Generally, probably yes. But if you can just leave the country, then it seems like a better option to flee the scene and repatriate as a possible criminal driver, instead of staying to be confirmed DUI and arrested for manslaughter you have to fight later.
While the world burns:
Gordon Sondland, Trump envoy and key figure in impeachment probe, faces criticism over $1 million taxpayer-funded home renovation
Sondland is filthy rich, so of course he can’t be expected to live in a dump, or pay for things himself.
Meanwhile, Ben Carson is still enjoying his renovated office, cackling with delight that the entire world has completely forgotten he exists.
Timex
5471
Yeah, this is what we want… for them to start fighting to throw each other under the bus.
Absolutely. We are now in the Battle Royale portion of the Trump Presidency. Staffers will need to scavenge for weapons, make and break alliances, and ultimately escape to wingnut welfare. Will Rick Perry accept a lifeline from shocker entrant Bolton? Can Kellyanne harvest enough faces to make herself whole again. Will Miller finish his fortress of childbones? Tune in tonight!
It was this ambulatory dogshit Johnson’s idea. British Trump.
Skipper
5475
I’m imagining the Trump administration is caught in DayZ now. Which seems like an apt comparison. :)
Skipper
5476
While we could all revel in throwing them both under the bus, I would hesitate to believe a single word that Trump says. I would find it MUCH more likely that Johnson asked Trump to speak to the family AND to the wife of the diplomat, not to force the communication directly between them.
That being said, both guesses are equally shitty and equally believable. So I say we pitchfork them both?
Guap
5477
A senior aide to Erdogen (bascially a Turkish mouthpiece) was interviewed by NPR this morning. Holy shit Turkey is too big for its britches. She was going off on how ridiculous that letter from POTUS was, how immature, and how laughable that they should treat, in her words “A terrorist leader” (the leader of the Kurds) the same as a member of NATO.
That’s right, they invoked their NATO membership in order to justify this war. And she also claimed the Kurds started it and considers all Kurds terrorists.
This is not going to end soon, or well.
Guap
5479
I feel bad for the people of Turkey. And Russia. And many other places with terrible leadership. Including . . . us. :(
Pence looks like one of the human shields from Desert Storm.
Probably a job he could actually do.
Skipper
5482
I’ve been to Turkey multiple times, at least back when it was more sane and sans-Erdogan. We have a large air base in Turkey and multiple use of Turkish ports for our visiting fleets. We have nuclear weapons located there, and a significant number of military and civilian staff stationed in country.
We also provide them with assistance on a number of items including civilian aid, foreign aid and foreign military funding.
This is more than foolish, and highlights that IMMEDIATE action is needed between the two nations to address the current issue. It would spell disaster for Turkey if they continue down this path.
Turkey is awesome. Fab holiday there a few years back. Ephesus was a highlight of my life. Worked with some great Turks too. Well, am doing right now, because of sanctions. Turkish counsel is in our Teams room.
Skipper
5484
Wish I could have seen that when I was there. I did do a few trips, my highlight being Pamukkale which was amazing to see. Even simple walking trips around Istanbul were pretty awesome.
This is a great and appropriate comment… for about 2014. I’m not sure any of these regimes have a bottom below which they won’t scrape today.
Yes, this current path Erdogan and the Turkish government seem to be heading down is pretty mind-boggling. Perhaps they believe that with Trump in charge in America and Johnson in the U.K., both countries are too self-involved right now to react against Turkey pushing the boundaries, but that seems dangerously short-sighted.
I also wonder what the people of Turkey think about Erdogan thumbing his nose so brazenly at NATO and the United States. Given the fact that Turkey was well on it’s way to being a far more tolerant, westernized and liberal country pre-Erdogan, I suspect that it’s similar to the situation in the US and UK, where a small but vocal minority is driving the bus with an unhappy majority as passengers.
