Take-Two: Revisiting Turkish Manifesto
Sweden may have to be placed in a remedial class on NATO
Sweden wishes to become a member of NATO. Last year, in the Madrid Summit, Turkiye put forward a “Manifesto”. It spelled out conditions for Sweden to meet for admittance to the esteemed alliance. A year later in the Vilnius Summit, here comes Take-Two: Revisiting Turkish Manifesto!
For those deemed unprepared!
REMEDIAL CLASS ON NATO MAY NOT BE ENOUGH
The bad news for Sweden is that a remedial class on NATO may not be enough. Two additional remedial classes may be necessary to get the points across for approval.
Not getting what is in the “NATO: Revisiting Turkish Manifesto” presents a problem. Next two remedial classes would be “Masters” level, next to this that is a “lower” level.
Take-Two: Revisiting Turkish Manifesto
The Turkish Manifesto basically focuses on three areas. One says: Give me what I want and take what you want from me. The other two say: We first have to debate what is Democracy and on the difference between a revolutionary fighter and a terrorist.
Give Me What I Want and Take What You Want
Turkish Manifesto explicitly states for Sweden to turn over those that are wanted in Turkiye. Sweden, in turn, says that it will determine first who is guilty or not.
So the process will, possibly, take years. Never mind if the guilty may benefit from local laws and never be extradited to face justice where a crime may have occurred.
Based on that, Turkiye can respect the process in Sweden and wait until Swedish justice decides. So then, the decision to admit Sweden to NATO would wait as well.
The case is, temporarily, closed. End of discussion.
Democracy
Alexis Tocqueville visited America in the 1800s and authored “American Democracy”. It contains the guiding principles of Democracy in the West.
At this time, it is worth making two simple points about Tocquevilles’s observations that are praised ever since according to his tilt.
Firstly, Tocqueville compares the American revolution with French and then finds quite a bit of variations between the two, reflected in their Democratic systems.
In the meantime, Tocqueville ignores altogether how native Indians are mistreated in America. Never mind what he thinks about the slavery!
Apparently for Tocqueville, Democracy can coexist at the same time with inhumanity and with no qualm.
Based on these “solid” Western pillars on Democracy, Sweden can raise arguments forever against Turkiye and never agree to the Turkish Manifesto.
Take-Two: The case is, really, closed. End of discussion.
Revolutionary Fighter and Terrorist
It is not a novel idea that one country would define a revolutionary fighter when another would view it as a terrorist.
The only unwritten rule to get out of this dilemma is to charge one as a terrorist until one gets its own state where international persecution can be avoided.
Not until then everyone that commits an atrocity against humanity or attacks against the integrity of a sovereign or its leaders, is a terrorist.
As a result, extradition of fugitives becomes necessary so long as two states would like to live with one another or in peace.
Take-Three: The case is closed for good. End of discussion.
Take-Two: Revisiting Turkish Manifesto
For those that are deemed unprepared hence require remedial classes on these above mentioned three points, Turkish Manifesto must have been very clear for the rest.
NATO is an alliance of sovereign states and they are joined to establish law and order in the unruly international arena.
NATO is there to keep its members in harmony and not there to define what Democracy is or who is a terrorist or not.
Taking a lesson from Alexis Tocquewille, on Democracy, is not on the agenda of NATO. Especially, when Tocqueville could not figure out what exactly Democracy supposed to be in the first place in light of not knowing how to justify that Democracy can coexist with injustice.
To be fair for Swedes, it is too complicated for a lot of people as well. So, no offense on the Take-Two.
On that note, maybe requirements for membership in NATO are too much for Swedes to understand, no matter how many remedial classes they have to take.
