Russification v "Pan-Turkism"

Submitted by Caleb (United States), Sep 19, 2010 at 14:07

There's a saying on big city police forces in the USA: "That's a nice car for an honest cop". A patrolman or third grade detective who is suddenly driving a Cadillac or a BMW is liable to hear it from his sergeant. 96 percent in favor of continued rule by Moscow in two ex-Soviet republics, 93 percent in another and in a fourth 98 percent (!). Big margins--for an honest election. Do you "buy" (accept) those figures--and in nations with no tradition of democracy but ruled always by strongmen? Holding a plebiscite now and then that offers Hobson's Choice ("This or none") does not a democracy make. Is sending teachers where they are needed a bad thing? If it is, the USA is a "bad" country and long has been. We sent teachers to China, opened schools in the Middle East in the late 1800's while other countries were sending soldiers. And who are these Turkish "agitators"? Perhaps you mean diplomats?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".