...more recent posts
Speaking from experience, it's best not to still be in the bar when the roll downs roll down. Continuing for another hour or so after this point is, of course, even less advised. Still, I guess the possibility of doing such a thing needs to be confirmed from time to time. So yes, if you're wondering, it is still possible. And still not that good of an idea.
What the heck is happening in Turkey?
Recep Tayyup Erdogan was banned from running for election last November although his Justice and Development Party won a landslide victory. That ban has expired and he will run for a seat in parliament on behalf of the southeastern Siirt Province in the provincial election Sunday, March 9. From there, he will jump straight into the prime minister?s seat as head of the ruling party.I haven't seen this anywhere but Debka, so confirmation is lacking. But they tend to be correct about such things, and often a day ahead of everyone else.
DEBKA-Net-Weekly?s Ankara sources quote prime minister Abdullah Gul as informing confidants that he has agreed to step down and serve as deputy prime minister and foreign minister in the Erdogan government. It is all settled between them.
We are also informed that Erdogan has meanwhile informed Washington that, a week after taking office, he will have completed the process for gaining a parliamentary majority to allow US troops to use Turkey as a launch pad into Iraq, overruling the March 1 defeat of that motion. This would mean that the second front, which was thrown in doubt by the first vote, can go into operation around mid-March or shortly after.
Talking Points and CalPundit are now against the war. Is there anyone not on the far right who is still for this thing?
Josh Marshall: "At this point, we truly have the worst case scenario on the international stage. And I think that those costs now outweigh the gains."
Kevin Drum: "I still believe strongly that we need a tough-minded long-term policy aimed at eradicating terrorism and modernizing the Arab world (among others) - and that this policy should include the use of force where necessary - but not this time. This is the gang that couldn't shoot straight."