MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (Combined Sources)—Texas governor and GOP presidential hopeful Rick Perry said during a Fox News debate Monday that it might be time to kick Turkey out of NATO, calling the country’s leaders “Islamic terrorists,” reported the Associated Press.
Moderator Bret Baier mentioned Turkey’s ruling “Islamist” Justice and Development Party (AKP) and outlined the increasing murder rates of women, declining press freedom in the country and deteriorating relations with Israel and Greek Cyprus since the AKP came to power and asked Perry if he believed Turkey still belonged in NATO.
“Obviously when you have a country that is being ruled by what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists, when you start seeing that type of activity against their own citizens, then … not only is it time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong to be in NATO but it’s time for the United States, when we look at their foreign aid, to go to zero with it,” Perry said, adding that Turkey “moved far away from the country it once was in the 1970s,” when Perry was stationed in Turkey as a pilot, according to the AP.
Turkey’s foreign ministry was quick to “condemn” the statement, reported Hurriyet Daily News.
“It is expected of people aiming for a responsible position like the United States presidency to know more about the world and to be careful about what they say,” the foreign ministry statement read. “Turkey became a member of NATO when the governor was two years old. Turkey is an important member who has contributed immensely to the Transatlantic Organization’s struggle and shall remain as one.”
The statement also described the Turkish political leadership as “globally respected.”
“It’s been shown by the low support he received ahead of the presidential race that Perry’s unfortunate remarks are not taken on by the Republican voters,” the statement ended by saying. “The United States has no time to lose for names who fail its allies.”
It is about time Texas recognizes the Armenian genocide!!
Come on Rick, we have all been waiting for a brave Texas governor who can stand up to the arrogance of Turkey.
Perry knows what he is talking about! Would he hold the gun to them or abandon us as others have once in power? Well- at least he is truthful and we expect the Turks to deny it- they are such good boys!!!!Q
Rick Perry For President!
That’s what I call gettin-er-done, Rick!
NOR PARI LUYS … GOOD MORNING AMERICA :))
Rick sure has got it right.
Wait a minute, do I hear one politician who is not pro gooble,gooble,or a paid stooge for them.Finally, I believe there is a break-through.maybe the eight wonder of the world.I thought it was very ironic,we give gooble,gooble,billions of our money(for nothing) every year,they use it to pay off our crooked politicians.They use our money,not theirs.WAKE UP AMERICA.
Ha, bloody ha,a republican will kick out the wild turkeys out of NATO!!! Well,this is the best sequel to Borat.Next thing pigs will fly.And America will wake up.On the 12th of never.Dream on,brothers and sisters,dream on!!!
Gosh, one idiot talked, and all armenians jumping around. Wake up Armenia, you are very lonesome in your region, if you dont go on with the actual geopolitical occurances, you will be forced to leave that small area as well….
Rick Perry For President…..yes Perry for President, it would be great to see another idiot in the black house.
before you kick Turkey out, go feed your starving people.
This is impossible.Turkish army is one of the most powerful armies in nato.And also stronger than lots of european countries.And please get rid of that ignorant thought :”Turkey is an islamic country.”We are not Iran or saudi arabia.A simple example, islams symbol is hijab.70 percent of the Turkish women doesn’t wear hijab.islamic countries doesn’t know anything about islam.I know all your hatred for Turkey is because of islamofobia.But believe me, i hate islamic countries,too.There is just a little problem,it’s that:Our governtment AKP is some religious.İ can’t stand that our first lady wears hijab.I am ashamed of Atatürk.He gived us a modern country but now…I am a Turk and i live as europeans do.My mother wears what a european woman wears.Please,get rid of that ignorant thoughts.We are not islamic!Onthe contrary i hate it!