tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post5850618048474704031..comments2023-06-15T09:13:45.467-04:00Comments on Liberty's Torch: Why is everybody so surprised?Francis W. Porrettohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-19877467451198599012020-07-17T03:52:57.752-04:002020-07-17T03:52:57.752-04:00The change of the Hagia Sophia museum back into a ...The change of the Hagia Sophia museum back into a mosque is/was entirely predictable,given that President Erdogan is a neo-Ottoman who sees himself as the next Saladin or a figure on par with that giant of Islamic history. <br /><br />Ataturkism is dying in Turkey, and that nation is reverting to its historical mean as an explicitly Islamic nation. Erdogan is doing more than talking; he is waging jihad via the hegira just as the prophet did, in this case into Europe. Erdogan is the driving force, and has been for some time now, behind the tidal wave of "refugees" flooding into old Europe, most of whom are military-age, unattached young males. Gee, what about that? <br /><br />We could ask "What fool admitted them to NATO?" - but the answer to that one wouldn't be very flattering to the home side, so maybe we'll just let that one ride....Georgiaboy61https://www.blogger.com/profile/06212501207466021115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-60536518832186772442020-07-15T17:54:33.417-04:002020-07-15T17:54:33.417-04:00That's my impression too, Francis. It's ir...That's my impression too, Francis. It's ironic that the army's cooperation was vital to both Ataturk and Erdogan, isn't it?Margaret Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18048775257764349955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6557458849091969678.post-67976322375208419712020-07-15T17:11:37.327-04:002020-07-15T17:11:37.327-04:00From what I've read, Ataturk made a point of s...From what I've read, Ataturk made a point of secularizing Turkey's army in the hope that, were Turkish Islamism to resurge, the army would constitute a bulwark against it. Erdogan, aware of the army's potency in any national conflict, set to work on it from the beginning of his rise to power. Once he was certain he could rely on its backing, he charged ahead with the other changes he wanted.Francis W. Porrettohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05862584203772592282noreply@blogger.com