I missed this when it happened, and only came across it while doing research into recent Syrian activity in nuclear and chemical weapons and delivery systems. 15-20 July 2006 USA Today reports that an Iranian cargo plane suspected of containing missiles and launchers for Hezbollah was blocked from reaching its destination in Syria with the aid of U.S. allies Iraq and Turkey. Satellite photographs depicting Iranian crews loading three missile launchers and eight crates housing C-802 Noor missiles onto this aircraft confirmed an earlier tip to U.S. intelligence of an impending shipment of fresh supplies to be used in battle against Israeli military forces during the 34-day war. Iraqi air controllers denied the plane access to Iraq's airspace while Turkish officials offered permission contingent on an inspection of the plane's cargo on Turkish soil. --John Diamond, "Officials: U.S. blocked missiles to Hezbollah," USA Today, 17 August 2006. Source: NTI
I am not surprised with Turkey. One of Turkey's ally is none other than Israel. Why Israel you ask? Why not one of the "muslim brother nations" instead of Israel? I'll tell you: because Israel keeps its word. Unlike the other nations that Turkey does not trust, hence Turkey allied itself with Israel.
are you suggesting Turkey is not a secular country? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey#Government_and_politics
You can attach adjectives to certain countries and even though Turkey is a "secular" country is nevertheless a muslim nation. Just like America is a "secular" nation because of the "separation of church and state" and yet, to a large degree America is still guided by Christian principles even though this seems to decrease. So if you want to talk straight you will recognise Turkey as a muslim nation.
do you have any evidence to support your claims? Their constitution is pretty much like any other western european countries constitution and their laws are based on the same principles not based on religious dogma. So what exactly is the element that makes Turkey a muslim nation? can you name the christian principles America is guided by?
I don't know, maybe because most folks who live in Turkey are muslims? And for your second question: no country in the world has donated more aid to the poor nations than USA has done. No country in the world has sent more missionaries around the world. No country in the world has built more hospitals, schools, churches and Christian TV stations than USA. I think these are just a few Christian principles followed by the American dudes.
If it wern't for religion, there would be no hospitals, schools, places of worship..etc If we had a world of commies/anarchists we would be living in hell.
you seem to not know what secularism means : "Secularity (adjective form secular) is the state of being separate from religion." Turkey being ran by principles that have nothing to do with their religion is what makes it a secular nation. If you think otherwise show me some proof that their country is actually ran by muslim principles so making tv stations is a christian principle now? can you point me to the paragraph in the bible where they say so? What you're basicly saying is that helping other people is a christian principle. Actually people from many religions and countries help other people. Helping other people does not mean a country is built on christian principles what does religion have to do with schools and hospitals? If there was no religion we wouldn't want to stay healthy or educate our children?? Oh, and not having a religion does not make you a communist or an anarchyst. Just look at how Sweden and Swizerland live and they are mostly non-believers
Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Some consider this to be Jesus greatest commandment. Notice it does not say go and convert them. What I am basically saying is that I feel a lot more better knowing there are more Christians in this world. It's OK to point to Sweden now after it's been Christianized. Because before Christianity you had ..what were those dudes called: Ah yes. The Vikings. You can call Sweden and Switzerland non-believers nations and yet they were Christian nations. If you do want to use a non-Christian nation as an example perhaps you should try Japan. Even though, before the AMerican intervention you should know the Japanese were some of the most ruthless fighters ever.
Good news.. Now if the dumbocrats in congress can stop trying to create WW3 with Turkey, we'd really have something to be thankful about.
Are you no longer claiming Turkey is not a secular country? What happened? Have you backed down because you can't show any evidence to support your claims? That's great, but preaching the gospel is not a state policy for the US but something done by some of it's inhabitants and as I've said before helping other people is done by a variety of people not just christians. So, can you name the christian principles America is guided by? The majority of the world's population is non christian so what if they were Vikings? has killing other people never occured on a large scale in christian nations? And so what if they used to be christian nations? They aren't anymore and they are doing great I am aware of their ruthlesness and they probably be the same if they had to ight a war to defend their land
I believe this thread is misguided. The news has nothing to do with Turkey's regime, they don't ask public votes or check what religion says before offering permission contingent to suspicious planes, it's related to general security and politic affairs. Iul's statements were correct about secularity and democracy, however proteindude's point is, i guess, even though Turkey is secular, those who vote and those who govern are still majorly Muslims(individually), which is something world takes into account in subjects like EU process or Israel etc, so indirectly if not directly, affect foreign policies, as much as it does in other parts of the world.
Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not commit adultery Thou shalt not worship false idols Ah.... FORGET ABOUDIT!
I never claimed Turkey is a secular country. Best proof: it's not part of the European Union. Most of its inhabitants are muslims who hold high positions in government. Most voters are muslim. Here are some of those Christian principles you required: Declaration of Independence: “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.†“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...†"t is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue." -- John Adams (letter to cousin Zabdiel Adams, June 21, 1776) "While just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government its surest support." -- George Washington (address to the Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in North America, October 9, 1789) "[O]ur citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New Testament, or the Christian religion." -- Noah Webster, author of the first American dictionary (writing in History of the United States, 1832) "Our liberty depends on our education, our laws, and habits… it is founded on morals and religion, whose authority reigns in the heart, and on the influence all these produce on public opinion before that opinion governs rulers." -- Fisher Ames, Federalist party leader (An Oration on the Sublime Virtues of General George Washington, 1800) "[T]he… law established by the Creator… extends over the whole globe, is everywhere and at all times binding upon mankind… [This] is the law of God by which he makes his way known to man and is paramount to all human control." -- Rufus King, signer of the Constitution (letter to C. Gore, February 17, 1820) "I concur with the author in considering the moral precepts of Jesus as more pure, correct, and sublime than those of ancient philosophers." -- Thomas Jefferson (letter to Edward Dowse, April 19, 1803) "The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments." -- Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence (Of the Mode of Education Proper in a Republic, 1798) Many will give you the 10 commandments that describe the main laws. However, pay attention to the introduction of the 10 commandments: ""I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. " Now you take this as whatever you want it to mean but of all the countries in the world no country offers more freedom than USA which is the total opposite of slavery. I agree with you: "The majority of the world's population is non christian" My point was this is a sad fact. There you go again: "So what if they were vikings?" I suppose that makes no difference whatsoever. It is this twisted thinking: "So what" that defies logic. I don't know but I would have felt a lot safer with less vikings around. Then again that's just me. You talk about Sweden and Switzerland. I still think it's their Christian heritage that's still influencing them even though I must agree to a large extent they have moved away from Christian principles and have gone the other way. Like for example now they put this guy in jail for preaching against homosexuality in church. Your last point (it bugs me that I cannot quote like you among lines/quotes that is because I don't know how) about the Japanese: I am aware of their ruthlesness and they probably be the same if they had to ight a war to defend their land It puzzles me to what great lengths you go to defend those who are not American (those who freed Europe in the WW2). And yet, when the Americans they steps to defend their own country and their interests you go on the offensive. Seems to me like double standard.