Kurdish independence.

[Scaff]

Turkey had ties and trade with the KRG, and even Barzani himself. Turkey won't conduct cross border activity without permission from Iraq and those clashes usually occur between them and the PKK. It has died down recently so that is good news, now it should remain and entirely Iraqi affair.

I'm a lot less optomistic about that given the history between the two.

Government in Emirates is harsh on opposition and there is even such a thing as thought crimes there, but as far as lifestyle goes they are rather loose. There are night clubs in Dubai for example.

I know I've been to them, I still wouldn't walk back to my hotel having had a few drinks in one.

I'm not sure what occurred in that incident with that tourist or what he got in trouble in for.

He fell over, accidentally touched another mans hip in an attempt to steady himself and got arrested.

Apostasy is a crime, homosexuality is a crime, stoning and flogging are still legal punishments, pre-martial sex is a crime. In 2015 a Sustraian was deported for swearing on Facebook.

That's not what I would personally class as a 'loose' view on lifestyle.

The point is the people there are secular, or live a lifestyle with minimal religious influence. I would say the same about those other country's I mentioned along with Jordan, Bahrain, Algeria, even Kuwait has somewhat secular lifestyle.

Kuwait does not have a secular lifestyle at all.

The degree of government censorship and total ban of alcohol alone are enough to put pay to that.

Egypt depends on the area you're in, since many people are poor and more traditional there.

UAE is a hit or miss for vacationing, really depends on the person. If you're into the weather and nightlife in the city, you'll like it.

The weather in summer sucks, no one sane goes outside in the day and the nightlife is no better than dozens of other cities I visited, however it is vastly more expensive.

I wouldn't recommend staying at those expensive hotels, there is more to do in the UAE if you know some people there. You can also visit nearby Oman as well. Interesting scenery and culture there.

Oh on that side I agree, when my dad lived in Dubai, his place was south of the Creek and the Media City and associated areas hadn't been built. I far preferred it as a place to visit, and it was as a place far more honest about what it is.

Modern Dubai (and to a degree the wider Emirates) is a veneer of westernism, underneath which is a still a very traditional and conservative country, one in which approx 88% of the people who live in it have almost no rights in comparison to the 12% of Emeraties.

I visit it semi-frequently for work (six times in the last eight years), and while its vastly preferable to either Kuwait or Saudi (both of which we have offices or importers in) I woudl not consider is to be either truly liberal or secular at all.

 

[AdamA998]

@Scaff

When was your Dad there? I don't remember anything about a Creek or media city, but it's been awhile and I was mostly elsewhere in the UAE. In Dubai there are some nice areas where you can rent out rooms for the day to swim on the beach. I also remember the coastal area near the colorful hotel they have there. If you like cars you will have a blast there as there are supercars everywhere.

 

[Scaff]

@Scaff

When was your Dad there? I don't remember anything about a Creek or media city, but it's been awhile and I was mostly elsewhere in the UAE. In Dubai there are some nice areas where you can rent out rooms for the day to swim on the beach. I also remember the coastal area near the colorful hotel they have there. If you like cars you will have a blast there as there are supercars everywhere.

Pretty much all of the '90s.

The creek's been their loner than Dubai has, its a well known divide between the old and new parts of the city.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Creek


Media City is one of the modern areas of the city.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubai_Media_City

 

[Rage Racer]

Turkey started offensive on a Kurdish-held city in Syria, Afrin.

The local Kurdish militias blame Russia for 'betrayal', because RF troops left this area before Turkish army moved in, to not interfere in this operation.

It's funny. US allies (Turks) are fighting US allies (Kurds). Who is to blame? Russia.

 

[zzz_pt]

Turkey started offensive on a Kurdish-held city in Syria, Afrin.

The local Kurdish militias blame Russia for 'betrayal', because RF troops left this area before Turkish army moved in, to not interfere in this operation.

It's funny. US allies (Turks) are fighting US allies (Kurds). Who is to blame? Russia.

Do you have any source? I'm not aware of this yet.

 

[mustafur]

Turkey started offensive on a Kurdish-held city in Syria, Afrin.

The local Kurdish militias blame Russia for 'betrayal', because RF troops left this area before Turkish army moved in, to not interfere in this operation.

It's funny. US allies (Turks) are fighting US allies (Kurds). Who is to blame? Russia.

Anyone with common sense knows Erdogans bottom feeders will try take out the kurds the moment they know they have no real opposition.

But its a messed up situation as the US can't back them up because of Turkey although judging my Erdogans increasing anti US behaviour, It might happen even if it would be pretty damn reckless even for the US.

 

[Rage Racer]

Do you have any source? I'm not aware of this yet.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_military_intervention_in_Afrin

General Command of YPG in Afrin stated: "We know that, without the permission of global forces and mainly Russia, whose troops located in Afrin, Turkey cannot attack civilians using Afrin airspace. Therefore we hold Russia as responsible as Turkey and stress that Russia is the crime partner of Turkey in massacring the civilians in the region."

Anyone with common sense knows Erdogans bottom feeders will try take out the kurds the moment they know they have no real opposition.

It’s not like Erdogan decided to act when he saw the Russians leaving. It’s the other way - Turkey notified Russia about the operation they prepare, and the RF forces left Afrin to avoid interference.

 

[mustafur]

It doesn't look good on Turkeys part when they didn't enter Syria until after the ISIS threat was gone to beat up the very people that helped it happen especially when they are backed by NATO the same group Turkey is part of.

Say what you want it's pretty much a bottom feeder tactic.

Turkey has been looking for excuses to beat up on Kurds since they where founded as a nation, just look how they treat the ones in their own border in the east.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurds_in_Turkey

 

[Mr Tree]

Anyone with common sense knows Erdogans bottom feeders will try take out the kurds the moment they know they have no real opposition.

But its a messed up situation as the US can't back them up because of Turkey although judging my Erdogans increasing anti US behaviour, It might happen even if it would be pretty damn reckless even for the US.

I just don't get why nato doesn't slap on sanctions...
If yhe situatuon remains as is turkey showed they don't care for the NATO position. So they have proven to have no intentions to work within a organisation as the NATO.
Europe and USA have proven their alliences mean jack, they see small groups as pawns they can use and dispose at any given time when the situation requires it.

I do believe we are rapidly moving to a world wide conflict. Multiple leaders of multiple nations have showed that the word of their country is nothing more but words, the US have showed that their agreements can only be considered to last as long as the current presidency lasts...

We just live in a world where people want to vote for strong leaders (read kids who want to play real life stratego with the lives of your friends and familiy)

 

[mustafur]

I just don't get why nato doesn't slap on sanctions...
If yhe situatuon remains as is turkey showed they don't care for the NATO position. So they have proven to have no intentions to work within a organisation as the NATO.
Europe and USA have proven their alliences mean jack, they see small groups as pawns they can use and dispose at any given time when the situation requires it.

I do believe we are rapidly moving to a world wide conflict. Multiple leaders of multiple nations have showed that the word of their country is nothing more but words, the US have showed that their agreements can only be considered to last as long as the current presidency lasts...

We just live in a world where people want to vote for strong leaders (read kids who want to play real life stratego with the lives of your friends and familiy)

Turkey has a trump card, they are holding millions of refugees that would be a political nightmare for the EU if Turkey kicked them out, so they are forced to play by their rules.

It's hard to blame US & co for this though do you really want to see a war with a country like Turkey, they have a significantly more formidable military then anything else seen in the middle east it would be a blood bath.
knowing Trump though, if it ticks him off just enough he might blow it all just to teach Erdogan a lesson.

 

[Mr Tree]

Turkey has a trump card, they are holding millions of refugees that would be a political nightmare for the EU if Turkey kicked them out, so they are forced to play by their rules.

I realise that. Not to forget that Erdogan is vaguely threatening to change allience and join 'the russians', which would be a geopolitical nightmare.

But I always wonder blackmail only works if you let yourself be blackmailed...
Not saying the consequences are negligable on the contrary but conceding and 'paying' your due doesn't solve anything all that can happen is you give, you give, you give, until a certain treshold has been reached at that point you get a conflict and everything you gave before that is just lost and made your enemy stronger.

The truth is we all know Erdogans pov's and we know what he wants is to be supreme rules of turkey with it's borders back to what the ottoman empure had...

 

[SestoScudo]

Syria Wars: Ottoman Empire Strikes Back.