Dear Editor:

I shared Pat Stuart’s Nov. 14 opinion entitled “On citizens and consciences,” plus my responsive Nov. 19 letter to the editor, with my friend residing in Turkey. Emin responded:

“Please let me explain for you what actually happened in 2015 when the desperate Syrians frantically escaped the violence fostered by Assad and his regime.”

“These Syrian civilians sought safe refuge in Turkey. Nearly 4 million innocent people arrived in Southeast Turkey and settled in the cities Sanliurfa, Gaziantep and the surrounding territory. The Turkish authorities worked with relief agencies like the Red Crescent (similar to the American Red Cross) and the AFAD emergency assistance organization from Turkey to set up shelters and provide food along with water and other essentials. The displaced foreigners started living in tents and prefabricated shelters.

“Interesting enough, many refugees recognized that Germany and other locations in Europe could offer their families the best opportunities. They were therefore willing to spend large sums to be smuggled into places like Germany. Merkel, Tusk and celebrities like Angelina Jolie visited these temporary refugee camps.”

According to my friend Emin, the European Union later signed an agreement with Turkey. This formal arrangement stated that, “If the EU paid $6 billion in aid for the many Syrian refugees, Turkey would not send these displaced people to Europe.”

Note: The Turkish Government agreed, yet the EU only paid $3 billion, coming up short on their original agreement.

“Some Syrians managed to land in Germany with help from smugglers. However, Turkey managed to persuade about 500 to not travel illegally into Europe.

“Please tell your American friends that our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan provided better quality shelters and assistance to the unfortunate Syrian victims who took refuge in Turkey, than the European Union. (The EU also provided their brand of assistance to the Syrian refugees.) Furthermore, he worked with President Donald Trump to establish a safety zone in Northern Syria, so refugees could return to their better-protected villages, while arranging for new homes, schools, churches, hospitals, and other essential facilities (all provided by Turkey).”

Emin went on to say that his information is far more unbiased than some more biased sources in the mainstream, United States media (i.e., CBS, NBC, CNN, etc.). And he complimented the business acumen of President Trump, saying that he is more businessman than politician.

As one might guess, Emin also thinks the impeachment inquiries are quite unfair.

Ed Morrow

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