[TrumpCard]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sweden-should...13624.html

The problem with Erdoğan has now reached a point it could easily kill the admission of Sweden and Finland. While to some degree I think it was a political calculation by Erdoğan to extract benefits in exchange for his support, he has an unfortunate history of 1) taking things personally, and 2) going so far out on a limb he can't walk it back. The S-400 purchase was in that category. He could have parlayed that into getting what he wanted for local Turkish production of Patriot parts. Instead, he overplayed his hand and got no Patriot parts assembly and was removed from the F-35 co-production effort. He also ended up with a system the Turkish military doesn't have much confidence in.

I greatly fear the recent incident and Erdoğan's response to it puts him in a similar position regarding Sweden's membership request. He isn't going to get the extraditions he wanted, and he isn't going to get an apology from Sweden. He will get an explanation, namely that Sweden has laws and they must follow them, even if at times it is inconvenient. That probably isn't going to work for Erdoğan. Will he just back down after the election? I kind of doubt it given the recent turn of events.

Turns out a freelancer for Russian propaganda site RT is the person who paid for the permit to conduct the public protest / Quran burning. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/internati...-in-sweden  

I am not saying that the revelation of Russia’s involvement is surprising or would alter Erdogan’s position that Sweden should do more to prevent hate speech.  I just think this is notable and wonder what’s next from the malignant leadership in Russia.

[TrumpCard]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/sweden-should...13624.html

The problem with Erdoğan has now reached a point it could easily kill the admission of Sweden and Finland. While to some degree I think it was a political calculation by Erdoğan to extract benefits in exchange for his support, he has an unfortunate history of 1) taking things personally, and 2) going so far out on a limb he can't walk it back. The S-400 purchase was in that category. He could have parlayed that into getting what he wanted for local Turkish production of Patriot parts. Instead, he overplayed his hand and got no Patriot parts assembly and was removed from the F-35 co-production effort. He also ended up with a system the Turkish military doesn't have much confidence in.

I greatly fear the recent incident and Erdoğan's response to it puts him in a similar position regarding Sweden's membership request. He isn't going to get the extraditions he wanted, and he isn't going to get an apology from Sweden. He will get an explanation, namely that Sweden has laws and they must follow them, even if at times it is inconvenient. That probably isn't going to work for Erdoğan. Will he just back down after the election? I kind of doubt it given the recent turn of events.

Turns out a freelancer for Russian propaganda site RT is the person who paid for the permit to conduct the public protest / Quran burning. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/internati...-in-sweden  

I am not saying that the revelation of Russia’s involvement is surprising or would alter Erdogan’s position that Sweden should do more to prevent hate speech.  I just think this is notable and wonder what’s next from the malignant leadership in Russia.