Are Greece and Turkey setting fires to each others forests?

[Komutan]

A few years ago, a Turkish columnist was telling about a newly deceased Turkish secret agent he had known. One of the acts of this agent was "setting fire to the forests of a neighbour country as a payback for them setting fire to Turkish forests".

At the start of this summer there were many forest fires in Turkey and arson was suspected. Now at the end of summer, there are large forest fires in Greece and Greek authorities are suspecting arson too.

Of course this can not be proven. It is almost impossible to find solid evidence about the start of a forest fire. But I do not put it past both countries to do such a low act against each other.

[Papewaio]

In Australia we get plenty of local nuts who engage in lighting fires.

[KrooK]

This post is a bit similar to polish communist propaganda from 50ties of XX century.
According to propaganda US submarines spread parasites at polish coast.

Maybe Greek and Turkish governments don't love each other - but there is a different beetwen no loving someone and agression.

[Komutan]

Were there indeed parasites in Poland?

The forest fires are real and both governments have officially told that they suspect arson even though they did not blame each other.

[Ser Clegane]

My understanding was that (at least in Greece) people rather think that the culprits are persons who are hoping that they could make money from land that would be relaesed for construction after the woods are burnt down.

Seems more plausible to me than Turks and Greek setting each others woods on fire.

EDIT: Found an article on the issue:
How Arson Leads to Profits in Athens (http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,500480,00.html)

[Tristuskhan]

Survey made in southern France about the firestarters, three categories are on top (that's a serious survey):

1- Firemen!
2- Forestry workers!
3- Farmers.
But I admit the coastline in southern France is already built up, once ago people speculating on the land's building potential were also a common feature. And guess who own the land? Farmers...

As far as I know, no spy was caught setting the forest on fire yet... but if the Greek and Turkish services have nothing to do but cracking matches in the woods, it means both countries are so peaceful they are bored with it. Secret services setting fire, armies becoming firefighters, so many useless people working for once, that's a social achievement.

[Fragony]

edit, ser beat me to it

[Odin]

While some of the news stories I have seen have been pretty bad for the greeks, it seems to me that arson is a cheap viable tactic to inflict serious damage on an advisary.

Again, this isnt a promotion of arson but rather my thoughts on arson as a tactic. Look at the havoc in Greece right now with these fires, on top of the record heat. If Greece were my enemy throwing a few matches in some brush is an inexpensive way to inflict real material damage and sap resources.

We get fires like this in the U.S. all the time, and havent yet got the point of pointing the finger to a foriegn element, but it dosent take a dramatic leap to see the viability/possibility that the fires in Greece are a hostile act funded by a foriegn government.

[Komutan]

I forgot to mention their possible reason for setting fires to forests. Both Turkey and Greece have a good deal of income from tourism and they are rivals in this sector. Setting fires to forests near touristic areas is a good way to sabotage the other sides tourism.

But in my opinion, what makes this more than a half-baked conspiracy theory is the article written by the columnist I told in my first post. On this article, the Turkish intelligence agent Sabah Ketene clearly states that he has set fires to forests in a neighbour country as payback for them setting fires to Turkish forests.

I know most of you can't understand Turkish, but here is the article:

http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=4560486

[Odin]

I forgot to mention their possible reason for setting fires to forests. Both Turkey and Greece have a good deal of income from tourism and they are rivals on this sector. Setting fires to forests near touristic areas is a good way to sabotage the other sides tourism.

But in my opinion, what makes this more than a half-baked conspiracy theory is the article written by the columnist I told in my first post. On this article, the Turkish intelligence agent Sabah Ketene clearly states that he has set fires to forests in a neighbour country as payback for them setting fires to Turkish forests.

I know most of you can't understand Turkish, but here is the article:

http://hurarsiv.hurriyet.com.tr/goster/haber.aspx?id=4560486

I cant read turkish, but I think you will be hard pressed to find anyone who thinks its a half baked conspiracy theory. It maybe in this case, but on the other hand as i outlined in my first post its a viable tactic that can inflict serious damage on an opponenet (no matter the theatre of warfare, tourism too)

[Patriarch of Constantinople]

Actually, our minister of Public Order has stated that the fires may be terrorist attacks, and the government is issueing rewards for providing info. A Greek government statement read: "The reward is set between €100,000 and €1,000,000 for every act of arson, depending on whether death or serious injury occurred and the size of the damage."

[Beirut]

Arson on that scale would be an act of war. That's a big fat line in the sand to cross just to annoy the neighbours. I can't imagine it was a government sanctioned action.

[Samurai Waki]

Or it could just be a similar situation that is being dealt with in the US, old growth forest not being allowed to burn for such a long time that it goes up like kindling... Seems like the simplest explanation to me.

[Husar]

Actually, our minister of Public Order has stated that the fires may be terrorist attacks, and the government is issueing rewards for providing info. A Greek government statement read: "The reward is set between €100,000 and €1,000,000 for every act of arson, depending on whether death or serious injury occurred and the size of the damage."
Welcome back, pater, how is the army? :beam:

Last I heard was what Ser Clegane already said.

[Slyspy]

Yeah, look for the money to find the culprits.

We had an old pub near here which was sold for development. However since it was a listed building the developers were denied planning permission. It sat empty for a few months and then burnt down. The verdict: Arson by persons unknown. Result: Shiny new flats built as per the original planning application.

At least some of the Greek fires are likely to be this sort of thing on a larger scale.

[Marshal Murat]

I'm sorry.
300 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDiUG52ZyHQ&mode=related&search=)
0:40

'Sparta will burn to the ground!'

[Cataphract_Of_The_City]

I'm sorry.
300 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDiUG52ZyHQ&mode=related&search=)
0:40

It was close. I was in Sparte last weekend and it was covered with smoke and ash was falling from the sky all the time. There were huge fires on the mountain ranges flanking the Eurotas valley (Mt Taigetos, Mt Parnonas).

[Devastatin Dave]

Sorry, but I don't see what they big deal is. The best thing I have ever had in my life was a Turkey deep fried in greece. It was so yummy. You guys should try it next Thanksgiving.

[Kralizec]

Sorry, but I don't see what they big deal is. The best thing I have ever had in my life was a Turkey deep fried in greece. It was so yummy. You guys should try it next Thanksgiving.

Lol :beam: