Europe, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and Turkey’s future

The Vineyard of the Saker:

An opinion article published on 14 June 2017 in Turkish online newspaper Hürriyet Daily News, makes a strong case for a rapprochement between Turkey and the EU. According to the author, political problems with the EU notwithstanding, bilateral economic and commercial relations are on the rise. In addition, not only the economy plays an important role. A rapprochement should be also in Turkey‘s interests with regard to the quality of democracy in Turkey. The author leaves no doubt that for him, „Turkey’s future is in Europe – nowhere else“.

This opinion is amazing, and this not just against the backdrop of the recent rapid deterioration of relationships between Turkey and the EU. Relations between Turkey and Germany in particular deteriorate almost hourly. Westen elites, and especially German ones, fail to understand, however, that this is partly a result of their attitude toward Turkey. In 1987, Turkey made her application to accede to the European Economic Community. Status as a candidate for full membership of the European Community (EU) was granted in 1999. As a result of President Erdogan’s victory in the constitutional referendum in April 2017, accession negotiations have stopped. Hence, Turkey has now been kept waiting for thirty years.

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First they came for the Nazis and pedophiles…

The Unz Review:

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

I have to begin this analysis by asking for your understanding for the fact that it will include a lot of full-length quotes. Under normal circumstances, I would have simply provided links, but considering the topic I will be discussing, and how some things suddenly “disappear” on the Internet, full-length quotes is probably the best option. The topic I want to deal with is the brutal crackdown on free speech by the AngloZionist Empire by means of its ‘loyal corporations’.

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Trump: Let Our Police Armor Up Like Soldiers

The American Conservative:

Apparently believing it will bolster his pro-police image, the Trump Administration has announced that it is reversing President Obama’s 2015 restrictions on the provision of certain U.S. military equipment to local American police forces.

Announcing the move on Monday to the Fraternal Order of Police convention in Nashville, Attorney General Jeff Sessions accused the former president of putting “superficial concerns above public safety” and cheered Trump’s decision, telling police that allowing cops to have military gear will send a message that “we will not allow criminal activity, violence, and lawlessness to become the new normal.”

Far from superficial, the concerns surrounding local police forces being given weapons of war had longstanding and serious implications for American society. This was true particularly after the Global War on Terror fueled an increase in military spending that left even more surplus military goods to be doled out to the police.

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Illinois to Create Gender Price Control Inspectors in Name of "Equality"

The Daily Sheeple:

So apparently there was a comprehensive, purely scientific, purely objective study conducted by New York City’s Department of Consumer Affairs back in 2015. The study claims to have compared about 800 products to see the differences between the pricing for products aimed at women and girls and products aimed at men and boys. Well, the study showed there was a devastating 7 percent difference between the prices.

This study maybe shoulda coulda woulda died the death of obscurity given the nature of its claims of “similar” products with little regard to whether those products were exactly the same, or taking into consideration such things as demand for the women and girls’ products versus demand for the men’s and boys’ products. But…..

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Trump Warns Congress: Don't Blow a Once in a Generation Chance to Pass Tax Reform

Town Hall - Katie Pavlich:

Speaking from Springfield, Missouri Wednesday afternoon, President Trump kicked off a major tax reform tour and called on Congress to act accordingly when it comes to getting a bill passed. 

"This is our once in a generation opportunity to deliver real tax reform for everyday, hardworking Americans," Trump said. "This is our opportunity to deliver real tax reform for Americans. I am fully committed to working with Congress to get this job done."

"I don't want to be disappointed by Congress," he continued. 

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Driverless Pizzas: Just a Start of Vanishing Driver Jobs

Mish Talk:

Your pizza is on the way. Don’t expect the driver to make change because there will not be a driver.



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The War in Afghanistan and Domestic Politics

The American Conservative:

Max Fisher and Amanda Taub contend that domestic political pressure is an important reason why Obama and now Trump have chosen to continue the war in Afghanistan:

As we wrote in an article last week, any American president knows that he or she will pay a high political cost for either striking a deal with the Taliban or withdrawing [bold mine-DL], which would likely prompt the country’s collapse. Because voters tend to blame presidents for change but not for the status quo, then keeping troops in Afghanistan forever is better politics even if it is not a winning strategy.

That’s an interesting claim, but I wonder if it’s really true. The war in Afghanistan is not popular, and the last time anyone bothered asking (in 2015) most Americans said they thought the war was a mistake. According to a Politico-sponsored poll, very few (20%) support a troop increase, and almost twice as many (37%) want to reduce the number of troops now there. As far as public opinion is concerned, there doesn’t appear to be much public pressure to continue the war in Afghanistan. The general public indifference to the war allows it to continue indefinitely, but that same indifference means that a president could choose to end the war anytime without risking a popular backlash.

The authors go on to say this:

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