BruceVC

Erdogan wants to go one step further and introduce the death penalty. Makes it a lot easier to get rid of all opposition to his plans for an all powerful executive presidency. He even built the palace where he plans to spend the rest of his days... Introduction of death penalty would mean that Turkey have decided to throw all their plans to join EU away. Not allowed to have death penalty if part of EU? Correct, its about the belief in human rights http://www.eeas.europa.eu/human_rights/adp/index_en.htm And Elerond is right, if Erdogan starts executing people he can forget joining the EU. The Germans have warned him about this

Guys Turkey is not a good example of a functional and healthy Democracy Yes they do follow certain Democratic rules but they have a strategic purpose in the region that is of greater consequence than " does Erdogan believe and implement all the principles of a Democracy " So it surprises me when people compare the purge ongoing in Turkey at the moment as "an example of the failure of a Democracy " These are two separate social and political realities and should not be seen as similar

Damn my character made the mistake of thinking he could have a relationship and threesome with Yen and Triss.....it ended in disaster and being chained to a bed at the Kingfisher So I need to make a choice between who is my true love, Triss or Yen

Why are you entertaining Oby's posts and assessments as factual or based on the reality of any global conflict ? Are you that bored? Now don't you worry now. My attention for you will not diminish despite me reaching out to other people. My concern has always been about people believing misinformation about the West, the EU and the future of the lifestyles we are use to and cherish. And those lifestyles are based and grounded on Western ideology which just means things like Governments elected by the people and accountable to the people Effective governments that maintain institutions Governments that respect the rule of law and order Governments that respect human rights Economies that are driven and sustained by the free market These are part of the structures that basically all Western countries and Western societies adhere to and these systems work !!!! Thats why the citizens of Western countries have the best quality of life and in most cases also have the happiest citizens in the world

I see some residents of Baton Rouge are saying the violence against the Police is being perpetuated by people who have there own "BLM agenda " and come from outside the state I can believe this as this aligns to the whole " the movement of BLM does not stand for violence against Police " And yes of course some members of BLM do believe in violence but that doesn't represent what the whole movement actually stands for

Vals for me is one of the most exasperating posters I have ever met, he seems to truly operate in his own world of pseudo-intellectualism and constantly claims " other people on these forums have no idea what they say or there sources of information are obviously biased " when in fact he is constantly wrong or misinformed on a majority of topics And no I dont miss debating with him

Why are you entertaining Oby's posts and assessments as factual or based on the reality of any global conflict ? Are you that bored?

Same It could be, we cant say its impossible but it is very early so we should wait and see

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/17/us/baton-route-police-shooting/index.html 3 dead and 7 wounded....its very early to speculate about who is responsible

What ? Just summarize in a few lines what you think I'm missing?

I always thought Jeb Bush had some reasonable views Why is any support Trump can get ultimately a good thing for the US? You didn't read that close enough. The "we" I was referring to is the Libertarians. Ah, yes I see your point My bad

And ?Do tell....who was the unlucky recipient of the inauspicious Steam refund policy

I always thought Jeb Bush had some reasonable views Why is any support Trump can get ultimately a good thing for the US?

We went to a really authentic German restaurant yesterday called Schwabinger http://schwabinger.co.za/ The food was amazing, I had one of the best Eisbeins I have ever had

Turkey is not the worst in the region, not by a long shot. Remember Turkey is instrumental in areas like The airstrike campaign against ISIS, Turkey provides logistical support to numerous Western air forces Turkey is very important in helping to process and contain large numbers of refugees wanting to get into the EU ISIS is still the worst by far

But guys despite Turkeys internal domestic strife the country is of immense strategic value to the West and is important to ensure stability in the region So we dont want Turkey to fail

Yes but this only will be a temporary cessation of the airstrikes, Turkey needs time to assess this coup and there will be numerous arrests Sounds to me more like a purge of non-Islamic fanatic generals and a spit in the face of US for US now officially supporting Kurds in north Iraq Yes there is some truth in this concern, Erdogan has said he can now purge Turkey of ...people who oppose him? http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/07/turkey-government-launches-purge-attempted-coup-160716162415421.html

Yes but this will only be a temporary cessation of the airstrikes, Turkey needs time to assess this coup and there will be numerous arrests

Oh QFT Zora is a true armchair master of how " massive structural changes to the EU are necessary and how the West is about to collapse " yet he lives, judges and "shows concern from his nice safe world of NZ" Remember Zora wants the West to fail, I am use to debates with people like him...since 9/11 in fact. Dont take what he says seriously, its always the same. Part of what he says is true and relevant and part of what he says is biased and hyperbole ...its best to consider him a permanent " hostile witness about the West "

Is exactly the question we should be asking. Sure 'Islam' will pop up- and should be adressed- as 'communist' or 'liberal' did back in the day or 'Christian' if we go back a little further.. but seeing as clamping down back then didn't work at all, perhaps we shouldn't stop asking when we hit the first label... But Ros the common denominator is Islamic Extremism Its not the same as Islam which represents the majority of Muslims

Gfted1...I detect the hint of sarcasm in your tone

I'm not so sure mankind should be the ones to pay? I would rather Islamic extremism was eradicated than everyone else pay?

I fear we're all underestimating the rapidly growing discontent of the western middle class with the status quo.. To the point that I fear both Trump and Le Pen have a very real chance to win in their respective elections. Immediately after the Brexit vote I thought that there was that risk, but Trump seems to be intent on staying within his primary talking points, which appeal to the Republican base and almost literally no one else in the US. His VP pick appears to be dire, and has already been lambasted even before it has been officially announced. Guys Hilary Clinton is going to win the Presidential race in November, I thought this was something we had all begrudgingly or kind of agreed on? Why are we even doubting this?

The problem is when Muslims self-segregate which it seems they do there from what I'm reading, assimilation isn't going to happen. They have to want it and it seems they don't. It's becoming a problem here in the US in the refugee communities. The Islamic refugees are forming isolated and insular groups that choose not to participate in the society they live in. You can't force someone to assimilate. Unless of course you are Borg. So France is one of the worst examples of successful integration, the reasons are complex and its not all the fault of the French. So yes the French Muslim community also needs to accept its share or responsibility But you dont want the USA to end up like France with real examples of Muslim segregation. But in the USA I cant see this happening, its unlikely?

No I don't support the view this is a example of " cultural incompatibility " France does indeed face unique issues around integration of parts of its Muslim community but there are many other EU countries that have been very effective at integration