to whom should Constantinople/Istanbul belong to

It looks as if I am the only person to vote for Greece. But there is a reason I do so. A nation is made up of its people, not the other way around. Just because the Eastern Roman Empire lost control of all its cities and lost all of its military, does't mean that it simply disapeared. I think the people apparently still thought themselves Greeks/Romans (Not sure what they called themselves). Thus, one of the reasons for the Greek War of Independence was probably because of cultural differences (the Greeks/Romans still thought themselves that, even up to that point). So, in my veiw, the nation of Greece is the "Third Rome"  so to speak, and thus the city belongs to them in that sense.

Originally posted by xristar But, along with the majority of Greece's population, I believe we should make the City ours once again

Well, I say good luck. Istanbul happens to have a larger population than entire Greece.

Well, I say good luck. Istanbul happens to have a larger population than entire Greece.

So? We still can take it.
Keeping it is another matter...

Originally posted by Feanor Originally posted by xristar So? We still can take it. Do you mind explaining how?

Let's see... Turkey has a larger defense budget, larger land forces, larger number of tanks, aircrafts, frigates and submarines. What is the base of your argument again?

...and who lost the Turkish war of independence? I call this line of rationale a draw.

What's with this thread???

10 million Turks live in Constantinople almost as many as Greek citizens today. Take back the city? To do it what? Or are we going to massacre or drive away 10 million people and bring settlers having a ghost city?

Megali Idea (or Great Idea, the movement for a Greater Greece in the 19th century) ended when all big Greek minorities were absorbed in the Greek state (by conquest or population exchange) That's all.

I won't even trouble myself voting


Edited by Vorian - 15-Feb-2008 at 22:55

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The�only�people�with�a�real�rational�argument�for�Istanbul�being�part�of�their�homeland�are�the�Turks�and�Greeks,�and�Turkey�
obviously�has�the�upper�hand�in�this�argument.

Originally posted by Sun Tzu Plus the Greeks are known for their ability to fight against a larger force as they have too many times in history and emerge victorious.

Greeks arent bullet proof and only have enough strength to defend against Turkey at best for the medium term. I suggest you look at some key numbers; costs of weapons and ammo, the number of men who turn 18 in both countries every year, the budgets that can practically be allocated to such an adventure. also assume you will need a combination of numerical superiority (as an attacker) and technological superiority (we have threads in here on both side). does Greece have both and if so can it maintain such a edge for how long? Im pretty sure i know what that answer is but maybe some other readers need to actaully think about this realistically in terms of modern warfare-current demographics.

Seroroiusly, taking a city of that size would be militray suicide and a humanitarian nightmare that makes Grozny look like a entree serveing. Even if Greece has an edge on technology and numbers, a crazy government , and executed a perfect blitzkrieg style attack to cut through the thraki defenses .... it all goes to sht when you enter a state of urban warfare. The harm to the Churches and the Patriarch would be unbearable to those that want them to remain intact.

Originally posted by Vorian What's with this thread??? 10 million Turks live in Constantinople almost as many as Greek citizens today. Take back the city? To do it what? Or are we going to massacre or drive away 10 million people and bring settlers having a ghost city? Megali Idea (or Great Idea, the movement for a Greater Greece in the 19th century) ended when all big Greek minorities were absorbed in the Greek state (by conquest or population exchange) That's all. I won't even trouble myself voting

LOL


No, call Mr. Scotty on the Enterprise to beam them up