Kerry Furious – True Face PM Erdogan of Turkey

8 Comments

1. 

   Oui on March 1, 2013 at 11:46 am

   Policy under Morsi is same as under deposed leader Mubarak, expert

   (JPost) – The friction between the Muslim Brotherhood’s faith and the reality of running Egypt in its current turbulent situation has brought out Morsi’s pragmatic side, which is how the movement has been described, especially when compared to jihadist groups such as al-Qaida.

   Roxanne L. Euben and Muhammad Qasim Zaman, in their book titled Princeton Readings in Islamist Thought: Texts and Contexts from al-Banna to Bin Laden, explain Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna‘s view that “the multiple crises facing the Muslim umma [nation] require a commitment to action over words, deeds over slogans, practical over theoretical knowledge, unity over dissent.” Egypt’s Brotherhood regime is loyally following its revered founder’s advice – doing what is achievable under the current circumstances, but without letting go of their long-term ideological goal of controlling the world.

   As Banna wrote in his article, “Toward The Light [pdf],” the West inherited world leadership.

    “But lo and behold! It was tyrannical and unjust, insolent, misguided, and stumbling blindly, and it only remained for a strong Eastern power to exert itself under the shadow of God’s banner, with the standard of the Koran fluttering at its head, and backed up by the powerful, unyielding soldiery of the faith.”

2. 

   Marie2 on March 1, 2013 at 1:40 pm

   Netanyahu:

   “I strongly condemn the comparison that the Turkish prime minister drew between Zionism and Nazism. …

   Erdogan:

   “Just like Zionism, anti-Semitism and fascism, it becomes unavoidable that Islamophobia must be regarded as a crime against humanity,” Anatolia News Agency and other Turkish media reported.

   Always interesting to see someone condemning someone for something she/he didn’t say — particularly when she/he spoke carefully enough not to be misinterpreted.  

   Erdogan is in a tough spot both domestically and regionally.  Puppets of the west aren’t faring well of late.  So that limits the options for himself and his country.  

   • 

     Oui on March 1, 2013 at 2:49 pm

     In my diary I added the link of the citation in context of his full speech. At first I thought Erdogan gave a fine speech, however later it became one-sided from his point of world view. The Muslims were victim of Islamophobia as immigrants in the (Christian) world. Never spoke of persecution of Christians in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan or Egypt. He spoke in vague terms, avoided specifics and didn’t name the countries where multi-culturalism as a strength and could be seen as an example. Similar to Netanyahu portraying the Jewish state as victim of anti-semitism and the Holocaust.

     After I posted the diary, I remembered the UN and their reports on Human Rights and the Durban III conference. An Israel hasbara group called UN Watch
     needs such citations as Erdogan made for their agenda of hostility towards the Islam.

     Demonstration before UN in New York by endUNracism.com.

     Demonization of Israel: “Zionism is Racism”

     • “Israel Watch” slams Netanyahu on Mavi Marmara raid
     • 

       Marie2 on March 1, 2013 at 5:34 pm

       He’s competing for relevance and power in his part of the world and not the world.  A region that for the past decade has been actively under the bombs and geopolitical manipulation of powers that make use Islamophobia at home to keep the war machines operating.  (The people of Turkey are also sensitive to the times when they were subjected to direct attacks by Christians.)   The ordinary people in his region have more objective evidence that they are under attack because of their religion than Americans have cause to feel that the “Muslims are coming, …”  And like ignorant people bound to their religions across the globe and across time, they act out their fears against their perceived enemy in their midst.  That there are currently more cooler heads in the US — no large rampages against Muslims only small isolated incidences and the quashing of a Muslim center in NYC — may be more of a reflection of the tiny population of Muslims in this country and not what’s in our hearts and minds.  Plus so much of our anti-Muslim bloodlust is satisfied with our wars.

       It’s too easy to tell foreign leaders/governments /people to hold up a mirror to themselves when we don’t do the same.  US Congresscritters keep trying to pass an Armenian Genocide Resolution without recognizing the genocide of Native Peoples and slaves brought here from Africa.  While we ignore the millions we slaughtered for no reason in Vietnam and the untold number killed/maimed/displaced by us in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

       Given the world leaders on the stage these days, “enlightened” is not an adjective that comes to mind.  Even economically competent is in short supply — but Erdogan seems to have managed that much unlike a few others that could be named.  The toppling of the Assad regime wasn’t on his agenda but his country is paying a large price because it was on the Saudi/US/Israel agenda; so, maybe he should be cut some slack.          

        

3. 

   Oui on March 1, 2013 at 2:55 pm

   Racism Report: Africans in Israel

   (Mondoweis) Feb 1, 2012 – The African Refugee Development Center (ARDC) submitted a report to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

   This report demonstrates that Israel continues to ignore its international obligations towards asylum seekers and refugees and that various laws, policies and practices are racially discriminatory at their basis against this vulnerable population.

   ARDC documents, among other things, how Israel maintains its harsh policy of detention; tolerates segregation in the education system in Eilat; tacitly condones discriminatory edicts by state-employed rabbis; allocates temporary group protection to over 90 percent of the asylum seekers who arrive; and has reluctantly granted refugee status to only 140 individuals.

   June Dewar
   Anyone brave enough to teach these racist Israeli’s the Law of Yahuwah God written by Moses in Leviticus 24:22

   “One judical decision should hold good for you; The alien resident should prove to be the same as the native because I am Yahwey
   YOUR God. Isaiah 14:1 and he will actually give them (Israel) rest upon their soil, and the alien resident must be joined to them
   and they must attach themselves to the house of Jacob. These Israelites are not obeying the Law of Yahuwah the God of Israel.”

4. 

   Oui on March 1, 2013 at 3:42 pm

   Turkey-US tension takes envoy to Foreign Ministry

   ANKARA, Turkey (Turkish Weekly) Feb 8, 2013 – Already split on many key foreign policy issues, Turkey and the United States have found themselves embroiled in new tension after the U.S. envoy received a dressing down from Turkish officials yesterday in the wake of critical comments from the ambassador.

   The criticisms directed toward Ambassador Francis Ricciardone came in the wake of senior American officials’ reactions to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s statements on Israel, as well as their criticisms on the undemocratic nature of the Turkish judicial system.

   Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu expressed Ankara’s discomfort with the recent events in an unprecedentedly long meeting with Ricciardone that lasted for two hours and 15 minutes.

   Although the meeting took place upon the request of the U.S. embassy to thank Turkish officials over their efforts in the aftermath of last week’s suicide bombing at the embassy, Ricciardone’s recent statements and other top issues regarding cooperation against terrorism were brought to the agenda, according to sources.  

   Secretary Kerry’s Trip to Europe and the Middle East

    

   • Syria and the Changing Middle East Energy Map
   • A Transformed Turkey: What is the Role for Ankara as a Regional Power?
5. 

   Oui on March 2, 2013 at 6:19 am

   I do hope John Kerry is fired up about the peace issue in the broader Middle-East. What I read between the lines during his first week of travels, Kerry is much more the diplomat than “rock-star” Hillary Clinton. I don’t want to see a PR show of meetings between leaders, the negotiations should be behind closed doors. The same is needed for a break-through in the Syrian Civil War and the diplomacy between Obama and Putin for a political solution to end the bloodshed.

   Elliott Abrams: Kerry wrong to push for a permanent accord

   (Times of Israel) – The Israeli government was wrong in vocally opposing the Palestinians’ successful bid to be recognized as a non-member observer state at the United Nations, and wrong again in announcing plans to build in the controversial E1 corridor to punish them for the unilateral step,  Elliott Abrams, a former senior US official said this week.

   Abrams, who served as deputy national security adviser to president George W. Bush, also criticized new US Secretary of State John Kerry for seeking to achieve a final-status agreement between Israelis and Palestinians in his term, saying such a project was doomed to fail and would hurt American, Israeli and Palestinian interests.

   In the interview, Abrams criticized the current head of the State Department, John Kerry, for his zeal in tackling the peace process. (According to a recent story in Haaretz, Kerry is “determined to the point of obsession” to reach an agreement, and Abrams confirmed that it is rumored in Washington that Kerry is fired up.)

   Given the gaps between Israelis and Palestinians and the general turmoil in the region, aiming for a comprehensive peace agreement at the present time is a “mistake,” Abrams opined.  

   • Can Kerry measure up to ‘rock star’ Clinton ?
6. 

   Oui on March 2, 2013 at 12:29 pm

   ‘PM to renew settlement freeze after gov’t formed’

   (JPost) March 1, 2013 – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s emissaries at  coalition talks between Likud-Beytenu and Bayit Yehudi told the party that a moratorium would be placed on settlement construction immediately upon the formation of the new government, Channel 2 reported.

   The move was posed as “payback” for the practice among residents of West Bank settlements of joining Likud en masse in order to back hawks in party primaries with no intention of voting for the party in general elections. Likud officials have complained of the practice for years.

   The Jerusalem Post revealed days after the general election that a dozen West Bank settlements had more Likud members than people who voted for Likud Beytenu. Shilo in Samaria has 303 Likud members, but only 127 people voted for Likud Beytenu there. Yitzhar in northern Samaria, which has 93 Likud members, had only 21 Likud Beytenu votes.

   In the Jewish community in Hebron, there are 59 party members, but only 21 voted Likud Beytenu. In Beit El, which has 491 members, only 212 voted Likud Beytenu. There were also fewer Likud Beytenu votes than Likud members in Ofra, Elon Moreh, Revava, Itamar, Kedumim, Mitzpe Yeriho, Otniel and Eli.

   Channel 2 quoted sources close to Netanyahu as saying there would be grave consequences for the settlers “betrayal” of the prime minister and Likud.

   PM Netanyahu orders suspension in settlement starts for Obama trip

   (AFP) – “In telephone conversations which Netanyahu held with officials, it was emphasised that there was no (construction) freeze, but rather a suspension whose purpose is not to embarrass the political establishment during the president’s visit.”

   Netanyahu’s office had no immediate comment on the Maariv report.

   Later on Friday, privately owned Channel 2 television reported that Netanyahu’s coalition negotiator told potential government partners that after forming his new government, Netanyahu would initiate a freeze on all settlement construction outside the major blocs.

   • Israel demands Palestinian leaders calm unrest as protests, clashes rock West Bank after Jaradat’s death