I've travelled through Turkey and think it's a great country. Some of the best "Greek" ruins in the world are in Turkey, i.e. Ephesus and Pergamun. The Turkish architecture in Istanbul (Constantinopol) is excellent, i.e. the Sulymaneia(sp?) and the Blue Mosque. The Turkish people themselves are fantastic (I like em). Turkish food is excellent and a good reason to visit Turkey.

Turkey has been one of America's best allies. The Turks were with us in the Korean War and the Persian Gulf war. It's popular amongst many ethnic groups to dislike the Turks. This is mainly due to past history connected with the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire was an Islamic theocracy and among the worst goverments in history. It collapsed utterly after centuries of internal decay thus making Turkey an easy target for imperial powers. It was nothing less than a miracle that Turkey reinvented itself as the Turkish Republic (a secular democracy) and thus preserved it's independence. The Turkish Republic was founded on the principle of separation of church and state. It is well understood within Turkey that Islamic fundamentalism brought Turkey to ruin under the Ottoman Empire. However religious fundamentalism runs deep in Turkish culture and periodicly the military needs to intervene when some demagogue tries to use religion to further his political ambition (typically the political ends up getting hung).

The Turks maybe the most ferocious soldiers on Earth. They enjoy killing people. It is considered good fun amongst Turkish infantrymen to sneak past enemy lines at night armed with only a bayonet and cut the throats of enemy soldiers. While travelling in Turkey we were driving down a country road when some Turkish soldiers waved at us to stop. They punctuated their request by pointing automatic weapons at us. While traffic was stopped, a platoon of Turkish conscripts were herded across the road like cattle with their drill instructers encouraging them with whips (I saw this with my own eyes). After the last conscript ran by, we were allowed to pass.

I am ***SO GLAD*** the Turks are on our side. NEVER piss off a Turk.

Gary