Rick Perry Camp Explains Suggestion That Turkey Is Led By ‘Islamic Terrorists’
EmailMYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – In response to a question about whether or not Turkey should still be a part of NATO, Rick Perry suggested some consider the country to be ruled by “Islamic terrorists.”
“Obviously when you have a country that is being ruled by what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists,” Perry said during the debate.
Victoria Coates, foreign policy advisor to Perry, further explained the governor’s remarks, saying that some view the leaders of Turkey as Islamic terrorists due to their support of Hamas and the flotilla against Israel.
“The governor was responding to the questioners references to violence against women and to association with Hamas, I think both of which are things that many people do associate as he said with Islamic terrorists,” Coates told reporters in the spin room. “He was referring to those things, and while he would welcome the opportunity to work with Turkey on regional issues like Syria or Iraq, this kind of behavior on the part of that country is disturbing and I think we should concerned about it.”
Asked if the leaders of Turkey have performed any actions which place them in the category of Islamic terrorists, Coates responded: What he said was that many people associate that kind of behavior with that of Islamic terrorists. I think also their support for the flotilla against Israel this fall. It’s deeply concerning, and I think it’s something any future American president needs to be aware of.”
Coates said Turkey is an important country as the country serves as a “hinge point between east and west,” and is a NATO ally.
“It is certainly a topic he would cover in debate prep, particularly in terms of Syria. I believe what he’s mentioned it before its been in terms of coping with the Syria crisis and then also as I said as a NATO ally,” Coates said.
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If Romney has Walid Phares and Mitchell Reiss as advisors and if Newt states that the Palestinians are an invented people, then it naturally follows that Perry would call the leaders of Turkey terrorists and call for Turkey’s removal from NATO.
Posted by: Sinan | January 17, 2012, 12:55 am 12:55 am
Any way to get a war now it looks like.
Posted by: DEJ | January 17, 2012, 1:17 am 1:17 am
Is he know that Turkey is a secular country? And is he know that Nato missile defense shield in Turkey too???
Posted by: Sinem Ertunga | January 17, 2012, 2:18 am 2:18 am
Does he know that Turkey is a secular country and nato missile defense shield’s placed in Turkey too???
Posted by: Sinem Ertunga | January 17, 2012, 3:20 am 3:20 am
As hard as it is to decipher some of Perry’s veritable hurricanes of ignorance, it seems pretty clear that he confused Turkey with Syria and, thus, believed somehow that Syria was a member of NATO. Honestly, is that not the easiest explanation, sad as it is?
Posted by: Wade | January 17, 2012, 3:45 am 3:45 am
If you are running for president, you should know better. This is how Bush started wars with his lies and by being so dumb, so many people died from both ends.
Posted by: Zeynep | January 17, 2012, 6:42 am 6:42 am
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Posted by: deanbob | January 17, 2012, 6:49 am 6:49 am
So everyone who went on the Palestine Aid ship was an islamic terrorist ?
strange that…I didnt know the Red Cross and other Western Charities and human rights activists had converted to islam
How can you trust any one these people apart from ron paul or huntsman with foreign policy ?
their foreign policy is basically run by the council of foreign relations
Posted by: Joe | January 17, 2012, 7:10 am 7:10 am
Apparently this clown doesn’t know the role Turkey’s played in America’s wars on “terror” and/or invasion of Iraq nor fact they’re the only Muslim Country in NATO… but he wants to eliminate the Dept. of Education… Besides I’m sure the feelings mutual in other countries who opinion of America’s support to Israel can be perceived as supporting a terrorist organization and/or occupier…
Posted by: mticervin | January 17, 2012, 8:07 am 8:07 am
This shows how stupid he is. That’s why America is going backwards.
Posted by: David | January 17, 2012, 8:36 am 8:36 am
There is no question, for anyone who has been following the actions of Turkey, since an Islamist won election there, that the country is being assimilated into Islam.
They are treating women much worse, they are conflicting with Israel over Gaza (which should be of no particular importance to them), and many other outwardly visible signs of there Islamic shift.
I would actually agree with most of Perry’s comments, because I have seen those same indicators.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | January 17, 2012, 9:32 am 9:32 am
That’s very sad that a presidential candidate of US shows his ignorance about other countries on earth. I would bet if you would ask Mr.Perry where country of Turkey is on a empty map, he would not know at all. Turkish military currently fighting side by side with American military against Talaban in Afganistan. Ignorance is more dangerous than gun power.
Posted by: Ozgur | January 17, 2012, 10:43 am 10:43 am
This moron is simply unfit to lead anything, let alone the USA. I don’t know how he has survived this long in Texas.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 17, 2012, 10:56 am 10:56 am
When you disagree with the foreign policy of another sovereign , it is reasonable to express your opinion. In those circumstances, use reasonable language. When the dueling egos of the GOP start throwing around inflammatory rhetoric, they continue to amp up the tone with each exchange. Romney and Gingrich want to hunt down and kill everyone that they determine are enemies. In the current milieu of hyperbole and herd behavior, any country that disagrees is a terrorist. Invasion is just a short step away. In an odd twist, Perry days he wants to talk with Turkey (probably “talk turkey with them). Does that mean that he will “negotiate with terrorists” (Reagan says “what?).
Gingrich is invoking Andrew Jackson. Old Hickory was a polarizing figure that was pro-slavery and pro-Indian relocation. What do we call Gingrich? Old Pastry? Jackson also believed in putting young kids to work.
Posted by: Clark Elliott | January 17, 2012, 1:06 pm 1:06 pm
No wonder he wants to abolish the Dept. of Education. He will have to execute all the teachers too if he really wants to achieve his goal of making other Americans as ignorant as he is.
Only in Texas and a few other southern states could this illiterate buffoon even get elected dog-catcher. Is he aware that Turkey has been attacked by Al Qaeda, is the only country putting any serious pressure on Syria, and has agreed to host the anti-Iran missile shield on its territory?
Of course not. He could not find Turkey on a map, in spite of having actually lived there in his fighter jock days.
Posted by: tom | January 17, 2012, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
does he really believe what he said last night? forget labels – left, right, conservative, liberal, etc. what perry said may be the most spectacularly uninformed statement of the entire gop race for the presidential nomination to date. seriously, it’s immensely stupid on soooo many fronts. is this what we want from a future president – more serial stupidity? we had our fill with a previous texas president. not again. please
Posted by: rogerwilco | January 17, 2012, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm
Perry’s provincial attitude is much like GW Bush except more so. It’s embarrassing, and what makes it worse is that the people in my state have continued to elect him as their governor since 2000.
I guess because he spends all day combing his hair and polishing his cowboy boots, he doesn’t have time to learn about the world around him. I’d be willing to bet he couldn’t even point out the country’s location on a map. Also, someone failed to tell him that Turkey is our ally.
Posted by: Tex_Boy | January 17, 2012, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
another president fail for america :) guys you usually do magnificent things but you have no idea about electing the right person to right place…and you are worse than us (Turkey) on this matter
Posted by: Sener | January 18, 2012, 5:49 am 5:49 am
If sending aid can be labeled terrorist support then call me a terrorist! The flotilla was about human rights, not terrorism.
Also, Turkey is a SECULAR society that protects women’s rights and places an emphasis on equality between men and women domestically with its laws and internationally by hosting conferences on women’s rights.
Posted by: Elle | January 18, 2012, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm