Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
How far do you think that Turkey is a bit browned off because of the hassles in getting admission in the EU as also the influence of resurgent Islam?
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Well I'd imagine it must be bugging them a lot. Undoubtedly a lot of people in Turkey would be seeing those hassles as being more about religion and ethnicity rather than human rights or governmental reforms. And I guess to a some Europeans those are compelling reasons not to allow Turkey membership, ever, which is a really bad idea since I believe they'd have a lot to contribute to the EU's strategic and military power if they could get over the human rights issues. Although, as has been pointed out on this board, a lot of Europeans countries violate free speech rules by jailing holocost denying writers. And then there's Eastern Europe. So I can figure on Turkish public opinion swinging against Europe and America but I wouldn't make too much of it, Turkey has far too much to gain from being a friend and not an enemy. And I don't see what any country without an energy consumption issue would have to gain from being friends with Iran, they just happen to be doing nicely in the public relations field after they helped Hezbollah 'beat' Israel, and with their bluster about standing up to the Americans.