Fear is driving Britain's Turkey policy

I suppose, technically speaking, the whole Turkey-entering-the-EU thing isn't my business. It is pretty hard living in Greece, however, and not finding yourself with an opinion on Turkey. My true feelings on Turkey entering the EU are ambivalent at best. While I think there could be some positives to Turkey joining the EU, I also feel that this is a country not ready and not willing to be the sort of country that belongs in the EU.

Sure, sure, they have made lots of changes in their bid to join the EU. Yet, all along the way they have been bitching and moaning about all these horrible changes they have had to make - changes, they say, that affect their culture, their people, their country. Ok fine, then why in the hell do you want to join the EU? They want to be part of the EU, but they don't want to change. Well, just about every country that is in the EU has had to change in some way to be a part of the EU. Do they think just because they are a predominantly Muslim country that they will get a free ride?

All of Ankara's posturing and complaining about the changes they have had to make, coupled with their sincerity in seeming to want to join the EU, makes me wonder what their motives are. Yep, they have a hefty population. Yes, they would get a chunk of parliamentary seats. Is this their conquering spirit, New World-style? Do they think if they join they EU, then the EU is theirs? I certainly wouldn't doubt it. Turkey has the maturity of a child who grabs a toy and says "MINE!". As someone who has studied ancient Greek and Roman culture a great deal, I find it particularly offensive that Turkish guides at ancient sites remark that "their ancestors" built it. Um, no. "YOUR" ancestors were busy roaming the East as nomads when these sites were built. I've bitched about this before, but what is with their whole Cyprus deal? Are they so dense to think they can be happily in the EU and pretend that Cyprus doesn't exist? And really, what country pretends another country doesn't exist? What is this, kindergarten?

So now Britain wants the EU to use a "softer approach" on Turkey's refusal to acknowledge Cyprus.

However, Britain is pushing hard for a softer approach, fearing that Ankara could pull out of talks altogether. "By welcoming Turkey, we will demonstrate that Western and Islamic cultures can thrive together as partners in the modern world," said British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in a speech yesterday. "The alternative is too terrible to contemplate," he said.

Awww, the poor wittle Bwitons are afwaid that the big bad Turks are gonna be mean. Suddenly the global atmosphere has turned into a high school cafeteria where the geeks are afraid of the bullies. You know, thats really great. Let's start inviting people into the EU left and right just because we are afraid of what they might do. It isn't as if we get Turkey in the EU all terrorism is going to stop.

Yes, I am sure Britain has other reasons (pressure from the U.S.? monetary?) for wanting to go soft on Turkey. Screw that. Lets get the punks in the high school cafeteria to tell Turkey to put up or shut up.