A reminder in all the present confusion that Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a jihadist scoundrel with revanchist caliphate dreams. Turkey is not an ally of the United States, and should not be in NATO.
“Concerns as Turkish Navy surrounds Cyprus,” by Vassilis Nedos, Ekathimerini, October 9, 2019:
Tension mounted in the Eastern Mediterranean on Tuesday as the Turkish Navy practically encircled Cyprus with almost 20 vessels, including frigates and submarines.
Turkey’s move coincided with the imminent launch of operations by the Yavuz drillship within Cyprus’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), while the Barbaros vessel is also conducting seismographic research in the island’s waters.
At the same time, there were no French or American military forces present in the region.
This absence of Western powers with economic interests in the region at a time when Turkey is blatantly violating Cyprus’s EEZ is seen to signify that countries like France and the United States clearly want to avoid a militarization of the crisis in the Eastern Mediterranean, which is something that Ankara obviously wants.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s behavior in the Eastern Mediterranean was at the epicenter of Tuesday’s trilateral summit in Cairo between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt, and was roundly condemned….
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
Trump warns Erdogan, and the Turkey leader doubles down. It’s unbelievable, literally, that Erdogan is regularly described as a moderate of some kind, and certainly not a Jihadist, but here he is flexing Jihadi muscle for Trump to see. Erdogan knows he has false cover and may as well exploit it. His navy has no use along the border with Syria, so he may as well threaten with Cyprus, which oddly was already invaded and Moslemized decades ago. But there are still some Infidels there, so he makes the new threat so as to gain some chits in his poker game with Trump about the Kurds.
It would be best for the U.S. Navy to blow the Turkish Navy out of the water.
gravenimage says
Erdogan is, as you note, *no moderate*.
Robert Weinraub says
His navy should be blown out of the water and Turkey kicked out of Cyprus completely.
A shame says
Agreed, but better with avoiding military intervention in civilian zones. The freeing of Cyprus has to be a peaceful one. Turkish military presence is unacceptable. They’re behaving exactly like Russia. The cold war never ended it just evolved. Sad to see that humanity never learns.
DHazard says
Muslims are always at war. It’s built in to the religion. The division of humanity in two, Dar al Islam and Dar al Harb, means inevitable conflict. The peace that Muslims claim to want is the peace they assume will arise when everybody is Muslim. But, if that situation actually happened (parallel universe?), there would be even more conflict as every Muslim would be in a Muslim of the year contest. Taken to it’s logical end, Muslim Paradise will only have a handful of people (men) who were the absolute best Muslims (highest body count) and way more humanoids than humans.
DHazard says
Islamic tyranny sometimes begins with a democratic election. Erdogan is a fraud with Hitleresque overtones. He is forcing the World to take him seriously. Not Turkey, not Muslims, HIM. His blustering actions all are attempts at projecting power and importance and are, in that way, very Muhammadesque. It’s sort of a temper tantrum that never really ends.
ElderlyZionist says
+1
Lydia Church says
Not a good sign!
Ernie says
The West is weak : Europe is just a lot of talk , and certainly not in for confrontation . Erdogan just threatened Europe to send in a new wave of “refugees “. Europe is intimidated . The U.S.A. just backed off its troops in Syria , neither a show of strength , Israel is surrounded by enemies and probably can’t afford a larger military confrontation with Turkey at this moment , it has other military priorities now , Syria is weak , divided and a mess , Turkey has very good relations with Iran ,top dog in the Middle east at this moment , he is good with The Russians , and China . Saudi Arabia is weak , and involved in an ongoing war with the Houthis in Yemen , Egypt has many internal problems , Jordan has a lot of internal problems also ….. Erdogan is top dog now , exploiting every weakness . He is smart , aggressive and ruthless……….. Live is good for Erdogan…….at this moment that is . He’ll fall ; he’ll go down as most dictators . May that be soon .
Ernie says
Oh yeah , I forgot Lebanon , dominated by Hezbollah=defacto Iran . Qatar ( big sponsor of Islamic State ) has very good relationship with Turkey/Erdogan . ………..Iraq is dominated by Iran…………..The Arab Emirates….Well…, you get the picture……………
mortimer says
The big picture is that Muslim countries are promoting jihad at arm’s length.
Ernie says
Yes Mortimer , that’s happening and very dangerous , but that’s not what I mean . There is something much scarier and bigger happening : Erdogan , the Turkish HITLER is rising , and rising ; with no credible opposition . Erdogans intrusion in Syria and the Turkish fleet surrounding Cyprus remind me of Hitlers first military manoeuvres outside Germany’s borders ( Sudetenland ) . It really reminds me of the rise of HITLER and the establishing of ” Das Dritte Reich “. It scares the hell out of me , because I sea history repeating itself . Only the actors are different .
Ernie says
Sorry , I see history repeating itself………
gravenimage says
The West should not have allowed the Turks to takeover northern Cyprus back in the 1970s.
And Ernie, I agree that our pulling out of Syria has emboldened Erdogan.
carolyne says
I happened to be in Istanbul when Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and took over about half of it. I was scheduled to fly to Rome the next day but the airport was closed to commercial air traffic. Not knowing this I arrived at the airport, had some machine guns pointed at me so went back to the Sheraton to wait it out. In the meantime a group of us who were stranded investigated chartering a bus and surprisingly we were able to find one. So a bunch of us of all nationalities left Istanbul with a lunch packed by the Sheraton. We passed fields of sunflowers here and there with canon concealed among the blooms pointed toward Greece. We arrived in Belgrade after travelling all night with some interesting events which would take to long to relate. After spending the night in Belgrade I was able to get a flight to Rome .I don’t like Turks. They are two faced pseudo barbarians and they are Allowing Erdogan to lead them to disaster.
gravenimage says
Thank you for that troubling account, Carolyne.
SAFI says
This “surrounding” of Cyprus has been going on for the past 6 months (at least.) But Erdogan steadily escalates by sending more ships closer and closer to Cypriot coast after he saw that there’s no serious retaliation by the EU (never mind the joke which is NATO)
Infidel says
Does the US still have nukes in Turkey as a part of NATO?
mortimer says
They had better have nukes in Turkey. The UK is there too.
Jhn1 says
IIRC Prez O ordered disassembled nukes with parts in different buildings under Turkish guards (the rest is an exercise left to the reader).
SAFI says
I remember some rumors about the US wanting to move those to Romania but I believe they’re all still at Incirlik. However Erdogan has repeatedly implied recently that he wants to build some nukes of his own, perhaps with Pakistan’s help. Recently the Russians helped him with building his first nuclear power plant in southern Turkey, and he has plans for at least two more by 2023. Analysts say this is the first step towards developing nuclear weapons which is his end goal.
Jhn1 says
As I recall, P.B.H.O.’s Regime sent over more nukes, and of a lower tech type (easier to defeat Positive Action Lock components) none of the military was asking for in Turkey. Actually as I recall it none of our flag officers in Turkey wanted any nukes in Turkey, but they not only had responsibility for some, they got more. And in exchange for that “affront to Turkish sovereignty”, P.B.H.O. had those nuclear weapons disassembled to prevent sudden use, and placed in separate storage areas (rooms, floors, buildings?, bases??) under Turkish guards to prevent our leaving with them (not without permission of the Devout Muslim Guard Commanders who replaced the Secular Commanders who were variously imprisoned or “shot while trying to overthrow the Government”).
Turkey has studied them as much as they wanted to.
Turkey has stolen as much of the critical or difficult to replicate components as they could get certain flag officers to cover up for them.
I personally doubt the US is ever getting any of it back to be honest, without serious military force and Turkey will retaliate by killing the NATO hostage forces.
gravenimage says
Yes, we do have nukes in Turkey–which has long made me nervous.
Warren Raymond says
Cyprus will show us what #Trump is made of.
If he backs off, Europe will fall.
Stuart DeQuincy says
Trump won’t do anything and if he does it will be for his benefit only and I do mean his not necessarily Americas. WE IN EUROPE NEED. TO WAKE. UP AND START. LOOKING OUT FOR OURSELVES……
morallytainted (@nariedel2) says
Trump tries to do whats best for the USA and hits most of the time.
…but you don’t get the message or is it sinking in? We pulled out 50 troops and Europe did what….
Turkey is part of Europe. Europe needs to deal with it. The USA is not the world police especially if the rest of the world will not pay their tiny share. The USA pays 70% of NATO’s budget and everybody tries to tell us what to do and what is wrong with the morals of the people in this country. The US backed out of Northern Syria because we don’t want to have our military guarding ISIS troops Europe wont take back.
Endrogan is Europe’s problem.
Europe will be lucky if he doesn’t release mass amounts of ISIS prisoners into Europe.
We were there to help.
The US gets into a zone and everybody thinks we should flip the bill and take care of everything.
How hard would it have been to put in 50 Special Forces Troops to replace the ones we pulled out.
The socialist European Union will be over run by Turkey’s jihad in a decade at its current path.
So I suggest Europe Does Something.
I am not an isolationist but if you want Christendom to fall in Europe……..
Lisa says
Turkey is NOT part of Europe. Turkey is part of the Middle East. AND Erdogan is menacing Europe with a big army. Russia is menacing the U.S. and Iran is menacing Israel. WW3 is inevitable because these dicktators cannot allow enemies to exist. And in their nutty minds everyone who does not worship them is an enemy. The Bible tells us that WW3 will come. A leader from the Syria/Iraq/Turkey area will attack Cyprus, Syria, Egypt, and Israel. Many nations will fall. And Damascus will be completely destroyed. He will act like Isis in his treatment of Christians and Jewish people. Anyone who teaches about Jesus will be brutally murdered because the leader will be possessed by Satan. No one will be able to buy or s3ll unless they worship him and take his “mark” on their hand or forehead. The only way out is to not give in to him, even in the face of death, and be baptized into Jesus Christ, who paid the price of Justice with God for our sins. Eventually, God will judge all who have ever lived, and only those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ will be saved for eternal life with God. The rest will have eternal life in a lake of fire. It is no joke. Repent of sin, confess that Jesus is the son of God and be baptized (immersed) in water for the remission of your sins and you will receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit and forgiveness of your sins. Wat til it’s too late and the price is too high. God is Love. But grace and mercy will come to an end and God’s wrath will come on the world. Whose side will you be on? Read a Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) and decide soon.
Gail says
Amen ….what you are saying is 100% truth
gravenimage says
I doubt that Erdogan plans on conquering all of Europe–but this further aggression against Cyprus is *very* disturbing, and unlike last time, the West should act to protect the Cypriots.
Oren Wysocki says
Once again the muslims conquer lands, they relocate millions, they violate the rights of non muslims, they beat, rape, rob and murder whoever defies them or whoever they wish and the Israelis obey the western farce of human rights and moral high ground. While the muslims scream they intend to do the same thing to the Jews of Israel. In G-d I trust.
Adam says
Looks to me like a reckoning. For too long they have sat in their ivory towers while others have done the heavy lifting.
Maybe, just maybe you might actually have to do something, other then put word to paper, in order to be free. Most of these EU countries have been so gutless for so long, that they will just lay down.
The foundation of destruction is being laid in our own hemisphere and we wallow away in the worthless EU and the barbaric Middle East. Two shitholes who for anyone who knows history, deserve each other.
Ernie says
You’re right Adam . The European countries have no real military punching power left due to decades of divestment of their Armies , Navies and Air forces . Their Intelligence- services are not exactly what they should be in the world of today . Europe is long way behind when it comes to investing in credible military deterrence . Nor have the European countries the willpower to confront their enemies . Turkey is an enemy of Europe : it threatens Europe , it extorts Europe , it intimidates Europe , and what happens ? Europe caves in every time . It protests : words , words and words , and that’s all . Europe even doesn’t have the will to protect its own outer-borders in an effective way………so Erdogan uses this weakness again and again to put pressure on Europe….. Erdogan even uses his fifth column , millions of Turks , living in Europe to put pressure on Europe….. Europe isn’t credible anymore…..weak… Action speaks louder than words . Erdogan knows this…. Iran knows this….Russia knows this……… It’s a very dangerous world . Wake up Europe !
SAFI says
+1
Stuart DeQuincy says
Here here
Paul says
Brits have an airbase with full facilities on Cyprus. We also have a history as Cyprus was mandated to us after the collapse of the Turkish empire.
The first stage in a war is to obtain air supremacy so I am concerned Turkey will try something out of the blue. It would be hard but not impossible to regain air supremacy but lives and materiel would be lost.
Erdogan could be doing the Argentine gamble, we’re too far away, we have lost our balls, we will win by Britains default.
I don’t think so.
Paul
Rufolino says
Is Erdogan going to seize Cyprus like Putin seized the Crimea, because he could ?
gravenimage says
It looks like those are his ugly plans.
UNCLE VLADDI says
The feckless libertines in Western Europe and Britain need to live under a real tyrant’s thumb for a few decades to wake up like Eastern Europe had to after being forced into slavery by the communists.
Dajjal says
Islamic tyranny is not limited to a few decades. Several centuries. #CHUMP made a wonder blunder without considering the consequences. When you announce that you do not want war, you invite it. The green light in Syria shines throughout the Mediterranean region.
infidel says
This vile piece of a garbage of a country with an appropriate name TURKEY (thank God they are not called Eagles) is / was / and will always be a war mongering Islamic thug of a nation intent on destroying the non Muslim world. The sooner the USA destroys this country, the better.
Chand says
The USA start a war against Turkey?
Pipe dreams……………………………
gravenimage says
I see that Chand here is pretending that there is nothing aggressive in what Turkey is doing here–but that if anyone comes to Cyrpus’s aid that it is starting a war. *Ugh*.
Angemon says
Indeed. And, as with Hitler before, Turkey will push and push until they find resistance.
Ernie says
“And , as with Hitler before ,Turkey will push and push until they find resistance .” Yes Angemon , that’s to be expected ; you understand the situation very well .
gravenimage says
+1
Gail says
I have read all these comments on here and I would like to ask advice from anyone who agrees with all that has been said on this thread.
My Coptic Christian fiance arrived in cyprus over 2 weeks ago to relocate from Egypt for his safety and in the hope of applying for a visa to join me in the UK.
He is working for a fishery company in cyprus and knows about the impending threat from Turkey.
Should I tell him to abandon cyprus and return to Egypt?
Your input would be appreciated thanks you.
Jhn1 says
Which part is he living/working in; British, Greek or Turkish held area?
Is he known to be a Christian by his neighbors?
Can he afford to get good fake I.D. identifying him as Muslim?
Is his job skilled, or “unskilled” labor (maybe he could get another job in a safer area)?
Gail says
He is living in Pathos doing unskilled work…be is a lawyer in Egypt but left using cyprus as a stepping stone to UK… I am so worried that Turkey may once again invaid Cyprus and as a christian he will be in danger.
gravenimage says
It’s so hard to know, Gail–the situation is fluid. Right now, though, I think he is better out of Egypt, even if we don’t know what will happen in Cyprus. I hope he is safe.
gravenimage says
Turkish Navy surrounds Cyprus
………………..
Erdogan is feeling emboldened.
GreekEmpress says
Gail,
I totally understand your concerns. I have family members in Limassol and am very worried about their safety. Erdogan is a loose cannon.
gravenimage says
I hope they stay safe, GreekEmpress. Very disturbing.
GreekEmpress says
Thanks,GI!
AP says
Tell pope francis to go kiss Erdogan’s ass and maybe he will play nice.