LCCC
ENGLISH DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
ِDecember
05/2010
Bible Of The
Day
Proverbs 1/1-19
Advices for the youth
1:8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s
teaching: 1:9 for they will be a garland (wreath) to grace your head, and chains
around your neck. 1:10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent. 1:11 If
they say, “Come with us, Let’s lay in wait for blood; let’s lurk secretly for
the innocent without cause; 1:12 let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and
whole, like those who go down into the pit. 1:13 We’ll find all valuable wealth.
We’ll fill our houses with spoil. 1:14 You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll
all have one purse.” 1:15 My son, don’t walk in the way with them. Keep your
foot from their path, 1:16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
1:17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 1:18 but these lay
wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. 1:19 So are
the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its
owners.
Free Opinions, Releases,
letters, Interviews & Special Reports
Statement by Canada's Minister of
Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon, on Forest Fire in Israel/December
04/10
A resurgent Syria alarms
U.S., Israel/By:
Janine Zacharia/December
04/10
Latest News Reports From
Miscellaneous Sources for December 04/10
Clinton
Hits Out at STL Critics: Attempts to Subvert Justice Are the Threat to Lebanon's
Stability/Naharnet
Former Lebanon's PM, Fuad Siniora's office attacked in south Lebanon/AFP
Report: Syrian Interference in
Lebanon, Arms Transfer Prompted Israel to Mull Attack on Weapons Depot/Naharnet
Baroud: ISF should Not Fall in
Political Rhetoric Trap/Naharnet
Lebanon Files Complaint with U.N.
over Israeli Spying Device/Naharnet
Mottaki: Iran Will 'Never Use'
Force against Muslim Neighbors/Naharnet
Israel's Deadly Inferno Still
Raging Out of Control/Naharnet
Qassem
Optimistic about Success of Syrian-Saudi Initiative before Indictment/Naharnet
Suleiman Continues
Consultations, Arslan for Practical Measures to Solve Crisis/Naharnet
National Dialogue to Be
Re-launched Soon as Suleiman Awaits Success of Saudi-Syrian Initiative/Naharnet
Berri: Issue of False
Witnesses Should be Solved Through Consensus or Voting/Naharnet
Syrian Ambassador:
Lebanese Capable of Working in Country's Interest/Naharnet
Baroud Penalizes Rifi for
Publishing Internal Memo/Naharnet
Hizbullah Foils Israeli
Attempt to Infiltrate Its Telecom Network in S. Lebanon/Naharnet
Aoun:
Leaked information part of ploy against Hezbollah/Now Lebanon
Wahhab: UNIFIL will not be
spared if Lebanese strife ignites/Now Lebanon
Israel “saddened” as
Brazil recognizes Palestinian state/Now Lebanon
Statement by
Elias Bejjani on Forest Fire in Israel
On behalf of the Lebanese Canadian
Coordinating Council (LCCC), I offer my condolences to the families and friends
of those who lost their lives in the recent devastating forest fire in the State
of Israel, and wish a quick recovery to those who were injured. My thoughts are
with all those affected by this terrible fire.
The LCCC strongly supports the Statement issued yesterday in this regard by
Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, The Honourable Lawrence Cannon.
Elias Bejjani
LCCC Founder & Chairman
http://www.10452lccc.com
A resurgent Syria alarms U.S., Israel
By Janine Zacharia
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/03/AR2010120306852_2.html
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, December 4, 2010; 12:00 AM
BEIRUT -- Syria's fresh interference in Lebanon and its increasingly
sophisticated weapons shipments to Hezbollah have alarmed American officials and
prompted Israel's military to consider a strike against a Syrian weapons depot
that supplies the Lebanese militia group, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
The evidence of a resurgence by Syria and its deepening influence across the
region has frustrated U.S. officials who sought to change Syrian behavior. But
the Obama administration has so far failed through its policy of engagement to
persuade the country to abandon its support for Hezbollah and sever its alliance
with Iran.
"Syria's behavior has not met our hopes and expectations over the past 20 months
and Syria's actions have not met its international obligations," Secretary of
State Hillary Rodham Clinton told the Lebanese daily an-Nahar on Nov. 10. "Syria
can still choose another path and we hope that it does."
Israel has complained to the United Nations about long-range missiles and
shorter-range rockets that are flowing freely from camps inside Syria to a
transit site along the Syrian border with Lebanon and on to Hezbollah. But
Israel has so far hesitated to take military action out of concern that such a
strike could touch off a conflict even bloodier than the 2006 war between Israel
and Hezbollah, said an Israeli military official, who spoke on the condition of
anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
In the past, U.S. interest in Syria was mostly limited to coaxing it to make
peace with Israel and to end its rule in Lebanon. But now it is increasingly
clear that Syria - with its pivotal alliance with Iran and its strategic borders
with Israel, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq - has the ability to shape regional
developments on a broader scale.
Unsuccessful U.S. efforts
The Obama administration's efforts at dialogue with Syria have done little to
stop the flow of weapons, end Syria's practice of sheltering Palestinian leaders
of militant groups, or counter Syria's interference in Lebanon, which has
undermined the U.S. effort to promote Lebanese independence from external
actors.
Although President Obama has named a new ambassador to Syria, his appointment is
being held up on Capitol Hill by senators who say they do not want to send a new
envoy to Damascus until the United States better articulates how having an
ambassador there would help achieve its goals.
Without a permanent top diplomat in the Syrian capital, U.S. envoys - including
Middle East peace mediator George J. Mitchell, the assistant secretary of state
for Near Eastern affairs, Jeffrey D. Feltman, and Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) -
have flown to Damascus to try to persuade Syrian leaders to take steps to
improve relations with the United States, which hit a low point in 2005.
That year, President George W. Bush, in the wake of Saddam Hussein's ouster in
Iraq, warned Syria to stop the flow of foreign fighters across its border into
Iraq, prompting fears in Damascus of a U.S. effort to topple Syria's leadership.
Massive anti-Syrian demonstrations in Beirut forced Syria to withdraw its troops
from Lebanon. Syria's relations with regional allies soured.
Today, there are clear signs that the country has emerged stronger than before.
While the United States maintains sanctions against Syria, American allies such
as India and Turkey have inked trade deals with Damascus in recent months that
undercut the American effort.
Syria plays a role in Iraq. In September, a parade of Iraqi politicians flocked
to Damascus seeking advice on forming a government
And Syria's alliance with Iran remains strong, to the dismay of U.S. officials
who, as the WikiLeaks cables show, had hoped to drive a wedge between Syria and
Iran, in part to stop the flow of weapons to Hezbollah. But Syria's support of
Hezbollah remains robust.
Flow of weapons
Israeli surveillance tracks the nighttime missile shipments as Syrian personnel
escort them from clandestine bases in Syria to the Lebanese border. At the swap
area, the weapons are transferred to Lebanese trucks and driven into southern
Lebanon and to Beirut, the Israeli military official said.
Asked about the likelihood of Israel striking at the border transfer area or one
of the camps inside Syria, the military official said, "This is definitely one
of the options Israel has. Of course any attack like this could lead to an
escalation."
Persuading Syria to break its alliance with Hezbollah's chief patron, Iran,
would be a key step toward ending the shipments.
But it is in Lebanon that Syria's regional resurgence has been felt most
profoundly.
Abdul Hadi Mahfouz, a Lebanese government official and writer, says Syria is
more effectively managing Lebanese affairs from afar than when it had 15,000
troops inside the country.
Wiam Wahab, a pro-Syrian Druze politician and former Lebanese cabinet minister,
says Washington must resolve its differences with Syria if the United States
wants to stymie Iran's influence.
Many Lebanese, especially those in the Christian and Sunni communities, still
oppose any Syrian role in Lebanese affairs.
Lebanon's top security positions - the head of military intelligence and
director of general security - are controlled by Syrian-approved appointees. The
government can't make many major decisions without first consulting with
Damascus. Lebanon's top leaders, including Prime Minister Saad Hariri, toe a
pro-Syrian line.
Syria's supporters
But the clearest example of Syria's restored influence may be Walid Jumblatt.
Five years ago, Jumblatt, a well-known Druze politician whose party holds swing
votes in Lebanon's coalition government, marched with the pro-democracy March 14
movement against Syria's occupation. He now describes that period as a momentary
lapse of sanity.
"I feel much more comfortable now. I'm back to my roots," Jumblatt said last
month.
Jumblatt credits Syria with reestablishing order after the Lebanese civil war
and suggests that Syria's military may need to take over again if Hezbollah is
indicted by an international tribunal investigating the killing of former
Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri and sectarian strife arises.
"It seems that, well, we cannot govern ourselves by ourselves," Jumblatt said.
"Lebanon is not a nation. It's a bunch of tribes."
Statement by Minister Cannon on Forest Fire in Israel
http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2010/382.aspx
(No. 382 - December 3, 2010 - 4:20 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the forest
fire near Haifa, Israel:
“On behalf of the government and people of Canada, I offer my condolences to the
families and friends of those who lost their lives and wish a quick recovery to
those who were injured. My thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible
fire.
“The Government of Canada is working rapidly to identify Canadian assistance
that could be provided to Israel to ensure the fire is extinguished as soon as
possible. We stand with the people of Israel in this time of need.”
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Melissa Lantsman
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
Former Lebanon's PM, Fuad Siniora's office attacked in south Lebanon
(AFP) – SIDON, Lebanon — Arsonists on Friday attempted to set fire to the office
of a pro-Western Lebanese former prime minister, a security official said, as
tensions between rival camps in the country soar. "At around 8:00 pm (1800 GMT),
unidentified assailants threw a bottle containing flammable liquid at the office
of MP Fuad Siniora" on the outskirts of the southern coastal city of Sidon, a
police spokesman told AFP. Former premier Siniora was seen as the right-hand man
of assassinated ex-premier Rafiq Hariri and is close to Hariri's son Saad, the
current prime minister. The spokesman said Siniora's office had been slightly
damaged but no one was hurt. Lebanese politicians have expressed concern that
such incidents may aggravate tensions, already running high over the UN-backed
Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) which is investigating the 2005 assassination
of Hariri. The STL is rumoured to be set to implicate members of the Shiite
pro-Iranian Hezbollah in the murder of Hariri, a Sunni Muslim who was close to
Saudi Arabia. The militant movement has warned that any such accusation would
have serious repercussions in Lebanon. On October 20, four women were injured
when a rocket hit a building in north Lebanon's main city of Tripoli, a mainly
Sunni area that also houses Alawite Muslims loyal to Syria. In August, three
people were killed when fighting erupted between Hezbollah members and armed
supporters of a pro-Syrian Sunni faction.
Copyright © 2010 AFP.
Clinton Hits Out at STL Critics: Attempts to Subvert Justice Are the Threat to
Lebanon's Stability
Naharnet/U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Friday that the U.N.
Special Tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri
will not destabilize Lebanon. "The Special Tribunal represents a statement by
the world that the era of political assassination with impunity in Lebanon must
end," Clinton said at a major security conference in Manama. "To those who claim
that the tribunal will destabilize Lebanon, I would answer: justice is not a
threat to Lebanon's stability. The attempts to subvert justice by undermining
the tribunal are the threat." Her remarks come amid high tensions in Lebanon
over impending indictments by the U.N.-backed probe into the Hariri
assassination. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is reportedly set to
implicate high-ranking members of Hizbullah in the killing, a move the party has
repeatedly warned against.(AFP) Beirut, 03 Dec 10, 21:45
Report: Syrian Interference in Lebanon, Arms Transfer Prompted Israel to Mull
Attack on Weapons Depot
Naharnet/Syria's alleged interference in Lebanon and its increasingly
sophisticated weapons shipments to Hizbullah have alarmed U.S. officials and
prompted Israel's military to consider a strike against a Syrian arms depot,
U.S. and Israeli officials told The Washington Post. But Israel has so far
hesitated to take military action out of concern that such a strike could touch
off a conflict even bloodier than the 2006 war, said an Israeli military
official. The Obama administration's efforts at dialogue with Syria have done
little to stop the flow of weapons, end Damascus' practice of sheltering
Palestinian leaders of militant groups, or counter Syria's interference in
Lebanon, which has undermined the U.S. effort to promote Lebanese independence
from external actors, according to the daily. It said that while the U.S.
maintains sanctions against Syria, American allies such as India and Turkey have
inked trade deals with Damascus in recent months that undercut the American
effort. And Syria's alliance with Iran remains strong, to the dismay of U.S.
officials who, as the WikiLeaks cables show, had hoped to drive a wedge between
Syria and Iran, in part to stop the flow of weapons to Hizbullah. Asked about
the likelihood of Israel striking at a border area where transfer of weapons is
taking place or one of the camps inside Syria, the Israeli military official
told the newspaper: "This is definitely one of the options Israel has. Of course
any attack like this could lead to an escalation."
"Persuading Syria to break its alliance with Hizbullah's chief patron, Iran,
would be a key step toward ending the shipments. But it is in Lebanon that
Syria's regional resurgence has been felt most profoundly," The Washington Post
said. Beirut, 04 Dec 10, 14:31
Baroud: ISF should Not Fall in Political Rhetoric Trap
Naharnet/Interior Minister Ziad Baroud denied on Saturday that he had problems
with the general directorate of the Internal Security Forces, but said the
institution should not fall in the trap of political rhetoric and should abide
by rules and regulations. "I was surprised to see that (ISF chief) Ashraf Rifi's
answer was published in one of the newspapers," Baroud told LBC TV network. On
Friday, Baroud took disciplinary measures against Rifi for exceeding his
prerogatives. The crisis of the security forces is chronic because of its
incomplete leadership council, he said, adding that he tried to fill the vacant
posts but did not succeed. Beirut, 04 Dec 10, 12:24
Lebanon Files Complaint with U.N. over Israeli Spying
Device
Naharnet/Lebanon filed a complaint with the U.N. Security Council on Saturday
over an Israeli device found in south Lebanon to spy on Hizbullah's private
telecommunications network. Hizbullah said Friday that it discovered the device
which exploded after apparently being detonated remotely by the Israelis near
the village of Majdel Selem, about 8 kilometers from the border with Israel. The
Lebanese foreign ministry said it filed the complaint through its mission in New
York. In its letter, it said planting such devices is a clear violation of
Lebanese sovereignty, international law and Security Council resolution 1701.
The move stresses again that Israel disregards international resolutions,
continues its aggressive campaign against Lebanon and threatens peace, the
letter added. Beirut, 04 Dec 10, 14:47
Mottaki: Iran Will 'Never Use' Force against Muslim
Neighbors
Naharnet/Iran will never use force against its Muslim neighbors, its foreign
minister told a conference on Middle East security on Saturday, after the United
States said Arab states were worried by Tehran's suspected attempts to acquire
nuclear weapons. And in a keynote address to the conference, Jordan's King
Abdullah II said Israeli-Palestinian peace talks must be rescued from collapse
to ensure regional and world stability. Iran's Manouchehr Mottaki said: "We have
never used our force against our neighbors and never will because our neighbors
are Muslims." "Your power in the region is our power and our power is your
power." Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had said on Friday that U.S. concerns
over Tehran's suspected atomic weapons program are shared by Iran's neighbors.
Mottaki cautioned against submitting to "pressure by outsiders to divide us and
create instability," saying "the presence of foreign powers will not help
establish security in the region" and urging cooperation among Gulf countries.
He said it was vital for Iran to "have stability and security, because we (Iran
and its neighboring Gulf states) provide the world with most of its energy."
"Iran is determined to guarantee international security in the field of energy."
On Friday, Clinton said "there is no debate in the international community, and
perhaps the Iranians will engage seriously... on what is a concern shared by
nations on every continent, but most particularly right here in the region." She
was referring to talks due to start between major powers and Iran on Monday over
Tehran's nuclear program. "Because obviously if you're the neighbor of a country
that is pursuing nuclear weapons, that is viewed in a much more threatening way
than if you're a concerned country many thousands of miles away. But the concern
is the same and we hope that Iran will respond."(AFP) Beirut, 04 Dec 10, 11:00
Qassem Optimistic about Success of Syrian-Saudi Initiative
before Indictment
Naharnet/Hizbullah deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem expressed
optimism that the Syrian-Saudi initiative would solve the Lebanese crisis before
the international tribunal issues its indictment in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's
assassination case. "There is still an opportunity to find a solution but the
door will not remain open forever," Qassem told As Safir newspaper in remarks
published Saturday. He advised Premier Saad Hariri to beware of those sowing
strife between him and Hizbullah. "The solution lies in agreement over
eliminating unjust slander." When asked about a possible meeting between
Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Hariri, Qassem said there should be
joint willingness to hold the talks and useful issues should be discussed so
that the meeting becomes fruitful. During a television interview on Friday, the
Hizbullah deputy leader said the indictment is politicized and not based on real
evidence."An indictment that accuses Hizbullah is not just a political stance,
but an assault against the Resistance and Lebanon," he said. Beirut, 04 Dec 10,
09:12
Berri: Issue of False Witnesses Should be Solved Through Consensus or Voting
Naharnet/Speaker Nabih Berri has told his visitors that he is keen on solving
the issue of false witnesses either through consensus or voting, the National
News Agency reported.
Among Berri's visitors on Friday, was State Minister Adnan Qassar who said he
discussed with the speaker false witnesses and the international tribunal.
Qassar said he stressed to Berri the importance of resuming cabinet meetings to
consolidate constitutional institutions and solving the issue of false witnesses
as soon as possible. "I also stressed to him on the importance of not linking
this file (issue of false witnesses) to the functions of the cabinet or the
national dialogue," the minister said. "Tension only leads to more
complications. In this sense, all political forces should find a solution," he
added. Beirut, 04 Dec 10, 08:09
Aoun: Leaked information part of ploy against Hezbollah
Now Lebanon/December 4, 2010
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun said on Saturday that there is a
leak of information pertaining to Hezbollah which aims to develop a ploy against
the party.
Speaking to a student delegation from the American University of Beirut (AUB),
Aoun said he is attempting to attain a calm atmosphere, but added that there are
domestic problems resulting from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) as well
as foreign pressures which complicate matters.“They do not want to [sue] the
‘false witnesses’ because [suing] them would mean revealing the truth.”March 8
politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with
investigating the issue of witnesses who gave unreliable testimonies to the
international probe into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri. However, March 14 figures have said that the regular judiciary should
handle the matter.The cabinet has not met since its November 10 session, in
which discussion of the “false witnesses” controversy was postponed to avoid a
divisive vote.Tension is high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports that the
UN-backed probe will soon issue an indictment in its investigation of the Rafik
Hariri murder. There are fears that should the court indict Hezbollah members,
it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen
led by the party took over half of Beirut.
-NOW Lebanon
Wahhab: UNIFIL will not be spared if Lebanese strife ignites
December 4, 2010 /Now Lebanon/“UNIFIL troops will not be spared in the event of
strife occurring in Lebanon,” Tawhid Movement leader Wiam Wahhab warned on
Saturday.
“It seems that UNIFIL’s behavior, as well as the conduct of the Special Tribunal
for Lebanon (STL) [reflect] their involvement with Israel,” Wahhab said,
according to the National News Agency (NNA). Wahhab, who is a Druze figure, also
said that certain Mountain regions in Lebanon-which are strongholds of the
Druze-will not witness any clash “despite the fact that the country is moving
toward a difficult phase.”Tension is high in Lebanon amid unconfirmed reports
that the STL will soon issue its indictment in the 2005 assassination of Rafik
Hariri. It is rumored that the indictment will name Hezbollah members, a move
the party has repeatedly warned against. UNIFIL spokesperson Neeraj Singh said
on Tuesday that “the peacekeeping troops have absolutely no relation with the
STL.”
-NOW Lebanon
Israel “saddened” as Brazil recognizes Palestinian state
Now Lebanon/December 4, 2010 /Israel on Saturday said it was disappointed by
Brazil's decision to recognize a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders,
saying it flew in the face of efforts to negotiate a peace deal. The decision
was announced by outgoing Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a
public letter addressed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which was made
public by Brazil's foreign ministry on Friday. "The government of Israel
expresses sadness and disappointment over the decision by the Brazilian
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva a month before he steps down," a statement
from the Israeli foreign ministry said. "Recognition of a Palestinian state is a
breach of the interim agreement which was signed between Israel and the
Palestinian Authority in 1995 which said that the issue of the status of the
West Bank and Gaza Strip would be discussed and resolved through negotiations,"
it said. Such a move also contravened the 2003 Middle East roadmap for peace,
which said a Palestinian state could only be established through negotiations
and not through unilateral actions, the statement said, warning that unilateral
steps would harm attempts to build trust. "Every attempt to bypass this process
and to decide in advance in a unilateral manner about important issues which are
disputed, only harms trust between the sides, and hurts their commitment to the
agreed framework of negotiating towards peace."
The move by Brazil comes as peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians
teeter on the brink of collapse following the end of a temporary ban on Jewish
settlement building in the West Bank. Abbas says he will not return to
negotiations while Israel continues to build on land the Palestinians want for a
future state. But Israel has so far refused to impose a new ban.
Abbas visited Brazil in 2005 and 2009, and Lula made the first-ever trip by a
Brazilian head of state to Israel and the Palestinian territories in March this
year.
-AFP/NOW Lebanon
Initial probe points to negligence as cause of fire
Joint police, fire service investigation team's preliminary probe suggests
initial blaze caused by bonfire lit by residents near Usfiya. Team suspects
fires in other locations may have been set by arsonists
Roni Sofer, Eli Senyor Published: 12.04.10, 11:45 / Israel News
A preliminary investigation by a joint team of the police and fire department
indicates that the worst wildfire in the country's history, which erupted on
Thursday, was caused by negligence, according to a statement given by Police
Commissioner Dudi Cohen on Saturday during an assessment meeting with senior
officials from the police's northern district.
The special investigation team, formed to probe the cause of the blaze, consists
of fire service and police investigators.
Blame Game
The guilty party / Alex Fishman
Op-ed: Interior Minister Yishai responsible for grim state of Israel's
firefighting force
The fire erupted on Thursday, slightly after 11 am, in a wooded area northwest
of the Druze town of Usfiya, located in the Carmel mountain range.
Evidence gathered from the scene suggests that residents residing in the area
lit fires, and one of them was not extinguished in time, kindling a massive
wildfire that swept through the area.
The investigation team is still probing the cause of other fires in the area, in
order to determine whether they were set by arsonists.
"The distances between the different locations are illogical," said a police
official. "It is not a fire that is consuming an entire area. If you stand in
one place you can see fires that are four or five kilometers apart. These were
not set by a spark flying in the air."
Turkey is like Iran
Op-ed: Erdogan threatens regional stability with his thuggish, megalomaniac
behavior
Guy Bechor Published: 12.02.10, 17:54 / Israel Opinion
share
The WikiLeaks documents confirmed the great American and European anxiety over
the dangerous regime in power in Turkey. At this time, there are two Middle
Eastern entities already controlled by Muslim Brotherhood parties: Hamas in Gaza
and Erdogan in Ankara. One should not be surprised to see the friendly ties
between the Turkish regime and Hamas, Iran and Hezbollah: We are dealing with
political Islam movements that use any means possible in order to take power and
threaten others.
Erdogan and WikiLeaks
Erdogan calls WikiLeaks docs 'gossip' / AFP
Turkish prime minister visibly upset by leaked cables which claim he has eight
Swiss bank accounts with private funds and surrounds himself with fawning
advisors; says US must 'hold cable writers accountable for slander'
In the past, Turkey served as an important pro-Western anchor in the Middle East
and played a stabilizing, responsible and constructive role. Today, it
constitutes a threat and jeopardizes most Arab regimes, and also Israel, being a
focal point of shocks and tensions. Erdogan is threatening regional stability
with his thuggish, megalomaniac behavior and with his support for axis of evil
elements.
The regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority and many others
are greatly disturbed by the new, aggressive player that suddenly emerged
against them. While everyone knows that Iran is an enemy, the current regime in
Turkey still hides behind the glory of previous Turkish regimes which were
friends of the West.
We better understand that we are dealing with a hostile regime that has no
intention of giving up power in Turkey.
And now came Erdogan’s latest statement in Beirut, whereby “Turkey won’t remain
silent” in case of a new war between Israel and Hamas or Hezbollah and made the
threat substantive. From now own, according to its own declaration, Turkey is a
potential military foe of Israel and may embark on war against us.
Kick Turkey out of NATO
There is no choice: The time has come to change the global policy vis-à-vis the
Turkish regime. The current state of affairs where Erdogan increasingly joins
forces with the global axis of evil and provokes the Middle East, without paying
a price for it, must draw to an end.
The US Congress must not approve any more advance arms deals with Turkey – for
example, the F-35 stealth aircraft, which Ankara seeks. After all, these jets’
secrets may end up being transferred to Iran or used against Israel. Anyone who
seeks to maintain Israel’s military advantage must not approve the sale of
advanced weapons to Turkey. Meanwhile, the Turkish army at this time must be
counted among Israel’s enemies, not its friends.
It’s also unthinkable that Turkey shall remain a member of NATO, as it engages
in military cooperation with Iran and China, two states considered NATO enemies.
According to WikiLeaks, Turkey transferred through its territory military and
nuclear materials to Iran; Ankara itself reported that it engaged in joint Air
Force exercises with China. How can such state, which may hand over NATO’s
secrets to its enemies, be trusted? Turkey in NATO is like having Iran in NATO.
The Turkish foreign minister, who was characterized as a very dangerous man by
the Americans, is of course playing dumb in Washington. However, it must be made
clear to him and his masters that from now on Congress shall closely monitor
Turkey. Should it reassume a responsible role in the Mideast, the US shall
continue to assist it. Yet should it continue to issue threats and conduct
itself thuggishly, America will consider imposing sanctions on it, as is the
case with Syria.
After all, what is the difference between Turkey and Syria when both of them
assist terrorists? Yet while Assad’s regime is secular and somewhat responsible
(Assad asked Erdogan to calm down after the latte went wild following the
flotilla affair,) the current Turkish government is a classic Muslim Brotherhood
regime.
Erdogan himself misses no opportunity to engage in the wildest incitement
against Israel. Europe has already changed its attitude to his regime, and today
he has no chance of being accepted into the European Union. The time has come
for the US Congress to also gravely address the growing Turkish threat.