What do you guys think about the incidents going on in Turkey?

As title says, what should NATO do about Erdogan?

NATO wont do anything but im afraid if he keeps this up there will be a civil war.

As always I strongly believe America should mind it's own business. The people of Turkey will decide what should happen at the ballot box.

Johanas, they involved us when they joined NATO, uses our technology, like the F-16s and many other American vehicles. They can't have it both ways.

Erdogan spoke about centralizing the power over the military closer to him to get better control, and that came only just a week or so before the failed coup attempt. Maybe some high ranking people in the military primarily, acted in a state of panic and maybe too hurry, to prevent Erdogans further grab over the military. Maybe they tried to prevent exactly that.!?

Seizeforce.

No we involved ourselves during the 60's fighting a cold war against the Soviets. NATO is a relic of a war that was never fought yet we spent uncounted trillions of dollars preparing for it.


Seems like the military-industrial complex made out like bandits.

Johanas, we didn't force Turkey to join NATO. if Turkey wants us to stay out of their business, they're free to leave at any time and give us back the nukes, military assets, and everything else that ensures them the security they have now. Put up or shut up is what I say.

^^^ I agree, Turkey chose to become part of NATO in a bid to become part of the E.U, No one made Turkey join NATO. However, Erdogan let that power go to his head when he chose to authorize the downing of a Russian SU-24, he used NATO as a shield knowing Russia would not respond, because NATO...AKA the U.S would respond. I believe NATO should kick Turkey out.

Yup. Turkey is the reason Israel can't join NATO. Turkey is the only one who vetoed their application into NATO.

Kick NATO out and then everyone will vote Israel in.

Turkey has always been secular -concerned it is going to be more radical as Erdogan is an Islamist.

Have NATO kick Turkey out*

I am not sure what NATO's purpose is anymore. I really don't think Russia is going to invade Europe, what it was originally set up to prevent. It has also made European countries lazy. Most have no real military forces (Germany's largest ship is a frigate), relying on the US if something would happen which is why we spend so much more than everyone else.

Maybe US should pull out and let everyone stew for a while. Maybe it would make them appreciate us more.

The only logical perspective that I noticed here:

"As always I strongly believe America should mind it's own business. The people of Turkey will decide what should happen at the ballot box."

Eugene, tell that to Eastern Europe. They are now more than ever desperate to get in NATO ever since Russian expansion into Ukraine and Crimea. Had Ukraine's application into NATO been accepted, none of that would have happened.

With that being said, just because you don't see NATO's purpose anymore, doesn't mean there isn't any. And I don't think you're more qualified to say there isn't any threat from Russia to Europe. If that's the case, they could easily opt out of NATO, but they don't. That should say something.

The simple fact is, the US wants and I believe the US should have and be able to wield power and have a say in what goes on in the world. It'd be in our best interest to do so. It'd be akin to saying I don't see any purpose in a strong federation.


As for John West, the other logical perspective is that America is minding it's own business when they're o

I don't see any Constitutional authority or requirement for the United States to play world policeman.

Our "say" should be limited to good terms with all countries and trade.

I know this frightens you. But I am in the company of great radical men when I say it.

Radicals like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

"Peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations-entangling alliances with none."

Johanas, those radical men aren't alive today knowing there's a country capable of wiping the rest of the world out.

Our requirement to defend other nations come from NATO obligations and treaties.

With that being said, There is no benefit to us limiting our influence. It'd be detrimental to us otherwise if the US had let Russia take over Europe right from the start during the cold war.

Yea, but I think there some countries we are defending that we should actually be destroying such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. I think we are just defending the wrong people. The people who are our enemy.

In a perfect world the U.S could mind its own Business. Unfortunately, if you have watched the news this is far from it. I personally believe the U.S should pull out of the rest world and watch it all collapse and burn. But sooner or later we (U.S), would have to respond to a threat of some sorts. As for NATO, if its going to exist every nation in it should pay their fair share. The U.S alone cannot afford to pay for others protection, given our $19.3T and counting debt.

Russia isn't the boogyman. But it is a great way for defense corporations to rake in hundreds of billions of dollars.

If you look at the facts rationally. America has invaded and toppled many more countries than Russia.

Our foreign policy since 1947 has been bombing the living shi* out of brown people to bring them freedom/save them from communism/liberate their oil.

Ok Johanas, keep regurgitating talking points more even though I already addressed your statements.

Tell Ukraine and Turkey that Russia isn't he boogeyman. We all know Turkey would have had its ass fucked over if it wasn't in NATO after the downing of 2 jets.

And if anything, I would be the one who looks at facts more rationally and would be more objective than you. I'm a muslim and a somali (Need verification?)

Me and my family wouldn't be here in the US without the help from the government.

The US invasion of Iraq was necessary in order to repel the invasion of Kuwait who was a US ally at the time.

Ask Eastern Europeans why they want to join NATO and why they voted for politicians who want their country to join NATO. It isn't because Russia has a plan to give them free cookies.

America isn't without flaws, but it's like a giant clumsy guy who always tries to be helpful.

Turkey had an almost century long history of secularism and modernity in comparison to other governments in the region. This was made possible through the military, by whatever means. This current president seems to be grabbing power wherever he could; even stating that the attempted coup was a gift from God to help him identify his true enemies. This is a president in charge of a member of NATO, think about that. If he wants to become a strongman dictator, it wouldn't be copacetic with the west. Additionally, this same president has subtle signs of approval for ISIS. Coincidentally, their borders are open for anyone to travel into ISIS territory, and the shooting down of a Russian aircraft is most incriminating given that it's mission was to target ISIS. What if Germany or France did such a thing?

Don't get mad bro. Facts are not talking points.

Russia has it's own problems. And NATO expanding right up to their doorstep isn't the way to peaceful co-existence.

Is Putin a strongman? Sure. But his people elected him with a strong majority every time he runs. Same with Assad and Erdogan.

We can't choose the leaders for other countries that we want. It's called democracy.

America should defend our own borders, have the best paid, best equipped, best trained military on the planet.

And if Canada or Mexico invades us we should flatten them.

Other than that we spend more than the top five other countries combined on policing the world. It's time to stop the insanity and take care of our own problems here at home.


I served my country faithfully for 28 years. I have been in combat. I have seen and done things that still wake me up in the middle of the night swea

Sorry Johanas. You may have served and I congratulate you on your service, but as an American born citizen, it's my ass now on the line if WW3 breaks out. I'm going to be the one who's going to be drafted and will have to die out there while you already served.

My point is, if anything, I'm more likely to pick a decision that would not endanger me, than you. Seeing as to how you're not in any danger anymore.

I also have a right to say, only way to ensure peace is to make it lopsided in our favor.

More allies, more funding, more vehicles, more bodies, more weapons, better fifth generation jets, all the things to make sure Russia can't even think about pulling a single trigger.

And who gives a rat's ass what Russia thinks? If their neighbors wish to join NATO, because of the actions of Russia, then that is Russia's fault. Perhaps they shouldn't have been making them feel like they'

You have the right track.

What if Russia helped overthrow the legal government of Canada with various shady tactics?

And then rushed money and military aid to the rebels who seized power?

And the people of Ontario wanted to join the US out of fear?

Would that be legal?