Erdogan, Turkey sheltering smugglers; belittle EU/#Juncker

11-5-15
I have been a critic of Greece and their abysmal protection of the border, where #Turkey and their network of some 25,000 smugglers have abused them.  Yes it's somewhat overwhelming, but Greece seems to have totally disarmed.  But unlike Angela #Merkel, who is under some illusion that "refugee quotas" will magically solve the problem, Greece is finally pinpointing the main problem:  Turkey, #Erdogan and the criminal smugglers.

Merkel and the #EU are not respected by Erdogan or the smugglers; they are naive, feeble and easily pushed around.  Does Merkel really believe Erdogan will change his behavior by offering this bully some candy?  It never works out that way.

Greece is correctly pointing out that the #smugglers are hard core gangsters and must be confronted more forcefully in order to curtail the endless flow of #refugees.  Turkey to Greece is the overwhelming point of entrance and Erdogan, just as he has winked and nodded at ISIS, has turned a blind eye to the smugglers.

Smugglers do not play by the rules and neither should the EU when it comes to disbanding and eradicating them.  The UN may protest, but they are irrelevant and not interested in slowing the flow of migrants to Europe.  Erdogan and Turkey must be sent a strong message, backed by actions not words, that this will not be tolerated.  The action required would be tough, as it would require sending the boats back to Turkey and confronting the smugglers on the coast of Turkey.  This may further isolate Turkey, but Turkey needs Europe more than one thinks.  They know there is no future in the Middle East, it is falling apart. They are desperate for ties to Europe.

So why is Merkel and the EU not playing hardball with Erdogan?  Give Turkey a choice:  confront and sink the smugglers, stop the flow of refugees to Europe and we can talk about your future with us. Or continue your current behavior and cast your lot and future with an Arab world in flames; for we will shut you out.

These are truly challenging times that require a strong resolve to protect ones interests and future, even if this means being attacked by the usual suspects at the UN and in the media.  I continue to believe that Merkel is in over her head and not able to lead the EU.  This cannot continue. Even #Greece is coming to realize that the first step of any plan means dismantling the network of smugglers, playing hardball with Erdogan, and sealing the borders. Without these steps, all other useless chatter of "refugee quotas", "EU values", and "solidarity" is a pure nonsense.