tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post2655984631714675516..comments2024-03-17T00:23:24.896-07:00Comments on Social Democracy for the 21st Century: A Realist Alternative to the Modern Left: EU faces the Truth about Economic MigrantsLord Keyneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06556863604205200159noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-23814763583308174322016-03-04T06:13:53.889-08:002016-03-04T06:13:53.889-08:00That's one of the issues I changed my mind on ...That's one of the issues I changed my mind on over the past 20 years. I used to favour EU membership for Turkey.Now I see it as a catastrophe in waiting. Ken Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12976919713907046171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-45266955353973633202016-03-04T01:48:51.894-08:002016-03-04T01:48:51.894-08:00Sure, all the rebels should be totally smashed, fr...Sure, all the rebels should be totally smashed, from the imaginary "moderates" to the ultra-insane lunatics like IS. As I said, end the new absurd Cold war with Russia and support Russia in this effort. Also, Turkey seems to be a threat to the Middle East and to the Europe. Certainly if Turkey ever joins the EU it will be total catastrophe. Can you believe the EU leadership will accept an open door with Turkey? Insanity.Lord Keyneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06556863604205200159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-86690197424063519752016-03-03T12:27:38.922-08:002016-03-03T12:27:38.922-08:00How can you suspect me of irony? Accusations of li...How can you suspect me of irony? Accusations of litotes will soon follow I expect.<br /><br />"The US should let Russia smash all the rebels,"<br />Do the rebels include ISIS? If so this is an idea worth exploring but I won't say yea or nay just yet.<br /><br />As for your last bit I agree. When the Arab Spring (so called) happened I was virtually alone in predicting woe and saying Mubarak was bteer than the alternatives. Not quite alone, the two Egyptians I know, one a friend one a former boss, both older and well educated, agreed with me. Privately and under their breath. <br />Ken Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12976919713907046171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-63266289442924694102016-03-03T09:39:33.153-08:002016-03-03T09:39:33.153-08:00Hmmm, not sure how you come to this conclusion, Ke...Hmmm, not sure how you come to this conclusion, Ken B, unless it is tongue in cheek.<br /><br />Obama's neocon-lite foreign policy has been disastrous in the Middle east. His policy has been to topple Assad by supporting and arming rebels or alleged "moderate" rebels (excuse me while I burst into laugh) while gingerly opposing the other insurgents, all the time while allowing the Gulf states and Turkey to arm and support these insane rebels and religious nutjobs. <br /><br />This neocon-lite schizophrenic policy has been **precisely** what has caused this horrible Syrian civil war to become so bad.<br /><br />What is needed is an old-fashioned *realist* policy, not neoconservative lunacy. <br /><br />The US should let Russia smash all the rebels, and at the same time use all its power to stop the gulf states and Turkey intervening in Syria. Assad, for all his crimes and brutality, is better than the genocidal medieval fanatic rebels. <br /><br />Look at what a neocon-lite policy did in Libya: total catastrophe.<br /><br />Do you really think secular liberal democracy has any chance in the Middle East? That region is gripped by religious insanity even worse than what Europe had in the 17th century.Lord Keyneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06556863604205200159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6245381193993153721.post-81101756312469405642016-03-03T06:42:56.109-08:002016-03-03T06:42:56.109-08:00I applaud you for making the case for a neo-conser...I applaud you for making the case for a neo-conservative style intervention in Syria LK. I wouldn't have expected it of you.Ken Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12976919713907046171noreply@blogger.com