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Confused malcontents swilling Chardonnay while awaiting the Zombie Apocalypse.
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7/11/20
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan formally reconverts Istanbul's sixth-century iconic Hagia Sophia into a mosque and declares it open to Muslim worship, sparking rebukes from Orthodox leaders.
Read more from www.abc.net.au7/12/20
I agree.
Right now it is still open to the public.
But that will change soon.
Then the womenfolk won't be allowed in, either.
7/12/20
Turkey recently converted Istanbul's sixth-century Hagia Sophia back into a mosque and declared it open for Muslim worship, but why is the decision causing so much controversy among international leaders?
Read more from www.abc.net.au7/12/20
Erdogan says visitors will still be allowed in. I assume that may include female visitors.
7/13/20
For now...
Anyway, things will be tense.
In a very brief, improvised remark, the Pope, speaking from his studio window overlooking St Peter's Square, says he is "thinking of St Sophia".
Read more from www.abc.net.au7/13/20
Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:In a very brief, improvised remark, the Pope, speaking from his studio window overlooking St Peter's Square, says he is "thinking of St Sophia".
It has little to do with Islam. It's just a political act by the Turkish 'dictator' in the hope that his voter base will appreciate what he's done. Not that dissimilar to the alleged coup attempt a couple of years back which was almost certainly organised by Turkey's spooks to break the back of the opposition and ensure Erdogan won another term. It's all very Third Reich if you know your history.
7/14/20
If Trump decides to leave NATO, Turkey will have the single biggest army in the alliance.
The future needs to be scrutinised, too.
7/14/20
Turkey won't leave NATO unless a better deal comes up. Of course that doesn't mean NATO isn't embarrassed by Turkish actions against the Kurds and in Syria, for example.
I think they joined NATO because they were afraid of Russia and because they had, at that time, more in common with the western democracies. Now Turkey has much less in common with western democracies.
7/14/20
Trump has threatened to pull America from NATO.
Turkey would be sitting pretty if that happened.