In September 2015, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, alarmingly prophesied: “We are talking about millions of potential refugees trying to reach Europe, not thousands.” In a short space of time his worries were confirmed. Today, Europe’s best bet against the mounting crisis seems to be to deploy the new regime in Turkey, … Continue reading »
turkey
Can total war in the Middle East be prevented?
Three weeks ago, Russia started to directly intervene in Syria. The proxy war between Russia and Iran on the one hand, and the United States and Saudi Arabia on the other, threatens to turn into an actual war. Having lost control over its “victories” in the last fourteen years, the U.S. would rather keep this … Continue reading »
The mining disaster in Turkey made an ongoing massacre visible
[An explosion at a coal mine in the Turkish city of Soma on 13 May 2014 has resulted in the death of at least 284 miners. With another 100 miners still unaccounted for, it is the worst such disaster in Turkish history. The subsequent demonstrations seen in numerous Turkish cities appear to transcend solidarity … Continue reading »
Government response to protests in Turkey: class war from above
In one of his vitriolic reactions to the revolts in Taksim Square, the Turkish Prime Minister rhetorically asked: “When did the feet become the head?” He had characterized the protesters as looters from the beginning. He ultimately depicted them as an underclass striving to wrest power from the rulers. There are, in fact, revolutionary left-wing … Continue reading »
Turkey day
The traditional Thanksgiving meal– turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie– is a commemorative meal. This every school child learns. But the history of that meal goes far further back than 1621. And the story it tells is far broader than the New England tale that will be retold all over the US tomorrow. … Continue reading »