can trust or rely on world powers that flip-flop constantly. It seems that the push to topple Assad came, first and foremost, by the instigation of Israel. And now they say, after about 600,000 people are killed, that they can work with him?!? My positive view of Israel is being seriously challenged; I’m not so sure anymore if it is a force for the the good and the positive in the world.
Also, I noticed this website didn’t say boo about the Israeli’s giving safe passage to the White Helmets. (One cannot lecture about lying by omission when one is engaging it as well.)
I guess it is impossible to rely on any source to be truthful, objective, unbiased in reporting. It’s impossible. It will always and forever be a case of instigating debates in order to ferret out the WHOLE truth. So be it.
gravenimage says
No, Israel did not start the Syrian civil war. This is a Jihad of Sunnis against Shia and Alawites.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Israel wanted Assad out and has openly stated so for many years. And the US obliged them by backing “rebel groups,” in the well-worn Neocon style to force a regime change. (They are very practiced at it. One count has a dozen regime changes/election interference to the US’s credit so far. Doesn’t that embarrass you as an America? It would me.)
By giving resources and aid to these, otherwise ineffectual rebel groups, a civil insurrection was created and almost succeeded in toppling Assad’s government. This is already part of the historical record. (What? You don’t remember the previous administration’s creation: the Arab Spring?) To say otherwise is a brazen, and perhaps, partisan lie that only a jingo fool would believe.
And even if Israel was not the trigger for all this – it just made a 180 degree policy reversal on a major issue. And that makes it unreliable. Who in the Israeli and US governments is responsible for all of this? I don’t know but I think these people shouldn’t be at the helm. They are embarrassing their nations and causing the unnecessary deaths of a lot people.
BTW, “Alawites” are Shiahs.
gravenimage says
Flavius–with all respect–neither the United States nor Israel started this Jihad. it is part of the larger “Arab Spring”–what a misnomer!–violent Sunni revival in the region. And no–America did not start the “Arab Spring”, either. There were just some naifs here who hoped that since they were toppling dictators that it would lead to democracy and freedom in the region–not realizing that many of the rebels were even worse.
And Assad really is a bad actor–he was behind a lot of Hiz’ballah’s attacks on Israel. They had every reason to regard him negatively. But–as I have noted umpteen times here–groups like ISIS and Al Nusra are likely even more deadly and more of a threat to both Israel and to the surviving native Christian population.
I don’t think this is a flip flop on Israel’s part–just a recognition of changing matters on the ground.
I think of it as being similar to the West’s relationship with Stalin–he was hated and feared–rightly so–yet the Allies allied with him during WWII. This was not because they changed their views of this savage dictator, nor their views of Communism and its dangers, but because Hitler and the Nazis presented an even greater threat.
As for the Alawites, they are indeed an offshoot of Shiism–but mainstream Shi’ites consider them heretics and often murder them. There is only an alliance right now in Syria because Assad himself is Alawite, and because Sunnis are a threat to them both.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
Was Assad implicated/involved in attacks on Israel? Absolutely, because the evidence and the facts support it.
Did the Syrian civil war happen without the instigation/involvement of the US (at the behest of Israel)? No, the evidence and the facts do not support that supposition.
I guess we will have to agree to disagree.
gravenimage says
I guess we will, Flavius. Despite our disagreement here, I very much respect your contributions here, and hope you are well.
Flavius Claudius Iulianus says
I thought about this yesterday and this reversal may have come out of Netanyahu’s most recent sit-down with Putin. It is only my wild speculations but Putin may be giving security guarantees regarding Assad.
FYI:
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Analysis-The-message-in-the-Netanyahu-Putin-meeting-562248
gravenimage says
Flavius, that link shows Netanyahu telling Putin that Syria had an aircraft penetrate Israeli airspace.
I’m not sure how this constitutes either Israeli aggression against Syria or an embrace of Assad. Perhaps I’m missing something?
As for regime change–something you asked me a couple of posts back–I think it depends on the situation. For instance, I don’t believe our acting to get Hitler out of power was actually something to be embarrassed about.
sidney penny says
“Good. Rapidly re-Islamizing Turkey has not been a reliable ally of the United States for some time, and it is foolish to pretend otherwise. This sham alliance, and others as well, should be ended.”
Yes this also applies to another sham alliance with an Islamic hellhole, two faces Pakistan
SO
Pakistan has not been a reliable ally of the United States for some time, and it is foolish to pretend otherwise. This sham alliance, and others as well, should be ended.” Especially if West-hating and India-hating Imran Khan, whose party won last week’s general election.becomes PM.
jack reynolds says
100% AGREE. I have a 40 page report detailing Turkey’s involvement in the Syrian War. They cannot be trusted and should be removed from NATO tomorrow.
Trump and Putin have an agreement on their common problems with Turkey and Erdogan in particular.
And Turkey has yet to admit that murdering 2 million Armenian and Greek Christians (1915-1923) was an act of Genocide. Turkey describes it as an unfortunate accident.
F**K Turkey
infidel says
The less said about this DISGUSTING beast for Erdogan.. the better. Filthy coward who hates non-Muslims and lusts endlessly after their lands and resources without doing any hard work.
Kasch Mir says
Better have loyal and faithful adversaries than such an “ally”, responsible for such barbaric acts as the destruction of Constantinople, the enslavement of the birthplaces of Western civilization (Greece & the Holy Land) for centuries, the Armenian genocide – which they naturally deny since it is jihad-inspired.
At the moment they have resumed their plan to conquer Europe through massive immigration with the complicity of corrupt European leaders. Erdogan has indeed said to these immigrants that they were the future of Europe!
gravenimage says
+1
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Joe ,all of you white mithraist christian ugly monkeys shall be ejected from Americas and evacuated to Europe you came from for relations of the original inhabitants exterminated to stay and you must pay $10 trillions as reparation. wicked scums of evils
gravenimage says
Ibrahim itace muhammed cares nothing for Native Americans, whom he would have just regarded as pagans to be slaughtered.
He is just hoping to gin up unearned guilt in modern Americans so that we will do nothing to defend against Jihad, and just roll over for Muslim conquest.
Susan B says
Ibraham, knows nothing about Native Americans. They are still very much alive and would not be if islam had come to NA. However, Ibraham what about the close to a billion slaughtered by islam and how about all the lands stolen from no muslims????
J D S says
What do we need Turkey for..They are a useless NATO agent…what do they do for America? What products do they supply to America? What do they dell to us…what do we buy from them ????
Shut their door to America….kick their Embassy out and shut our Embassy doors in Turkey…….Those are the “sanctions” that might get their attention….and bring them back into line…. Harsh? maybe but no nation should be able to hold American citizens like they are doing with this man.
Barbara Abraham says
Well said! In fact send all the Turks back do we really need all them Barber shops! And I certainly would not eat there food from Turkish Carry out food shops! As they wipe there back side with there bare hands with out toilet paper ?
gravenimage says
+1
Giacomo Latta says
Why European organizations, political, sporting or anything else, have not kicked out a country whose president has threatened to kill Dutch citizens is totally gobsmacking.