Turkey shuts off water flow to the Euphrates River

[Tierbook]

http://english.al-akhbar.com/content...E2%80%99-water

So with this we may see the first full blown water war, the longer this goes on the more likely for this to happen and it completely shut down the flow 2 weeks ago. The fact that we aren't hearing about this until now may mean that all 3 nations are looking for a war. Syria of course has been having issues with Syria but can't do much due to the Civil war, Iraq and Turkey have also had issues in the past. Another thing of note is that the areas in both countries that will be most effected by this are areas that are controlled mostly by ISIS, that is terrorist controlled areas. Such areas are more likely to attack the Dam and Turkey which would likely lead Turkey to claim that it was attacked by either Syria or Iraq and "defensively" declare war. NATO nations would be required to defend them, however, other nations would likely see this as an offensive war due to Turkey shutting the water down in the first place.

This could lead to issues, however, Syria and Russia are still good allies and if Russia went to help out Syria NATO could legally go to war on Turkey's side to defend it from Russia.

TLDR; Most Pre-WW1 like scenario we have seen in awhile. On the other hand this could be nothing seeing as there has been little news on it.

So discuss i suppose.

[Tierbook]

*fingers crossed* stayoutofitstayoutofitstayoutofitstayoutofitstayoutofitstayoutofit

We probably would so long as Russia stayed out of it, if they didn't though.........

[Ahhdurr]

I'm confused how they stopped it. Is Turkey just pumping out all the water or closed a dam? I guess both?

[YuneKirby]

Not going to say it can't happen, obviously someone is looking for a fight here. But hopefully it won't come down to Russia vs. NATO; that would be so immature. Like parents getting into a shootout because their kids starting fighting during a soccer match.

On the other hand, one could argue that politics is often a prime example of immaturity, so who knows.

[Nalikill]

Not sure how reliable the source is on that news, but if it's true, it brings something to mind:

http://biblehub.com/kjv/revelation/16.htm

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.

[Deleted]

If Turkey wants to start pissing people off, then Turkey, Syria and Iraq can deal with the consequences. Hopefully everyone else will just stay out of this for now instead of posturing and dragging the whole world into it.

[Tierbook]

I'm confused how they stopped it. Is Turkey just pumping out all the water or closed a dam? I guess both?

I think that the Dam in Turkey, near Belkis most likely, was shut down to stop the flow, The dam that they are thinking about shutting down but have not yet is most likely the damn at Al Tabqah in Syria, this damn is under ISIS control though and not the Syrian governments.

[Deleted]

This could lead to issues, however, Syria and Russia are still good allies and if Russia went to help out SyriaNATO could legally go to war on Turkey's side to defend it from Russia.

TLDR; Most Pre-WW1 like scenario we have seen in awhile. On the other hand this could be nothing seeing as there has been little news on it.

So discuss i suppose.

like they did with Ukraine

[Tierbook]

like they did with Ukraine

Could, didn't say would..... also Ukraine wasn't in NATO, Turkey is.

[Sunseeker]

So, the Euphrates is like, the longest river in Western Asia, so uh, how exactly does Turkey control the entierty of it? Surely there are other headwaters that feed the river before it reaches the gulf?

That aside, I'm not sure why Turkey is so hot to get involved in a war.

[Tierbook]

So, the Euphrates is like, the longest river in Western Asia, so uh, how exactly does Turkey control the entierty of it? Surely there are other headwaters that feed the river before it reaches the gulf?

That aside, I'm not sure why Turkey is so hot to get involved in a war.

Pretty much all of the rivers that feed into the Euphrates come from the Turkish mountains down into Syria/Iraq, The 2 rivers that make up the beginnings of the Euphrates both have dams across them in Turkey. Also Turkey's military is leagues above either Syria or Iraq. Wars are also good to keep the populace happy so long as they people you are fighting are long time enemies.

[Wildtree]

Maybe Turkey just returns the favor and gives Syria a taste of it's own medicine?
http://www.turkishpress.com/news/403965/

Very difficult to say anything, since there's nothing in the known western news outlets.
But it seems in overall, how Turkey itself has a water shortage problem currently.

[the game]

Not gonna lie I came to this thread thinking an actual turkey was blocking water flow... I'm disappointed.

[Tierbook]

Now that i think about it the fact that the area most immediately effected is controlled by the ISIS, both Syria and Iraq may be hoping to starve them out before they complain about it by which point it will be to late and they may have to go to war.

[Wildtree]

Not gonna lie I came to this thread thinking an actual turkey was blocking water flow... I'm disappointed.

Blame the English language for lack of inventiveness, naming a bird after a country lol

[Tierbook]

Blame the English language for lack of inventiveness, naming a bird after a country lol

To be fair at the time it was named a Turkey the nation was called The Ottoman Empire.

[nyc81991]

Not gonna lie I came to this thread thinking an actual turkey was blocking water flow... I'm disappointed.

Yeah I'm not going to lie either, That is what I thought when I first read the title lol.

[the game]

Blame the English language for lack of inventiveness, naming a bird after a country lol

To be fair the story would've been much better if it really was an actual turkey doing this.

[Wildtree]

To be fair at the time it was named a Turkey the nation was called The Ottoman Empire.

Yes and no.....
The turks are around for a long time, long before we've discovered America and the birds.

Here's an explanation:
When Europeans first encountered turkeys in America, they incorrectly identified the birds as a type of guineafowl (Numididae). Guineafowl were also known as turkey fowl (or turkey hen and turkey cock) because they were imported to Central Europe through Turkey. The name turkey fowl, shortened to just the name of the country, stuck as the name of the North American bird

Explained that way on Wiki.

- - - Updated - - -

To be fair the story would've been much better if it really was an actual turkey doing this.

rofl..... you might have a point there.

[Sunseeker]

Take a close look at the current Turkish administration, and this question should be answered fully. The whole area is going bonkers lately. I wouldn't be surprised if some big bang is ahead. But I do hope Russia keeps calm, because being legally bound to help the current Turkey (the people are fine mostly, the government sucks balls though) would certainly not be welcomed by most of the NATO states. Which would be all the more reason for Russia to stir things up well. /sigh

Legally obligated means nothing when you're substantially more powerful than the nation you're "obligated" to help.

Besides, NATO is a defensive organization. There is no obligation under NATO to assist a county in an offensive war.