[The Decider]

Quote by: BobbyO The Turkish millitary is not all descended from the Armenian genocide. That was -ahem- the Islamic state caliphate under the Emirs. The current millitary is constitutionally obligated to uphold the republic and the secular state of Turkey.

The founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, was an officer in the Ottoman Army and a supporter of the infamous Committee of Union and Progress that organized the Armenian genocide. Turkey's military descends from mass murderers. Is it surprising that Ataturk, the father of Turkish secularism, admired Adolf Hitler? Secularism and fascism were bosom buddies in recent world history.

Quote by: BobbyO A couple of things to know: 1. Turkey owns all the mosques and the schools. It approves the sermons given. The state keeps it out of the hands of the Islamic radicals. The idea of the call for separation of mosque and state is a call so they can take the schools and mosques over, and train radical islamic clerics.

Ah, pure secularism! The military controls Turkey's mosques and schools (and Christian churches too)! Just like in America---government controlled churches and Sunday schools! Yep---"seperation of church and state!"

Quote by: BobbyO 2. The desire to join the EU is nothing but politics. They know the EU will never allow Turkey in with its current constitutional system. So the effort costs them nothing, and might prove beneficial if it convinces some to marginalise the millitary's role in Turkey.

Huh? This comment makes no sense. The "constitutional system" that keeps Turkey out of the EU is the one dominated by the military!! You know, the "secularists" who control mosques, churches, and religious schools. The same military that invaded and still occupies eastern Cyprus. The EU refuses to accept a military dictatorship into its organization; hence, the EU has condemned this recent military interference in Turkey's democracy.

Economically, Turkey has improved over the past five years under the current government. They want less militarism. No wonder the military is so upset; they may have to serve civilian masters....perish the thought!

Quote by: BobbyO 3. Th hajib which wife of Gul wears is a political headress, along the lines of what was made fashionable by the Ayatollah Khomeni. It is not some Anatolian peasant traditional headdress.

It's personal attire! Gul opposes legislation to mandate hijab for Turkey's women. He's said so repeatedly. The military is using his wife's fashion choice to construct a slippery slope argument for a military coup--"Today Mrs. Gul's hijab, tomorrow your daughters!" The EU rejects that argument, why can't you Bobby O?