Russia and Greece, as well as the US, France, and others, have stated their opposition to Hagia Sophia becoming a mosque. That Erdogan would move ahead with this anyway shows that he is not worried about antagonizing either friend (Russia and ostensibly the US) or foe (Greece). He appears to be much more concerned to position himself as the defender and protector of Islam, which is in line with his frequently-noted aspiration to restore the Ottoman caliphate. Hagia Sophia as a mosque was a key symbol of the triumph and supremacy of the caliphate. Erdogan clearly wants it to be again.
Many years ago, when I first began sounding the alarm about Islamic jihad, many analysts at all points on the political spectrum waved me away by pointing to secular Turkey as the future of the Islamic world. No one does that anymore.
“Turkish president Erdogan signs decree turning Istanbul’s Hagia Sofia into a mosque after court ruling,” RT, July 10, 2020:
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signed a decree opening the world-famous Hagia Sophia as a mosque, after a court ruled that its conversion to a museum in the 1930s was unlawful.
The court ruled on Friday that the 1934 decree converting the ancient Byzantine cathedral into a museum was not lawful. Immediately after the ruling, Erdogan shared a copy of a decree on Twitter, mandating that the site be turned over to the country’s religious directorate and reopened for worship.
Dating back to the 6th century, the Hagia Sophia is one of the most visited cultural sites in Turkey, as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
UNESCO has expressed concern over Erdogan’s vision for the historic structure, noting in a statement on Friday that the building has a “strong symbolic and universal value.”…
Political Oracle says
Is this a violation of the ICCPR? Someone better reference the covenant because I think Turkey is a party to the covenant!
mortimer says
Russia, the EU and all other Western countries should declare sanctions. Ideally, the EU and Russia should invade European Turkey and kick Turkey out of Europe forever.
This should have been done at the end of WWI.
skip says
There is a secret Fatima prediction/revelation that a devoutly re-Christianized Russia will save Europe from Islam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjkuti_HmFU&feature=emb_logo
Herb Allen says
Those Russian generals look like they are not to be messed with. Sure hope they’re on our side when the time comes.
Russian Orthodoxy is not very tolerant of other Christian denominations, though.
Vladimir says
When you feel you have the Truth, you are tolerant of erring persons outside the faith, not for their errors that they believe in. All you can do is show what you believe and why you believe it, and hope and pray that those in error come into that same unity in charity and truth. And those Russian generals? Most of them are combat veterans, and were raised from childhood to love their country and remember the sacrifices of their fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers to defend their Land and People. Are they terrible? Yes, they are hard men, because they have no illusions. They can’t afford them.
gravenimage says
skip, Russia regularly appeases Islam. Under Putin, Russia has gotten much closer to Turkey, and there are not even visa requirements between the two countries any more.
As for the Fatima predictions, these date to the founding of the Soviet Union in 1917, and claim that Russia will be converted to Catholicism. I actually see no sign of that happening.
Vladimir says
Russia doesn’t appease Islam, but they understand that they have many ethnic Muslims in Russia (like Tatars, Chechens, etc…) and they have to be dealt with with a firm but fair hand. Russians visit Turkey for the climate and to visit the ruins of the Orthodox churches. Now Fatima? That is a Satanic deception on a massive scale, and Russia will never be converted to Catholicism.
curious george says
gravenimage says.
Russia regularly appeases Islam. Under Putin, Russia has gotten much closer to Turkey, and there are not even visa requirements between the two countries any more.
……………………………………………
In the movie The Godfather, Michael Corleone says, “There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.”
Maybe, Putin is doing exactly that: “Keeping his friends close but his enemies closer.”
gravenimage says
Vladimir, how is allowing Kadyrov to persecute Christians and other non-Muslims and women on Russian soil *not* appeasement? How is playing footsie with Turkey not appeasement? Then, Putin appeared with Erdogan and Abbas when dedicating the largest Mosque in Europe for Muslims in Moscow itself. Then there is Russia’s enabling a nuclear Iran. How is *any* of this “firm but fair”?
Of course, the West does its own share of appeasing Islam–I don’t consider this a good thing no matter what part of Dar-al-Harb is doing this.
And I never said that Russia was going to convert to Catholicism, nor that they necessarily should–I was replying rather skeptically to skip’s post.
gravenimage says
curious george, Russia is keeping Muslims “closer” in much the same way that Western Europe is–its not helping.
“How Islam Will Change Russia”
“Russia is becoming increasingly a Muslim country…”
https://jamestown.org/program/marlene-laruelle-how-islam-will-change-russia/
black adder says
Ηave you read your president’s statement? Erdogan must still be shivering with fear…
curious george says
gravenimage,
Thank you for the link, it has helped answer some questions that I have, but not all. I was hesitant to post any links on this subject due to disparate views on the subject of Muslims in Russia and the surrounding countries.
I’m still ambivalent about “Russia is keeping Muslims “closer” in much the same way that Western Europe is–its not helping.”
Putin is no ordinary politician, he served in the KGB and FSB for over 15 years. Leaders in Europe, like Emmanuel Macron are boy scouts compared to Putin. He is a skilled operative, a master of dis-information and manipulation. He plays chess while his counterparts are playing checkers.
The signs seem to be pointing to a continued strengthening of the alliance between Russia and Turkey. This does not bode well for future events in the Middle East. That area could be the spark that ignites WWIII.
Churchill once said, “Russia is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma,” and that hasn’t changed since Churchill’s time.
gravenimage says
You could be right, curious george–but if Putin has some grand scheme for thwarting Muslim supremacy, he is keeping very quiet about it…
curious george says
skips says
There is a secret Fatima prediction/revelation that a devoutly re-Christianized Russia will save Europe from Islam
………………………………………………
Nice thought. Unfortunately, it’s just another myth.
P. Panduke Abeynayake says
Yes. Vladimir Putin, The Last Frontier, who’ll turn around the Dynamics.
Brian Hoff says
Stalin appease Hitler to. Stalin knew it he invade Germany occt polland when the Soviet Military was not to the trask.
Ecosse1314 says
Totally unintelligible. Are you fluent in gibberish??
gravenimage says
It’s the only language “Brian Hoff” is fluent in…
gravenimage says
Wait–the best “Brian Hoff” can do is point to Stalin as a good role model? *Ugh*.
mortimer says
It’s time for politicians worldwide to stop playing footsy with Islam and EDUCATE THEMSELVES about JIHADIC TERRORISM.
Message to European politicians: “STOP KIDDING YOURSELVES! Islam is NOT our friend. Islam is an aggressive, predatory death cult that cherishes ill-will towards all non-Muslims.”
mortimer says
The actual ‘STRONG SYMBOLIC VALUE’ that Erdogan refers to is ISLAMIST SUPREMACY OVER EUROPEANS. That is what Erdogan is promoting.
Don’t they know? Can’t they interpret Erdogan’s words?
gravenimage says
So true.
JMB says
In many respects this is almost as bad as the continued presence of the Mosques on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It certainly is symbolic of the dominance and ever increasing worldwide influence and power of Islam. As for Erdogan, he seems to be systematically destroying all of the reforms and modernisation of Turkey instituted by Ataturk the father of modern Turkey. But the tourists will still flock to Turkey to enjoy the sun and look at the sights quite oblivious to what is really going on there.
Martin says
JULY 10 2020 – ISTANBUL – HAGIA SOPHIA -allahu ackbar!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WODNct6m5uY
Martin says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRD_d7Hd6y0
gravenimage says
**Ugh**.
Martin says
FİRST CALL TO PRAYER FROM HAGİA SOPHİA SİNCE 1934
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G4Bi17kRUo
mortimer says
Sieg Heil … Islamic style. Soon they will march.
Martin says
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3A9-8vZepQ
Martin says
Scores of Muslim believers prayed outside the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul on Friday
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr0U6-oD3fs
Martin says
Hundreds gather for night time prayer near Hagia Sophia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duDVxbjApmc
Political Oracle says
Someone should get the Pope on the phone so he can mansplain to Erdogan that Turkey is party to the ICCPR. Erdogan’s stealthy encroachment has gone too far!
GreekEmpress says
He probably thinks letting the Hagia Sofia be turned into a mosque will be a good show of faith regarding interfaith dialogue!
Prince Eugene says
I posit that Mansplain requires the explainer to be a man.
Further, the term Byzantine Empire was invented in 1557, over a century after the fall of Constantinople by German historian Hieronymus Wolf to introduce Eastern Roman historiography in his work Corpus Historiae Byzantinae to distinguish ancient Roman history from medieval Greek history. Wolf was influenced by the rift caused by the 9th century dispute between Hellene Romans and the Franks of Charlemagne’s new empire in concert with the Pope in attempt to legitimize their conquests by claiming inheritance of Roman rights in Italy thereby renouncing the Eastern Roman Empire as truly Roman as Constantine intended.
Vladimir says
+1 for historical truth, thank you
Reziac says
Regardless of what it’s called, it’s long past time to take back Constantinople.
Charlie in NY says
Perhaps Israel – as befits a secular government- should now declare the entire Temple Mount a joint museum and religious area, open to all, while creating designated prayer spaces for anyone so inclined while those not quietly and respectfully maneuvered around to take in the sites. You know, little different than the Vatican or any great cathedral in the West.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
The Germans need to close down the Islamic hate center Frau Merkel so publically celebrated at its opening with the facist bastard Erdogan present. Like the Marxist black lives matter movement, everywhere they go, the culture and history is exterminated.
Nan says
I want my basilica back.
GreekEmpress says
Me too, Nan!
Vladimir says
I too. Perhaps someday the Christian people will get it back, God willing.
gravenimage says
I don’t think there’s any way while Turkey remains a Muslim country that this is going to happen. This great cathedral remaining a museum was the best we could hope for–but we knew that under Erdogan that even this was unlikely. Turkey is getting *worse*, not better.
Vladimir says
Indeed; ”while Turkey remains a Muslim country”.
gravenimage says
Vladimir, Turkey is now over 98% Muslim. Even with a few leaving that ugly creed, I sadly don’t see this becoming a Christian nation again any time soon. I wish I did.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
+1 Mortimer.
OTTER says
You know what will be net effect of this action?
Basically, Nothing.
EU will issue its ‘regrets’ or some such weak word.
The MSM will continue to say that it will not affect the tourists as the mosque is only one part of the structure and continue to assert that bringing attention to it will ‘feed Islamophobia’
The feminists will say nothing
The strongest reaction might come from Saudi Arabia who will see it as a part of Ottoman expansionism.
Let’ see but the battle against Islam is lost. No one will stand up against it.
James Lincoln says
OTTER,
And the pope will send a construction crew from the Vatican to help assemble the minarets…
GreekEmpress says
And congratulate him on the latest step toward Christian-Islamic interfaith relations!
gravenimage says
James, minarets were already added to Hagia Sophia when the Cathedral was first seized and turned into a Mosque:
http://shorturl.at/rNR16
James Lincoln says
Thanks for the info, gravenimage.
gravenimage says
Sad but true.
rochell leighwood says
turkey still depends upon free money from the usa. cut off the money and they will listen. money talks.
gravenimage says
We *should* cut them off.
Frank Anderson says
Treaties can be rejected. That has been the case as long as treaties have been made. Mo made a number of treaties and promises, some of which were rejected literally before the ink could dry.
The question I think to be most important is what counts? There is a brilliant parable in the New Testament about the night spend under a bridge, where in the morning one of the disciples found his coat to be stolen while he slept. He was directed to go and find the person who stole it, and give him his cloak. At that time men had 3 basic items of clothing, the coat, cloak and loincloth (underwear). I think the wisdom of that teaching is worthy of thought here. What is more important, a small piece of real estate and an old building surrounded by evil and dangerous people, or the dangerous people who aspire to killing or enslaving the world?
CogitoErgoSum says
Frank, I know Jesus said that if someone takes your shirt, give him your cloak also but there has to be a point where enough is enough. If someone takes something from you it seems ludicrous to say, “Thank you, please take more and, if you like, take everything I have.” That is just encouraging theft and more evil in the person stealing from you. So okay, I will give a man my shirt and maybe even my coat but I’ll be damned if I give him my pants too and be left standing naked while he goes off to rob someone else. That’s just what Erdogan is – and his religion is a religion of thieves (and worse).
CogitoErgoSum says
Furthermore, in my opinion those words from Jesus about giving not only your shirt but your cloak means that if someone is in actual need of something do not be selfish; share all that you do not need with others. I would say those who are not satisfied with what you give them and try to make you feel guilty for not giving them more are just being selfish themselves – and greedy too. The Muslims are never satisfied until they have taken everything from you and have you kissing their feet for doing it. That is evil.
Frank Anderson says
CES, I agree fully that in the first look, the statement is ludicrous. I think a second look shows why it is not. What is more important? In the case of the garments, or the disturbance of the peace of mind? In this case what is more important, an old building in the middle of hideously dangerous people, who have murdered between 250 and 1000 MILLION people, and aspire to murder more; or preventing them from achieving their goals? In spite of my belief that we are all truly Children of God who each has the choice of accepting that fatherhood or not, I regard the wisdom associated with Jesus as sound and worthy of my following.
I have studied WWII and its history for most of my life because I see many worthy examples of clearly illustrated decisions, many of them bad and counterproductive to the goals of the people making them. I try to look as an academically detached observer, in spite of my gratitude for the defeat of Nazi Germany and my regret that Communism was not defeated at the same time.
One example of what may be a bad decision, among many others, was bailing Mussolini out when he attacked in Albania, drawing Germany into Yugoslavia and Greece, delaying the attack on Russia. Another example was diverting resources from both the Leningrad and Moscow drives to Kiev. To me, the important objectives were defeated for a minor sideshow.
The basilica is not that important to people who cannot use it in peace and safety. What is important is stopping the spread of a criminal conspiracy pretending to be a religion and confusing easily confused people into allowing it to continue its 1400 year campaign to convert, enslave or kill the world.
Contrary to the lie we were told by GWB within days of 9/11 Islam is not the religion of peace, it is the criminal conspiracy of war, death, conquest and slavery. In the nearly 19 years since, GWB has never corrected his statement. So why worry about small change when the world is burning from evil?
SAFI says
So in our efforts to stop the spread the spread of Islam, we shouldn’t insist on pointing out how this is a religion of rapacious thieves, who like nothing more than dispossessing people of other faiths and usurping their holy places and temples, is what you say? I’m having some trouble understanding where you getting at..
Frank Anderson says
S., you ask an entirely fair question. The decision that I wish to support is whether scarce resources should be spread to the point that no goal is accomplished, or focused on achieving important goals. I think Jews and Christians lose sight of what is important when tying their faith to things rather than ideas. Jews rightfully and fairly claim the importance of the Holy Land. BUT that ties them to a piece of contested ground that can easily end in their death. Romans tried to destroy Judaism by scattering Jews and occupying Israel, not to mention murdering more or less 2 million Jews in 3 wars (Jews, God and History, Rabbi Max Dimont). Then, Jews had to end the system of Priests and Temple sacrifices for Rabbis and prayer. In spite of the best efforts of many different people who wish them not just ill, but total extermination, they survive and prosper, continuing the promise made 9 times to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, “I will make of you a great nation and a blessing to all other nations.”.
Christians who worship things instead of ideas also tie themselves to anchors, leading to loss of time and resources needed to make the journeys to stop a foe that lives to conquer and kill. Sacrificing Hagia Sophia could be necessary for the time being to drive home the evil of islam, quite like the sacrifice of Israel 2000 years ago. Six million Jews did their part sacrificing their lives in wasting German resources helping end Nazi evil. What if the Germans had cared for them, and employed them in the war effort instead of wasting resources killing them. What if the millions of Russian POW’s had been treated well and employed, not used, growing food, making parts, given a chance to survive, instead of being starved and murdered.
Basic economics deals with the issue of unlimited wants fighting over limited resources. Every want cannot be satisfied by limited resource. “No matter how much you torture me, two plus two equals four.” George Orwell, 1984. We can waste resources along the way with every fight we are offered. Or we can see the ambitions of a greedy and cowardly enemy to conquer and rule the world. What good is a building surrounded by hatred, and protected by worthless UN declarations?
gravenimage says
Frank–with the greatest respect–I don’t think that Christians and other non-Muslims who see turning Hagia Sophia into a Mosque as a bad thing are “worshipping” this building, no matter how great it is.
Remember that when Muslims first turned this great Cathedral into a Mosque, when they invaded in 1453–that they *hardly* just took over the building. Instead, they enslaved, raped, and slaughtered everyone who had taken refuge there–as well as many others in the rest of the city.
And the Muslims conquerors then imposed Jizya and took Christian boys to use as slave soldiers–often using them against their own families–and used Christian girls as sex slaves. Then, after they were pressured by the West to end this system, they slaughtered most of the surviving Christians there during the Armenian Genocide.
The idea that they just took this building is *not* the case.
I don’t think that pointing any of this out somehow weakens our stance against the horrors of Islam. If this was *all* that Robert Spencer was doing, then this criticism might make sense. But he does far more than this.
Frank Anderson says
Telling the gory truth is never a waste. Cutting off Turkey from aid and comfort in achieving the ambitions of imposing islam is not a waste. Why would Israel have any interest other than promoting memory of the evil of the death camps, would they spend effort to preserve them. Hagia Sofia indeed represents every form of islamic abuse and horror that is still the goal today. Hollow complaints and protests do nothing but demonstrate that we are powerless to change the direction of conquest. The very idea that Turkey is in NATO, and sharing secrets with other members while at the same time supporting the conquest of those same members is beyond absurd.
I see the problem as having a forest fire, but confining the water hoses to only one tree.
gravenimage says
Frank, comparing the Church that was Christendom’s greatest Cathedral for over a thousand years to the grim death camps, which *never* represented anything good, is much mistaken. Even as vandalized and neglected as Hagia Sophia has been, it is still one of the great treasures of mankind in general and of the Christian world in particular. Have you ever looked at pictures of this great masterwork–its architecture, its mosaics? (By the way, some of the death camps *have* been preserved as a cautionary tale, such as large parts of Auschwitz, but let’s leave that aside for now).
And–again–noting what is happening here *does not* mean that Jihad Watch is doing nothing but focus on this one issue. There are eleven new articles on Jihad Watch today, and just two are about Hagia Sophia.
But I very much agree that telling the truth is never a waste, Frank–and that we should cut off aid to Turkey and kick them out of NATO–and this was true long before this latest outrage. Turkey is no ally of ours.
Frank Anderson says
GI, I am getting to the age where I see that time and resources are getting short. That condition makes it necessary to work on what needs to be done instead of everything that ought to be done. Victory is possible against a 1400 year war of conquest only by concentrating on victory. If the Germans had concentrated on winning the war against Russia by sticking to its initial plan, Barbarossa, by not diverting resources that arrived too late to help around Kiev, they would have taken Leningrad and Moscow before the massive defenses were built. The siege of Leningrad tied up a million Germans for 900 days, and all the resources involved. Think about the difference that resource could have made. But the Germans were busy fighting unarmed people with their Einsatzgruppen instead of fighting the Red Army. They were seeking war booty and prisoners at Kiev instead of going to Moscow and Leningrad. Thank God for their poor judgment. But we can learn if we will.
Think about the difference between what can be replaced and what can’t. We both admire in our personal way the life of Jesus and his teaching. We dream of his return. But it is not likely to happen in our lifetimes. Notre Dame has been damaged. The news reports indicate it will take 4 years and billions/milliards of dollars to repair it. All the money in the world cannot replace Jesus, however we understand him. No matter what is done, Hagia Sophia can be rebuilt if necessary. Perhaps in a place where it is not required to risk life, limb and freedom to visit. (Stubborn person that I am, I would have rebuilt the Twin Towers, with any changes for better safety, right where they stood before 9/11.)
Israel was gone as a Jewish country for most of 1948 years, But now, it lives again, Judaism survived by concentrating on the wisdom and scholarship of its teachings instead of destroying itself fighting for land. I think there is something worth learning through that experience, some call the Diaspora or “scattering”. We are watching the steady failure and conquest of free society. To stop that we need to think of accomplishing the goal of victory, avoiding every possible distraction to keep moving toward the goal. Islam has been working by its “final, perfect, complete, unchangeable” plan for 1400 years. It has killed hundreds of millions and enslaved thousands of millions over that time, and will never be appeased or satisfied until all “convert, submit to slavery, or die.”
A description I used often in explaining my clients’ plight of being surrounded by debt was asking them to imagine being trapped in a field surrounded by burning tall dry grass, with one single water hose. If they directed the water in only one direction, they would get burned from the other directions. Every distraction that prevents directing the limited water to all directions will lead to our future’s destruction at the hands of evil savages. Should we let the forest burn to protect a tree?
Absolutely the tree should not be lost in silence. But it can be used as a teaching device to motivate a few more people to join in the fight that so many are leaving to give aid and comfort to those who will kill or enslave us.
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir Frank,
Hagia Sophia was built by the Greeks https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia. Now, the Greeks and the orthodox world feel certainly insulted and it is to be feared that Erdogan continues along this path. This is a concern because he wants to rebuild the Ottoman Empire. Russia, EU and the Arabic world will never accept a Turkish hegemony in the Middle East and Europe.
And we are afraid this situation deteriorates to the point that an armed conflict breaks out between Greeks and Turks. Keep Cyprus in mind.
Peace upon you and USA.
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, always, peace and best wishes to you. There is no way to avoid conflict with a group that exists for war and conquest. The question I see is what will bring the conflict to a conclusion. What will trigger the release of the built up tension, like an earthquake releases built up tension between tectonic plates.
Look at the start of WWI, the death of a man and his wife triggered a disaster that continues to affect all of Europe to this day. I hope I have explained enough in my other comments on this article to show I accept there is a fight coming. I have rarely been afraid of a fight. One time, I was afraid, doing everything I could to avoid a life and death fight with corruption because I did not have the skill and experience to be confident I had a chance; and no help came to my assistance. Corruption continued to follow me, trying with every available resource to destroy me, as it had a number of others who resisted. Finally I ran out of places to run. My family abandoned me. I had nothing left to lose. So I fought. I did not fight for a small objective. I fought to destroy and expose the corruption that destroyed my life. I succeeded.
I do not dismiss or disrespect the value of Hagia Sofia any more than I dismiss the value of Israel to Jews. I respect their commitment even though I would make my commitment to a greater, more expansive goal. There is no reasonable prospect of HS to be a secure place for Christians and other non-muslims to enjoy while it is surrounded and controlled by evil. Could Paris be Paris while Nazis occupied and controlled the rest of France? So I suggest the correct objective in that hypothetical is to take France back from the Nazis to enjoy Paris, which I hear is a really nice place for some.
There are times when history must be remembered, but treated as what accountants call “sunk costs” when involved in a decision. I share the disgust and outrage at the conversion from Christian Church to moslem mosque; but the fact was accomplished in 1453, not 2020. Since then any moderation is part of the standard practice of deception taught and practiced for 1400 years. There is no such thing as moderate islam. There are either muslims or former muslims. Former muslims deserve all the support, encouragement and protection that can be given for their courage and insight. Frank
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonjour Frank,
In fact the Greeks want Hagia Sophia and … Constantinople back. They’ve built the basilica and the city.
Although Turks and Arabs are both Muslim, the laters remember the manner they have been treated by their oppressors. The Arabs don’t want to see a resurgence of the Ottoman Empire.
Many Turks directly descend from Greeks Armenians Kurds, and there is not an absolute proof Erdogan has the mean of his ambitions. In addition he is widely challenged at home. There are many Turkish free thinkers or converted to a different religion who do not recognize themselves within the current fundamentalist Turkey.
It seems Erdogan has succeed in pitting against himself the West, Russia, Arabic nations and large numbers of his own people!
For better days
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Hello Kevin,
One of the best sources of inspiration and encouragement I received in accounting school (my third trip to college) was from a wonderful professor of Turkish background. He is responsible for asking me to write a paper on whistleblowing that became the foundation of my war to deal with corruption. He and other professors critiqued what became 2 papers on how to report crime without being destroyed, and what to do if the anonymity is not obtained (as in my case) or is breached, with war in the legal system to be fought. The first paper was eventually published by the Securities Exchange Commission when it proposed to require corporate lawyers to report openly corporate criminal or fraudulent conduct. The second was published by a small journal of employee rights. I hope my paper had some influence in the adopted SEC rule authorizing private reports with some chance of protecting the lawyer making it from certain professional destruction.
With greatest courtesy to you, I am concerned your prediction may be a Viktor Frankl “delusion of reprieve”. Erdogan probably staged a false coup in order to prevent a real coup. He is firmly in power and is making nice with enemies, not just worthy opponents, but sworn enemies, of Europe and Christianity. He is certainly no friend of Israel or Jews. He is currently 66 years old, and has to be aware of his limits on time and opportunity. This is a man filled with hate and ambition with just enough influence and power to put his goals into action. Like Hitler, what people who object or resist can do is in my opinion either limited or non-existent.
Think of the avalanche that started WWI. A Serbian assassin kills the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary. Austria attacks Serbia, Russia attacks Austria. Germany joins Austria. France joins Russia, and so on. Here Turkey attacks Greece, or provokes Greece, or fakes a Greek attack as Hitler faked a Polish attack at Gleiwitz, and we are off to World War again. There are some things that may be delayed. There are some things that cannot be stopped. Islam has never been permanently prevented from following its goal of conquest. Can any reason be found today that 1400 years of history would not be continued?
Always with friendship, courtesy and respect. Frank,
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir Frank,
Erdogan cannot be compared to Hitler and Turkey cannot be compared to Germany relative to the 1930s. The Turks do what they want at home, but their president is in a complicated situation. He has to accommodate the justice and development parti and he cannot get to grips with the Greeks and the laters refuse to move from their position: in fact Constantinople is a Greek city and Hagia Sophia belongs to the Orthodox Church.
Constantinople is the centre of the orthodox world as Rome is for the Catholic world.
As far I am concerned there is a hight chance that Russians agree with the Greeks and both of them want to hear orthodox chants in Hagia Sophia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1aUZcHaJb4. Therefore I am worried about a chain reaction. The Russians are slow to react but their reaction is unpredictable. EU will never accept a direct or indirect attack upon Greece and the US will not longer look on passively. It is possible that the Armenians, Greeks, Kurds living in Turkey and the Turkish opposition take advantage of the situation to destabilize the whole region even more than it already is at present.
I always learn something when I read your commentaries,
For better days.
Toute mon amitié
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, I have learned that there are patterns of behavior from which other behavior can be inferred and suggested. I have observed many times that while people are different, they often do similar if not the same things. Hitler’s love of islam especially, along with Himmler, the “Grand Mufti”, should be remembered. Islam teaches and practices conquest. Isalm teaches indifference to sub-human worthless inflidels, who are only good for slavery or death. Hitler had his same idea for his sub-humans, of which we are included.
According to my test results I might or might not pass for Aryan depending on what Nazi was reading the results. Or if I towed the party line I might be Aryanized like several major Nazi figures. But to muslims, nothing would make me a free person who is worth considering for a free life. Under their rules, I have the choice of “Convert, Submit to humiliation and slavery, or Die.”
Erdogan has limited time because of his age to pursue his goal of leading the next Ottoman Caliphate. He has developed his plan and continues step by step to carry it out before he can’t. How many people has he killed in his own country following the “attempted coup”? I predict that led to a Night of the Long Knives that would make the original that started June 30, 1934, look paltry. Death lists for inconvenient people were not originated or limited in Germany. They are everywhere tyrants are in control; and Erdogan is a tyrant. He is a tyrant with ambitions, power and the industrial resources to use it as he wishes. I have seen a number of excellent Turkish industrial products. All he needs is to attract more people who are willing to join the jihad, which he will by making the correct moves. The “re-conquest” of Hagia Sophia is just such an inspiring move, like the retaking of the Ruhr by Germany. We are dealing with a common thread of inspiring and motivating people to follow a tyrant. The tyrants are different people, but the psychology of the masses they wish to control is much the same, if not identical.
Hitler made his correct moves by slowly escaping the Treaty of Versailles. He put his thumb in French and Belgian eyes by taking back territory they took from Germany. He built a military power structure and defied your country into inaction until he chose the time, place and method of attacking and conquering France. What is different here? We have a pacifist EU that is determined to destroy itself in favor of a muslim invasion. We have a Russia more concerned with continuing internal corruption and frustrating the West than with opposing its takeover by islam. Greece may find itself flapping in the wind like Czechoslovakia after Munich. And once Erdogan’s conquests start, there will never be enough. Hitler had all of Europe subject to his control, Britain fighting for its existence and surviving only because Hitler felt mindless ambiguity in wishing to ally with them instead of conquering them. What if operation Sea Lion had been carried out. What if the Blitz had focused on air defenses, industrial targets and radar installations instead of useless destruction of cities.
Churchill in his book in 10 volumes on WWII admits if the Blitz had continued and been better directed the Germans would have won. We cannot allow Erdogan to learn from these lessons while we ignore them.
I wish you and France well. I have not forgotten the vital role performed by France in making the United States possible. Frank
gravenimage says
Thank you for your last reply, Frank.
Certainly, Erdogan himself considers taking Hagia Sophia as a Mosque to be highly symbolic of very real reconquest of the West:
“Erdogan: “Resurrection of Hagia Sophia” heralds “return of freedom to al-Aqsa,” revival of Islam Uzbekistan to Spain”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/07/erdogan-resurrection-of-hagia-sophia-heralds-return-of-freedom-to-al-aqsa-revival-of-islam-uzbekistan-to-spain
It will also make life even more difficult for the minority of Christians still surviving in Turkey:
“Turkey: MP says ‘Decision to convert Hagia Sophia to mosque will make life more difficult for Christians here’”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2020/07/turkey-mp-says-decision-to-convert-hagia-sophia-to-mosque-will-make-life-more-difficult-for-christians-here
You may decide not to spend any more energy on this issue, and I respect that. Personally, though, I do think that this is quite important.
Frank Anderson says
GI, I just completed a long note to Kevin. My birth and adopted families were Christian. I have many friends of many faiths, who live under the threat of slavery and murder if we allow the 1400 years of conquest to continue. It is hardly safe to be Christian or Jewish in the US with the present alliance attacking freedom at every opportunity. It is only a matter of degree to see what life is like now for non-muslims living in muslim tyranny.
Frank Anderson says
GI I DO THINK THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT. The response is more important than the property. That is why I keep writing about loss of focus on the force aiming to conquer, enslave and kill the world. In the total scheme of things what is most important, life/liberty/freedom or property?
I was forced by corruption to lose literally everything I had, except my law licenses, an old worn out car and life itself. They intended to drive me to death. I am still here 40 years later. Rome wanted to destroy Judaism, because they had to fight Jews 3 times instead of their normal pattern of a single war of conquest. Jews had to accept for nearly 2000 years the loss of Israel in order to continue their 3700 years of existence. Of all the civilizations that have risen and fallen in that time Judaism is unique because it was able at least twice to recover from total destruction and conquest. They continue because most of them know what is important and how little depends on things.
You must know that I resist self-destruction and self-defeat, just as I encourage others to do for themselves. In all my work, all my experience, and that of all the people I know, choices must be made how to deal with evil. What will make it end, and what will waste resources allowing it to continue. Appeasement was demonstrated clearly as a total failure in Munich. The lie “There will be peace in our time” lasted about a year. The unrepented lie, “Religion of Peace” continues today.
Hagia Sofia was TAKEN about 550 years ago by muslims. They have played games of lies, confusion and deceit with Christians ever since. For once Christians are seeing the truth, if they will. I have mentioned several times my appreciation that both my adopted and birth families told the truth about their desire for me to move on. That freed me from any burden of future dealing and points me toward far better companions in life. Now we should see Erdogan’s truth in his hatred and disdain, true to the teachings of islam, for all non-muslims.
gravenimage says
Frank, I know how personally brave and principled you are.
We can certainly disagree somewhat on tactics here without disagreeing on ultimate goals.
Frank Anderson says
GI, I cannot image that we could have different goals. I want us and our future to win.
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir Frank,
The Turks are a Mediterranean people and Erdogan has not hitler’s or even Mussolini s’authority. Contrary to Hitler when he came to power in Germany, Erdogan is not supported by an overwhelming majority of his own people.
Mediterraneans are not disciplined, and they spent years (at least 5000 years) to try to get along without never reaching an agreement with one exception: the Roman Empire. We kept quiet because otherwise we were risking a lot.
I am afraid the Greeks will not change their mind and many “Turks” have Greek, Armenian roots starting (most certainly) by Erdogan himself.
The Russians are the inheritors of the byzantin empire. We are the sons of Rome, Russians are the sons of Constantinople. I have already said it, they are long to react but they are unpredictable and very … proud.
To you the courage and stay safe
Salut à toi gravenimage,
A significant minority of Turks are Alevis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alevism, and for obvious reasons the Turkish free thinkers or the Turks converted to orthodoxy cannot mention it out loud.
Peace upon you and USA
Amitiés à vous tous
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, I think you are in error regarding Hitler’s support. The most he ever received in arguably free votes gave him just over 200 votes in the Reichstag out of not quite 600. It was only because of Alfred Hugenberg and the Nationalist Party, along with the Communist Party that he controlled the majority until he crushed the Communists after the Reichstag fire. Somewhere in the order of 10 percent of Germans were devout Nazis, as is true about Communist control in any country. Erdogan needs only to cow the population that he cannot inspire to do what he wishes.
Please remember my suggestion to read the 200 pages of the 1000 page Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. That section starts at the end of WWI and goes to Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor on January 30, 1933. Before that date many elections were held, to the point of almost bankrupting the Nazi party from the expenses. But, they were largely “free and fair” compared to later votes in the section that follows describing the time to the invasion of Poland and start of WWII.
A small, violent, deadly minority will control a weak, passive majority with no trouble at all. If islam does not qualify as violent and deadly, what does?
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonjour Frank,
In France, we are always amazed how Germans can be disciplined. Of course they knew Hitler did not want a peaceful coexistence with us and with the … rest of the world but that he wanted war as a revenge for the Treaty of Versailles … For better or for worst the Germans followed Hitler, though they knew his creasy ideas – in particular regarding the Jews. Only a tiny minority resisted Hitler.
Even if the Ottoman Empire help us when we were attacked from all sides, we have not forgotten the Armenian genocide and the German-Turkish Treaty of Friendship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German%E2%80%93Turkish_Treaty_of_Friendship.
As far I am concerned Turks are not Europeans, but in some ways they are very close to us, we have to take account of this.
At the present time the geopolitical context is not the same one than in 1930s. Erdogan has not the same opportunities as Hitler had. The nazi dictator hadn’t to deal with a divided country and with the nuclear deterrent.
For better days
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Kevin, it is interesting to ponder what Hitler could have done with 10 million military age Nazis scattered all over Europe totally trained and indoctrinated, prepared to kill and die, before invading Poland. Erdogan has such an invading force in Europe, all over Europe, right now.
gravenimage says
Frank–with the greatest respect–Matthew 5:40 is about someone suing you and the case being found for him in a court of law:
“And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”
This is rather different from our just standing by as Muslims take more and more from us–which will, grimly, just embolden them to victimize us further.
Frank Anderson says
GI, I ran The Greatest Story Ever Told starring Max von Sydow with his beautiful voice and accent as Jesus several hundred times at the Capri theatre before going to law school. Since there are 4 Gospels, I cannot tell you at the moment which the account of the bridge theft of the garment is portrayed. It was most definitely not a lawsuit, it was a theft. But as I recall, and appreciate correction, the armed disciple, Peter?, was ready to do some damage to the thief, before Jesus reminded him of what is more important. I do not fabricate..
gravenimage says
OK, Frank–I am not doubting you. I know there are many Bible verses that cover similar stories. I think my reply would be much the same, though, in any case.
Frank Anderson says
GI, in the 40 years I have been a licensed attorney, counseling myself and hundreds of clients, the issue almost always involves the question “Does this put money in my pocket or does it take it out?” There are times to recognize that some efforts are wasted when more important opportunities exist for more productive results. This pretty, old, treasured building is not worth the lives and safety of people who would be exposed trying to defend it. We know where Turkey and all Islam is headed, on the path of world conquest. What good would be accomplished by protecting a building when Europe is near collapse, and the rest of the world threatened?
gravenimage says
Frank, I don’t think that Robert Spencer or any poster here is suggesting that we should lay down our lives defending Hagia Sophia as a Church. Do you have any citations?
ELI says
I don’t agree with this but are they not a sovereign country? when the hindus decide to destroy a mosque a build a temple everyone on here cheers so why the double standard.
CogitoErgoSum says
I have never cheered the destruction of property that belongs to someone else. The Muslims stole this basilica and they need to give it back.
gravenimage says
Same here, CogitoErgoSum.
Funky Kangaroo says
Let’s give the land back to Indigenous people in the United States, too, in that case
ELI says
Nope they make up the rules as they go along. You don’t have to give back the land and all the churches built on destroyed pagan temples can stay because there are no more pagans or something.
If we’re honest, the rule is: When we do it it’s OK when you do it it’s bad
CogitoErgoSum says
The land in the U.S. belonged to the tribe that was strong enough to take it and keep it. The white tribe came along and followed the same rule the other tribes were following. However, I will say that if those tribes had some churches they built they should get them back so they can pray in them.
gravenimage says
Is Funky Kangaroo *really* advocating most Americans abandoning the United States?
I doubt it. He is just hoping that Americans suffering from unearned guilt over the actions of their ancestors–well, some of their ancestors–will roll over for Muslim supremacism.
How will Muslims imposing the horrors of Shari’ah on us improve things for Native Americans, who will suffer just as much as other Americans under this brutality? Of course it won’t help them–but then, it is not mean to.
Brian Hoff says
ELI pagan religion s is comeinng back in Europe and USA
gravenimage says
This from “Brian Hoff”–really, “DefenderofIslam”–is very strange. He regularly threatens Infidels. saying that Islam is taking over Europe and the US, and will destroy our constitutions and impose brutal Islamic law on us.
ELI says
OK so you reject the right of conquest right ? or only when Muslims conquer?
CogitoErgoSum says
Did you see my comment posted at 5:21 pm? I make exceptions for churches.
black adder says
The turks have been receiving a lot of money from UNESCO all these years, maybe they should give them bacl.
Hugh Fitzgerald says
The mosques Hindus now destroy are not chosen randomly. They were built on top of Hindu or Buddhist temples that Muslims had previously destroyed, and often used stone quarried from those temples to build those mosques. See the history of the Babri Masjid, built over what was either a Hindu or Buddhist temple..
ELI says
So what is the rule? if you built your place of worship on someone else place of worship they get to destroy it? give us some rules that everyone abides by, not just those who hate Muslims
Reziac says
If Muslims stole that place of worship, then yes, the original owners get to take it back, by any means necessary.
Or do you agree that if Muslims arrive from over the horizon and throw you out of your house, murder your family, and turn your home into a boy brothel, you should not be allowed to go in with the cops and kick them back out?
gravenimage says
This from ELI is grimly hilarious–he regularly excoriates the West for the slightest defense against Jihad–I have *never* seen him hold off because they are sovereign countries.
But then, the idea that it is fine for sovereign nations to seize the property of the ‘filthy Infidels’ certainly fits in with ELI’s constant apologia for the savagery of Islam.
ELI says
Ad hominem, the one thing Gravenimage excels in.
gravenimage says
What claptrap–noting someone’s modus operandi when it is completely salient to the topic is *not* ad hominem.
Notice that ELI cannot counter anything I said.
GreekEmpress says
She’s only challenging your message, not “shooting the messenger”.
James Lincoln says
ELI,
You are mistaken. Gravenimage excels in using factual, evidence-based logic. She is one of the most intelligent posters on this website.
My advice to you is to not try to outwit her, you are way out of your league. If you do not like what she says, you do not like to hear the truth. And that is typical behavior of a muslim or islam apologist.
For completeness, from Merriam-Webster:
Definition of ad hominem
1: appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect
an ad hominem argument
2: marked by or being an attack on an opponent’s character rather than by an answer to the contentions made
made an ad hominem personal attack on his rival
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ad%20hominem
SAFI says
ELI, I guess I might have been more sympathetic to that arguement if Turkey also minded its own business and respected the sovereignty of other countries but since this isn’t the case at all… Especially since I know for a fact that the reason why Erdogan is doing this is first and foremost to send a very specific message abroad, to Muslims and Christians alike, I’m sorry but I can’t shrug it off as “none of my business” again. I did that last time he converted a “museum”(Church) into a mosque but this time Christians(and even “atheists” who nonetheless identify with western culture) should not let this slide
ELI says
Safi, firstly thanks for your response which is devoid of ad hominem attacks. I can sympathise with your feelings, I also think that Erdogan is being an asshole. Also the Church has been standing for a long time including during Ottoman times so why now?
So while I agree with this what I am concerned about is the double standards that I see at jihadwatch. I honestly don’t think many people at jihadwatch would have a problem if this was done by non-Muslims to a Mosque in a non-Muslim country. I am calling out hypocrisy basically.
Note to gravenimage: Yes I am rapist jihadist apologist plotting for more jihad
SAFI says
First of all this isn’t the first Byzantine Church which Erdogan now converts into a mosque, but rather the fifth, if I’m counting correctly. (Notice there was no significant outcry, if any at all, in all previous cases.)
Secondly it’s not any random Church either. It is, or at least used to be, in my estimation, one of the three holliest Churches in Christianity, and Erdogan knows this perfectly well.
It was also, among other things, the Church where most Christian Roman Emperors were coronated. It’s historic significance is massive. That is why it was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, not because of its minarets and its time as an ottoman Mosque. That and because of its partly surviving magnificent christian mosaics(which took archeologists enormous efforts to meticulously restore) which will now have to be somehow removed(hopefully not completely destroyed) for it to function as a mosque.
Like I said I’m not very sympathetic to the “sovereignty” argument when it’s used by a guy who poses as the leader and protector of all Muslims worldwide and uses Islam, mosques and muslim minorities to stick his ugly nose in every other country’s business, especially after this. But if you’re honest about what you say then I’m sure you will rush to defend India’s sovereignty next time Erdogan starts talking about Kashmir, right?
Worth noting by the way that about a decade ago when various islamist “activists” and NGOs were calling for the convertion of the Hagia Sophia, even Erdogan himself had rebuffed them by saying that muslims should first be filling the Sultan Ahmet and other Istanbul mosques that were largely empty before they demand for the Hagia Sophia to be converted (basically saying that Turks were not pious enough to make such preposterous demands) … but apparently he’s changed his mind.
black adder says
The mosques in non-muslim countries were churches before they became mosques. Got it?
gravenimage says
Of course, the Ottomans *did* turn Hagia Sophia into a Mosque–they did this right after enslaving and slaughtering the women, children, priests, and old people who had taken sanctuary there during the Muslim invasion in 1453.
It was Ataturk who turned Hagia Sophia into a museum–part of his attempts to curb the power of Islam in Turkey.
As for ELI’s comment aimed at myself, this is utter claptrap. I have never said that ELI has plotted violent Jihad, nor directly taken part in it. I have said that he is an apologist for Jihad, which is clearly the case. Many apologists for Jihad do not go beyond this, and I have no specific reason to suppose that ELI has. Does he have anything proving otherwise? Of course not.
john smith says
Erdogan is the most dangerous man on the planet. He’s not just hell bent to reestablish the Ottoman empire with himself as caliph. He’s a megalomaniac who actually believes he is the mahdi.
When Turkey invaded Syria ( under the guise of peacekeepers ) the date is very significant. It was on the 24 August 2016. One might ask “why is this date significant” well exactly 500 years earlier on the 24 August 1516 the Ottoman Turks also invaded Syria.This sparked the takeover of the Middle East at the Battle of Dabiq. Incidentally,it was no coincidence the highjackers brought down the twin towers on the 11th Sept.This date was also significant to them,Sept 11th 1683 was when the Ottomans made there last attempt to invade Europe ,but were defeated at the Gates of Vienna.
Dates are significant to Erdogan, as he intends to have his neo Ottoman empire up and running by the year 2023. As it was dissolved by the British In 1922.
Erdogan is a man to be watched, and if there ever was a candidate for the biblical antichrist, it surely is him.
SAFI says
Correction, the Ottoman Sultanate was dissolved by Ataturk in 1923. But otherwise you are correct, dates and other symbols seem to be very important to this lunatic.
john smith says
Safi, thank you for your reply, but I was referring to The Treaty of Lausanne,which defined the borders of todays Turkey.
Turkey also gave up all her claims to the remainder of the empire.
SAFI says
No problem, but the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in 1923, and Britain was only one of its signatories(which I believe included a dozen more countries). Turkey thus became a “Republic”, though practically a dictatoship with Ataturk as “President for Life” and the “Caliph’s” office was only abolished a year later. Again not something which the British or anyone else demanded(as far as I know) but Ataturk’s own decision in order to take away any legitimacy from the deposed Sultan and the Ottoman dynasty.
RichardL says
we have done the same in Spain. I would rather they would raze all mosques to the ground than turning them into churches. If Trump gets elected he might throw the Turkish Jihadi state out of NATO.
SAFI says
Ehmm how do I say this… you know… Trump was already elected. Lemme check one moment… yep, just as I thought, it seems that Turkey is still “a great NATO ally of the US” (of Spain too)…
I’m not saying I wouldn’t want them to be kicked of NATO, I’m just saying let’s not delude ourselves … Also, according to John Bolton’s book, Trump came dangerously close to deciding to kick his own country out of NATO, which had it actually happened would have perhaps made Turkey (and Erdogan) the new de facto leader of the alliance…
SAFI says
sorry for the italics… typing error
gravenimage says
Erdogan signs decree turning Hagia Sophia into a mosque
………………………
More Muslim supremacism.
As Robert Spencer points out, Turkey is *anything* but a “moderate” Muslim country.
And even under Ataturk it was suppression of Islam that led to Turkey being more modern than other Muslim countries. And even this did not prevent the destruction of Smyrna under his aegis, nor the later pogrom against Greek Christians in Istanbul under his successors in the 1950s.
SAFI says
Correct. Ataturk “emerged” as a “secularist” later, but he used the call to jihad to rally his countrymen in wartime. Erdogan, by the way, has referred to Ataturk as “Gazi Mustafa Kemal”. A “Gazi” (or Ghazi), for those who don’t know, is an Islamic (holly) warrior who engages in “ghazwa”, islamic raids or campaigns of conquest against the infidels (within the context of jihad)
Ataturk had in fact described himself that way and had officialy been given that title by the turkish Grand National Assembly.
gravenimage says
You aren’t wrong, SAFI.
revereridesagain says
Condolences. That magnificent building should never fall back into the hands of the most savage religious ideology on the planet.
SAFI says
For those who are familiar with its history and that of Christendom it is not merely a “magnificent building” but so much more than that. Unfortunately the West has largely forgotten History,.. unlike Erdogan
Tony Naim says
Evil breeds evil.erdogan gives a concrete & clear picture of Islam.
americanpatriot says
I am afraid that the great ignorant Pope, the blind International Christian leaders and some of our Western political leaders will repeat again the usual words that “Islam is a religion of peace” to reassure us not to worry regarding Islam and its ultimate goal of global conquest by use of migration, by use of violence, by use of infiltration into non-Islamic lands, by outbreeding local non-Muslim population, by always claiming victimhood status. The strategies of Islam are quite endless.
black adder says
They don’t even make an effort to hide their intentions.
https://twitter.com/AmyMek/status/1281884654375600128
ELI says
“She’s only challenging your message, not “shooting the messenger”.”
Come on man, I know she’s on your side but this “This from ELI is grimly hilarious–he regularly excoriates the West for the slightest defense against Jihad” has nothing to do with whether the argument on sovereign countries is right or wrong.
gravenimage says
Noting this about ELI is entirely germane to the issue at hand. This is *not* an ad hominem attack.
Edmund says
I think sooner or later, St. Peter’s Basilica will be turned into a mosque too and even the Pope with great propability will say that he is pleased with it, becouse Muslims and Christians are like brothers and sisters. And sisters must obey brothers. So I don’t really understand what is the fuss about Hagia Sophia …
gravenimage says
More preaching surrender. *Ugh*.
Lavéritétriomphera says
Bonsoir Frank,
I can only tell good strategists do not improvise and do not reveal their strategy.
Stay safe
Amitiés
Frank Anderson says
Friend Kevin, we certainly agree on that. Frank