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Subscribe to RSSThe State Department “absolutely and fundamentally” disagrees with Gov. Rick Perry’s statement in last night’s debate that Turkey is ruled “by what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists.” Responding to a question from host Bret Baier asking if Turkey should continue to be a member of NATO, Perry also questioned the country’s membership in the alliance.
“When you have a country that is being ruled by what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists," Perry said, "when you start seeing that type of activity against their own citizens, then yes, not only is it time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong to be in NATO, but it's time for the United States, when we look at their foreign aid, to go to zero with it."
While the State Department generally does not get into the substance of campaign politics, even when candidates weigh in on foreign policy, spokesman Mark Toner answered reporters’ questions on Perry’s comment. Toner reaffirmed the U.S.’s close relationship with Turkey and called the country a “stalwart ally” in NATO.
“We absolutely and fundamentally disagree with that assertion," Toner said. "It [Turkey] continues to play a very positive and constructive role in the region. And it is often cited as an example of a so-called Islamic democracy in action."
The Turks themselves had harsh words for Perry. In a scathing statement, Turkey’s ambassador to the United States expressed his disappointment and concern over Perry’s comments, calling them “misplaced” and “ill-advised.” The ambassador also said Turkey receives no significant foreign aid from the U.S.
“The Turkey described in the debate simply does not exist," Ambassador Namik Tan said. "Turkey is a secular democracy that has for decades been an essential and trusted partner of the U.S. Our bilateral relations are based on the common values of democracy and respect for human rights, rule of law, and free-market economy."
Today, Perry did not back down, per NBC's Carrie Dann.
“I stand by my statement," he said. "You need to be putting protections in place for your citizens if you’re seeing those types of attacks against, particularly, well, particularly females."
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I swear this guy ate lead paint as a kid. As they say in Texas "He ain't right in the head "
Definately not right.
Let's see Prime Minister Erdogan actiuvely supports and supplies Hamas.
He endorsed a Al Qaeda finacier.
Turkey has supplied Al Qaeda in Iraq.
Oh and of cours they totally support and protect women's rights.
Yep, totally not terrorists. We need many more friends like these.
...and, of course, Spankers, you can support all of your statements.
Spanky speaks the truth....where the hell do you that the ship came from that was running the Israeli blockade a while bacl. The whole damn debacle was caused by Turkey.
Oh yeah, sorry Noid-ester - I done dang forgot about the fact that those blockade runner ships were running Turkey's flag.
Those guys are great, right Noid?
Plus they still got our guy locked up in that prison. You know the guy who tried to smuggle hash on the plane? Hollywood always tells the truth, right?
It was a Turkish ship that the Israelis boarded and the people slaughtered on board that ship were Turkish. However that was one ship in an international flotilla. To blame the Flotilla Massacre, which took place in international waters, on the victims is disgusting.
Actually, the ship in question, the Mavi Marmara, bears the flag of the Union of Comoros. It is owned by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, an organization that has never been designated a terrorist organization by the State Department nor by any government in Europe. Israel itself did not ban the organization until June 2010 which is after the blockade incident.
Tell me, Spankerooski, if Turkey was aiding al Qaeda, why would they be arresting 15 of its members and charge them with plotting to attack the US Embassy in Ankara?
online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304223804576443940813732916.html
Perry's comments are so amazingly ignorant and borderline dangerous! Turkey is an example of the kind of government we want in the middle eastern region! The government is taking great pains to keep its state affairs separate from religion. Yes, Turkey is overwhelmingly Muslim, but the government is secular. Women at public universities, for example, are not allowed to cover. Perry just doesn't know what he's talking about, and his ignorance is embarrassing.
Naa, everthing is going just super over in the middle east. Iraq, Libya, Egypt.
I assume this is what Obama had in mind.
I shouldn't be surprised that there are actually those willing to support the xenophobic rantings of a "candidate" who knows less than a 5th grader about world politics...but I am!
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Turkey has been ruled by a government led by pious Muslims since 2002. Although its ties with Israel have deteriorated, the government has maintained a close relationship with the West while seeking to represent the views of the Muslim world.
Most recently, Turkey began to host NATO’s early warning radar system as part of NATO’s missile defense system, which is capable of countering ballistic missile threats from Iran.
Perry also said Turkey should not receive foreign aid. While the United States recently deployed four Predator drones to Turkey from Iraq to aid Ankara in its fight against the autonomy-seeking Kurdish rebels, Turkey does not receive U.S. foreign aid.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/turkey-reacts-angrily-after-republican-candidate-perry-says-it-is-ruled-by-islamic-terrorists/2012/01/17/gIQAxr7R5P_story.html
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The State Dept. is comprised of CAREER diplomatic personnel who do not turn over from administration to administration, Republicans, Democrats, Liberals, Moderates and Conservatives, all doing their best to serve our country. Those who ridicule or denigrate their office and performance are ignorant of their history, their courage and their value to our freedom.
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1046.html
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So Spanky, who is PHINEPHANCY??? You made an accusation, back it up...
Who is phinep?
Heck if I know, this here is an anonymous board. Wait, is dangerfield your real name?
Not my accusation, but rather on made by someone else. Noting that accusation, and upon both reflection and the order and identities of certain posters on Saturday, I believe I independently concur.
But again, given that this is an anonymous board, so what?
Other than my own personal amusement, which of course is the only reason I venture into MSNBC-land.
Heck if I know, this here is an anonymous board.
Not my accusation, but rather on made by someone else.
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And sadly phinep - you appeal has waned now that the identity issue has been solved.
#12.10 - Mon Jan 16, 2012 1:59 PM EST
That's YOUR post buddy, are you no longer standing by you own words?
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Gee Spanky, that isn't what you said yesterday, was it? You were full of knowledge yesterday, so certain that the
"identity issue has been solved" What did that mean, Spanky? Sounds like you were both the accuser and that you KNEW something, didn't you? Now it's an "anonymous board" and accusations were from "someone else"...
Care to regain some semblance of your credibility and own up to your own words, or are you gonna weasel word it up, feign innocence or high-tail it for the woods? lol
Must admit that I expected better from you...
I refuse to reveal the secret location of my stash of Mr. Coffee's!!!!!
"Other than my own personal amusement, which of course is the only reason I venture into MSNBC-land."
Spanky and the wonderful world of self-gratification ... and which is the free hand that you type with?
and which is the free hand that you type with?
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Considering the Pinocchio-esque whopper above, might be his NOSE!...;-)
Or nojo helps him out. :)
Pssst. Here's a secret for you. That's where the Spankster got his tip from. Don't tell.
Put Ricky Perry in a room with a giant world map without names. Give him a cookie for each country he can correctly name (and spell). He will starve to death.
How many people on this blog could correctly identify what continent Turkey is on?
Way to go Rick, win friends and influence people.
In the republican party, how much dumber can they come than this stupid ignorant man?
"In a scathing statement, Turkey’s ambassador to the United States expressed his disappointment and concern over Perry’s comments, calling them “misplaced” and “ill-advised.”
See, this is why I'd never make it as a diplomat. I'd have just said they were "ignorant" and "idiotic".
What is with the use of this word "scathing"? Everytime someone says something about a Republican; it is scathing according to the media.
Perry is probably laughing at that dude while sipping a cold one.
I am glad Perry has a platform at this time to say some things a lot of people want to say but are too damn politically correct to say them.
In the interest of equal time from Fox News:
"Attack Watch, website started by President Obama's campaign organization, was intended to be a repository for supporters to report "attacks" on Obama's record and get the facts. But its rollout has been met with scathing mockery by conservatives"
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/15/attack-watch-becomes-victim-conservative-mockery/
Actually, every time I hear the word, I think of Hayley Mills in "The Trouble With Angels" when I was growing up: "I've got the most scathingly brilliant idea!"
But hey, I'm about ready for a cold one myself - are you buying?
The Middle East is just a jolly good place to visit.
You can go an experience that great smell of powder in the air.
Iran, Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, Pakistan. All major tourist attractions.
Hillary get to the bottom of Urine-gate yet?
Turkey is the subject. My daughter spent several weeks in Turkey this past summer and loved it.
I believe it's the Defense Department that is investigating this.
...and by the way, do you think pissing on dead bodies is funny?
Ideology,
We loved Turkey, too, although it has been many years since we were there.
I have only been to Istanbul, Turkey, but I spent almost two weeks there. It is a beautiful city. . .I would love to visit there again. I have also had a number of Turkish students over the past twenty years, men and women--intelligent, compassionate, respectful. Seriously, some people really need to get out of their little comfort zones, see the world, talk to people of other faiths and cultures. They might not be so quick to stereotype a country and a group of people they know nothing about.
Since Gov. Perry is commander in chief of the 25,000 strong Texas military, I do hope he checks the list of NATO countries before he invades Turkey. It would be embarrassing for us to have to defend our Allie against a US based attack.
If Turkey is our adversary I'd be deeply concerned about the 5000 or so US Air Force Personnel currently stationed in Turkey at Incirlik Air Base.
www.incirlik.af.mil/
Yeah Noid - until last month we had how many bases in Pakistan?
They totally love and support us.
Things change my man.
Oh, you must be talking about Shamsi Airfield which is owned by the Pakistani government but leased to the US for launching drones.
Yeah, we got evicted. I guess that's what happens when a NATO air strike kills 24 Pakistani troops.
...but I guess Governor Perry's got the answer for that one..."Oops."
Just so amazing how many pals the Bush boys made.
Perry just doesn't understand the process of how other governments work.
Job1:
I 'm sure you do hence being that wonderful past experience you have of being a Governor.
Being Governor doesn't qualify a person to be President, or make policy that affects how the United States interacts with other nations. Sometimes states don’t elect experts in foreign policy to be Governors.
This guy is the gift that just keeps giving. It's time to go back to Texas and stop embarrassing this nation.
I have lived in Turkey and I can assure you that they are one of few Muslim allies in the Middle East. Turkey has been a solid ally to the US through the cold war and beyond. They opposed the 1967 war between Israel and the Arabs. They have remained largely neutral regarding the existance of Israel. They do separate church and state unlike some other countries in that area of the world.
Baldeagle11, I don't know what world you live in but recently Turkey;s PM has put up for a vote, on enacting Sharia law, as the law of the land, by almost all standards he is leaning more to the radical side than the Moderate. It is also a fact that almost all of the Christians were slaughtered or run out of Turkey after WW1. They are now fighting a ongoing war with the Kurds, simple because they are a different form om Muslims than the rest of Turkey. If this is what you call separation of church and state , I sure hope we never practice it quite like that over here.
Joe, seriously, you need to get out of town more often.
How amazing...Perry and his supporters stand by his comments...shows you how narrow-minded their thought process is. Not ready to stand in the global arena. His supporters could care less how America fares in the world. Just throw a cliche out, wear a flag pin, suppress dissension and you have the modern day GOP
Once again, the United States has to address the offensiveness of a Texas Governor. Those guys are always ready to start a fight in spite of the facts. The last one blew up over 100,000 Iraqi civilians, the U.S. debt, and got more Americans killed than Osama bin Laden did. All candidates but Ron Paul are aiming at Iran next. They would again say, "The debt doesn't matter.",and hunker down for a decade or two of war.
Republicans insist that health care insurance that will greatly reduce the fact of 45,000 Americans dying annually because they have no insurance is too costly. Spouses and children disagree.
These are the "Right to life" folks. Let them be born, then kill them through violence and neglect. Outside our borders, abortion by blowing up pregnant women is okay - shock, awe, and flying flesh. "God ---- America," say survivors.
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All hat and no brain cells-that's our Rick.
This is a great example of a "Gross Odd Person" (GOP) who is "Really Not Competent" (RNC) concerning US Foreign Policy. Again! Perry is the GOP Clown dancing to the wild playing bango music. Again! Is this Tea Begger off his medications?? Again! It is truely "Scary" listening to Perry. Again! Perry has made more incompetent statements that are just a huge lie. Not only has this "Confederate States Of America" Politician made the nation of Turkey very upset. He has upset the European Union, and all of the countries that make up NATO. This is another "Stumbling Spewing" moment by "Scary Perry." Everyone wave goodbye to this individual who has lost his mind. Again!
Rick may bumble thing but I bet he knows there are 50 states not 57 which by the way; how many Muslim states are there?
Don: I'll bet you didn't know that the U.S. has 57 states, territories and the District of Columbia in all. It still amazes me the number of people who have taken that comment out of context!
Hey Don: can you name the U.S. territories? I'll give you a hint: Puerto Rico is one. What are the others?
Since you won't get an answer from Don, I can rattle off 6 with no problems...
Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, US Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands
Poor Rick just can't make any traction and willing to spout anything.
Every time Rick opens his mouth, he puts his foot into it! Unfortunately, the Administration has to apologize to other countries for the stupidity of the GoP candidates. This clown has no clue about foreign policy. In his mind, all Islamics are terrorists. I'd prefer Turkey as an ally then George W. Bush's buddies over in Pakistan who protected bin Laden all these years...
Perry is defiantly dumb. He is drunk with dumb. He just talks without any basis and hopes that something he says is true.
The Republican party is at it again, they are really stirring up Muslim peoples and countries with their very pointed statements. They are letting them know exactly what to expect if they get back in power. They are telling the Muslim people to submit to their, supposedly transcendent powers in waiting.
I am sure there are many wise Muslims who can see this obvious ploy. The Republicans really don't mind making some REAL tasteless moves and even less tasteless statements.
And that is really putting it mildly! It is becoming VERY obvious who are the experts at playing the race card in this country .....
RISE UP People, RISE UP!
Obama / Biden 2012