15 New Messages
Digest #4483
Messages
Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:43 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Itar-Tass
September 6, 2012
Armenia open to closer cooperation with NATO
Armenia is open to preserve and boost cooperation with NATO, its president Serzh Sargsyan has said on the heels of the talk with NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Mr. Sargsyan reminded that Armenia and NATO are now working on the Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2011-2013.
The Armenian president stressed that the existing level of bilateral cooperation allowed Armenia to contribute to the cause of maintaining global security. “Armenia is currently involved in NATO-led peace operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo,” Mr. Sargsyan stressed.
“Modern security challenges require a united approach from NATO and its partner-states,” he said.
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Itar-Tass
September 6, 2012
Armenia open to closer cooperation with NATO
Armenia is open to preserve and boost cooperation with NATO, its president Serzh Sargsyan has said on the heels of the talk with NATO’s Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
Mr. Sargsyan reminded that Armenia and NATO are now working on the Individual Partnership Action Plan for 2011-2013.
The Armenian president stressed that the existing level of bilateral cooperation allowed Armenia to contribute to the cause of maintaining global security. “Armenia is currently involved in NATO-led peace operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo,” Mr. Sargsyan stressed.
“Modern security challenges require a united approach from NATO and its partner-states,” he said.
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:44 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.presstv.
Press TV
September 5, 2012
Six NATO fuel tankers destroyed in Afghanistan
A convoy of at least six US-led NATO fuel tankers has been destroyed after coming under attack in eastern Afghanistan, Press TV reports.
According to Afghan officials, Taliban militants set the tankers on fire on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Wardak Province on Wednesday.
Taliban militants say that at least 17 tankers were destroyed and nearly 20 drivers and guards killed in the incident.
Further details regarding casualties have not been released by NATO or Afghan officials.
On Tuesday, Taliban militants set fire to a convoy of NATO fuel tankers, claiming the lives of at least 10 people in western Farah province. The militant group claimed that it killed tens of US-led forces.
Trucks carrying supplies from Pakistan to the US-led forces deployed in Afghanistan, come under frequent attacks in the country.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but, years into the invasion, insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence there of thousands of foreign troops.
The US-led war in Afghanistan, which has caused record-high civilian and military casualties, has become the longest military conflict in the American history.
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Press TV
September 5, 2012
Six NATO fuel tankers destroyed in Afghanistan
A convoy of at least six US-led NATO fuel tankers has been destroyed after coming under attack in eastern Afghanistan, Press TV reports.
According to Afghan officials, Taliban militants set the tankers on fire on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in Wardak Province on Wednesday.
Taliban militants say that at least 17 tankers were destroyed and nearly 20 drivers and guards killed in the incident.
Further details regarding casualties have not been released by NATO or Afghan officials.
On Tuesday, Taliban militants set fire to a convoy of NATO fuel tankers, claiming the lives of at least 10 people in western Farah province. The militant group claimed that it killed tens of US-led forces.
Trucks carrying supplies from Pakistan to the US-led forces deployed in Afghanistan, come under frequent attacks in the country.
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror.
The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but, years into the invasion, insecurity continues to rise across the country, despite the presence there of thousands of foreign troops.
The US-led war in Afghanistan, which has caused record-high civilian and military casualties, has become the longest military conflict in the American history.
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:44 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.turkishw
Hurriyet Daily News
September 6, 2012
NATO Dives into Tense Caucasus
The NATO chief starts a Caucasus tour amid tension between Baku and Yerevan over the pardon of Safarov. Meanwhile, the Armenian parliament discusses the recognition of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has started a Caucasus regional tour in Yerevan, where he is expected to discuss regional issues with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Rasmussen will then head to Azerbaijan and Georgia, according to the NATO press service.
His visit comes at a critical time when Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan are at odds over Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s decision to pardon an Azerbaijani military officer who had been jailed for life in Hungary for the murder of an Armenian officer in 2004.
Last week Hungary released Ramil Safarov, who had served eight years of his life sentence for killing an Armenian officer during NATO training in Hungary. Though the international community showed its concerns over Safarov’s extradition, NATO has remained silent. Most notably, the U.S., the EU and Russia expressed their concerns. Rasmussen will also deliver a keynote speech at the University of Yerevan.
Parliament convenes
The Armenian parliament is also discussing a bill to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country, though no date has yet been scheduled for the vote. Political analysts in Armenia say that the Safarov situation has created a good occasion for the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, according to the Armenianow website. Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over the disputed region, where they fought a war in the 1990s.
The bill has been proposed several times in the past several years, but it was left out by the parliamentary majority every time with the explanation that the time was not yet ripe. “We all should understand: The fact that during so many years Armenia has not recognized the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is due to the fact that Armenia is trying to reach a result through negotiations. At the same time, we must understand that any adventure by Azerbaijan, any actions taken outside the OSCE Minsk Group framework will speed up the recognition of the NKR on our part,” the Armenian president said last year. The National Assembly also called an emergency session yesterday and was expected to adopt a statement condemning the extradition and pardon of Safarov.
...
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Hurriyet Daily News
September 6, 2012
NATO Dives into Tense Caucasus
The NATO chief starts a Caucasus tour amid tension between Baku and Yerevan over the pardon of Safarov. Meanwhile, the Armenian parliament discusses the recognition of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region
NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen has started a Caucasus regional tour in Yerevan, where he is expected to discuss regional issues with President Serzh Sargsyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. Rasmussen will then head to Azerbaijan and Georgia, according to the NATO press service.
His visit comes at a critical time when Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan are at odds over Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s decision to pardon an Azerbaijani military officer who had been jailed for life in Hungary for the murder of an Armenian officer in 2004.
Last week Hungary released Ramil Safarov, who had served eight years of his life sentence for killing an Armenian officer during NATO training in Hungary. Though the international community showed its concerns over Safarov’s extradition, NATO has remained silent. Most notably, the U.S., the EU and Russia expressed their concerns. Rasmussen will also deliver a keynote speech at the University of Yerevan.
Parliament convenes
The Armenian parliament is also discussing a bill to recognize Nagorno-Karabakh as an independent country, though no date has yet been scheduled for the vote. Political analysts in Armenia say that the Safarov situation has created a good occasion for the recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, according to the Armenianow website. Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a long-running conflict over the disputed region, where they fought a war in the 1990s.
The bill has been proposed several times in the past several years, but it was left out by the parliamentary majority every time with the explanation that the time was not yet ripe. “We all should understand: The fact that during so many years Armenia has not recognized the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic is due to the fact that Armenia is trying to reach a result through negotiations. At the same time, we must understand that any adventure by Azerbaijan, any actions taken outside the OSCE Minsk Group framework will speed up the recognition of the NKR on our part,” the Armenian president said last year. The National Assembly also called an emergency session yesterday and was expected to adopt a statement condemning the extradition and pardon of Safarov.
...
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:44 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://english.
Russian Information Agency Novosti
September 6, 2012
"Stop meddling in Syria's internal affairs!" - says Pakistani general
Interference in Syria’s domestic affairs will lead to the collapse of the country and to the destabilization of the situation in the region at large, the former head of the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Asad Durrani, who is making a private visit to Moscow, told newsmen.
He believes that the non-interference in Syria’s domestic affairs is necessary for settling the existing problem.
“The change of leadership, like in Egypt, will lead to the destabilization of the whole region, to devastation and chaos”, Durrani said.
...
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Russian Information Agency Novosti
September 6, 2012
"Stop meddling in Syria's internal affairs!" - says Pakistani general
Interference in Syria’s domestic affairs will lead to the collapse of the country and to the destabilization of the situation in the region at large, the former head of the Pakistani intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Asad Durrani, who is making a private visit to Moscow, told newsmen.
He believes that the non-interference in Syria’s domestic affairs is necessary for settling the existing problem.
“The change of leadership, like in Egypt, will lead to the destabilization of the whole region, to devastation and chaos”, Durrani said.
...
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:44 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.defpro.
Defence Professionals
September 6, 2012
Partnership of Ukraine and NATO is Held in a Spirit of Constructivism and Mutual Benefit
KYIV: The Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana held official talks with the chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Knud Bartels.
The members of the delegations discussed key aspects of Ukrainian Armed Forces reform, current state and prospects of military cooperation within the Ukraine-NATO Military Committee Working Plan, as well as Ukrainian troops’ participation in NATO’s multinational operations.
Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana informed that in June 2012 the President of Ukraine enacted a new edition of the Ukrainian National Security Strategy and Military Doctrine.
“Adoption of the draft Strategic Defense Bulletin and the Ukrainian Armed Forces Reform Concept for the period until 2017 will clearly define the tasks of Ukrainian Armed Forces’ radical reform,” Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana said.
He said that the current partnership of Ukraine and NATO being held in a spirit of constructivism and mutual benefit.
Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana also stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine seek to be not only consumers, but active contributors to the establishment of peace and security in the world. Thus, Ukraine would like to increase its contribution in NATO-led peacekeeping missions and operations.
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Knud Bartels thanked the Ukrainian delegation for the detailed briefing. He pointed out that NATO fully supports the Ukraine’s initiatives, emphasizing on the country’s worthy contribution to the NATO Response Force.
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Defence Professionals
September 6, 2012
Partnership of Ukraine and NATO is Held in a Spirit of Constructivism and Mutual Benefit
KYIV: The Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana held official talks with the chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Knud Bartels.
The members of the delegations discussed key aspects of Ukrainian Armed Forces reform, current state and prospects of military cooperation within the Ukraine-NATO Military Committee Working Plan, as well as Ukrainian troops’ participation in NATO’s multinational operations.
Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana informed that in June 2012 the President of Ukraine enacted a new edition of the Ukrainian National Security Strategy and Military Doctrine.
“Adoption of the draft Strategic Defense Bulletin and the Ukrainian Armed Forces Reform Concept for the period until 2017 will clearly define the tasks of Ukrainian Armed Forces’ radical reform,” Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana said.
He said that the current partnership of Ukraine and NATO being held in a spirit of constructivism and mutual benefit.
Colonel General Volodymyr Zamana also stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine seek to be not only consumers, but active contributors to the establishment of peace and security in the world. Thus, Ukraine would like to increase its contribution in NATO-led peacekeeping missions and operations.
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Knud Bartels thanked the Ukrainian delegation for the detailed briefing. He pointed out that NATO fully supports the Ukraine’s initiatives, emphasizing on the country’s worthy contribution to the NATO Response Force.
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:44 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"mart unknown"
Forward from mart
Please Distribute
*Ramping up for the next war - (Reuters) "**U.S. admiral visits Israel amid
Iran chatter"
*-----------
*http://news.
*Reuters - via Yahoo News
http://news.
Sept. 6, 2012*
*U.S. admiral visits Israel amid Iran chatter
*
*JERUSALEM (Reuters) - *The vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
visited Israel's defense minister on Thursday, in a display of alliance
after the two countries expressed differences over Iran.
Admiral James Winnefeld smiled broadly, exchanging pleasantries with Ehud
Barak in his office in Tel Aviv in a brief video released by the Israeli
Defense Ministry. The ministry gave no details about the visit.
It comes after General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, dismayed Israeli officials by saying that Washington did not want to
be "complicit" in an Israeli attack on Iran.
Dempsey's comments were seen as a rebuke to Israel stepping up threats of
making a unilateral strike against Iran's nuclear facilities before the
U.S. presidential election on November 6.
Washington has urged Israel to hold fire to give economic sanctions and
diplomacy more time to curb Iran's uranium enrichment, which Tehran says is
for peaceful purposes. Israel fears Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons
capability - something it considers a potential threat to the country's
existence.
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv had no comment on Winnefeld's visit, which
Israeli Army Radio said began several days ago and included an inspection
of Israel's Iron Dome rocket interception system, jointly funded with the
United States.
In its press release, the Defense Ministry also included photographs of
Winnefeld and Barak each appearing to measure, with their thumbs and index
fingers, the size of Israel on a map of the Middle East on a wall in
Barak's office.
============
Please Distribute
*Ramping up for the next war - (Reuters) "**U.S. admiral visits Israel amid
Iran chatter"
*-----------
*http://news.
*Reuters - via Yahoo News
http://news.
Sept. 6, 2012*
*U.S. admiral visits Israel amid Iran chatter
*
*JERUSALEM (Reuters) - *The vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
visited Israel's defense minister on Thursday, in a display of alliance
after the two countries expressed differences over Iran.
Admiral James Winnefeld smiled broadly, exchanging pleasantries with Ehud
Barak in his office in Tel Aviv in a brief video released by the Israeli
Defense Ministry. The ministry gave no details about the visit.
It comes after General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, dismayed Israeli officials by saying that Washington did not want to
be "complicit" in an Israeli attack on Iran.
Dempsey's comments were seen as a rebuke to Israel stepping up threats of
making a unilateral strike against Iran's nuclear facilities before the
U.S. presidential election on November 6.
Washington has urged Israel to hold fire to give economic sanctions and
diplomacy more time to curb Iran's uranium enrichment, which Tehran says is
for peaceful purposes. Israel fears Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons
capability - something it considers a potential threat to the country's
existence.
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv had no comment on Winnefeld's visit, which
Israeli Army Radio said began several days ago and included an inspection
of Israel's Iron Dome rocket interception system, jointly funded with the
United States.
In its press release, the Defense Ministry also included photographs of
Winnefeld and Barak each appearing to measure, with their thumbs and index
fingers, the size of Israel on a map of the Middle East on a wall in
Barak's office.
============
Thu Sep 6, 2012 2:44 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Blue Pilgrim" bluepilgrim1
Does an empire prefer other nations to to have tyranny or democracy
(and especially democratic socialism)? It prefers tyranny, at least
virtual tyranny instead of real democracy. Real democracy or
socialism can set a 'good example' serving as counterpoint and to
show that fascism, capitalism, and tyranny does not work well by comparison.
But there is another reason. If the country in question is an 'ally'
-- i.e. a puppet of and controlled by the empire to a significant
extent, then real democracy would lead to the people interfering in
the empire's agenda, such as opposing war and vastly uneven wealth
distribution. If the country is not a puppet, then it is defined as
an 'enemy' which is not under the empire's control. As long as the
dictator abides by the will of the empire it is allowed to continue,
and is often supported. If it strays from that and tries to exert
economic nationalism or socialistic programs to benefit the people,
then the abuses of the regime can be used as an excuse to attack the
country or conduct a covert proxy war against it to bring about
'regime change' and bring under control.
If tyranny arises naturally as an outgrowth of local politics and
rivalries (all too common), well enough: the dictator will either
ally himself with the empire, or it will not and then be attacked or
a coup engineered. If tyranny does not arise then a propaganda
campaign will be created, those groups who are dissatisfied with the
tyrannical government will be supported, as by training, arming,
funding, etc. to begin civil disruption and create a' rising up by
freedom fighters' (or proxy 'rebels' will be brought in). This is
sometimes referred to as 'destabilization'
country and regime comes under attack it will generally become more
authoritarian and abusive as it tries to defend itself -- adding to
the examples which can be used against it.
This pattern can be seen with many countries in history, recently
with Chile, Kosovo, Latin American nations, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and
in progress in Iran. It is being attempted in Venezuela, but so far
with very limited success. It was tried in Cuba, but has not worked
so far. It is also seen in various African countries.
The remark is apocryphal and
uncertain -- http://message.
yet the idea of 'he's an SOB but he's OUR SOB' dates back quite a
ways (see http://en.wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia
strategy of the Roman empire which set up local rulers in conquered
territories. In earlier time there was less need for an excuse to
conquer other peoples -- that's what was done and citizens of the
attacking nation had little to say about it, if they even questioned
it. As time went by a useful excuse was that the victims of the
attack were inferior, perhaps not even human, and 'meant' to be
conquered and enslaved by the
superior' people (and of course, 'god's side' manifest detiny,
'chosen people', etc. is a handy excuse and motivator). That doesn't
sell as well now that people more generally (although hardly
universally) recognize that people everywhere have equal rights, so
now the excuse is shifting more to the 'responsibility to protect',
although it's rich ruling class who is being protected in their quest
for more power and wealth.
(and especially democratic socialism)? It prefers tyranny, at least
virtual tyranny instead of real democracy. Real democracy or
socialism can set a 'good example' serving as counterpoint and to
show that fascism, capitalism, and tyranny does not work well by comparison.
But there is another reason. If the country in question is an 'ally'
-- i.e. a puppet of and controlled by the empire to a significant
extent, then real democracy would lead to the people interfering in
the empire's agenda, such as opposing war and vastly uneven wealth
distribution. If the country is not a puppet, then it is defined as
an 'enemy' which is not under the empire's control. As long as the
dictator abides by the will of the empire it is allowed to continue,
and is often supported. If it strays from that and tries to exert
economic nationalism or socialistic programs to benefit the people,
then the abuses of the regime can be used as an excuse to attack the
country or conduct a covert proxy war against it to bring about
'regime change' and bring under control.
If tyranny arises naturally as an outgrowth of local politics and
rivalries (all too common), well enough: the dictator will either
ally himself with the empire, or it will not and then be attacked or
a coup engineered. If tyranny does not arise then a propaganda
campaign will be created, those groups who are dissatisfied with the
tyrannical government will be supported, as by training, arming,
funding, etc. to begin civil disruption and create a' rising up by
freedom fighters' (or proxy 'rebels' will be brought in). This is
sometimes referred to as 'destabilization'
country and regime comes under attack it will generally become more
authoritarian and abusive as it tries to defend itself -- adding to
the examples which can be used against it.
This pattern can be seen with many countries in history, recently
with Chile, Kosovo, Latin American nations, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and
in progress in Iran. It is being attempted in Venezuela, but so far
with very limited success. It was tried in Cuba, but has not worked
so far. It is also seen in various African countries.
The remark is apocryphal and
uncertain -- http://message.
yet the idea of 'he's an SOB but he's OUR SOB' dates back quite a
ways (see http://en.wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia
strategy of the Roman empire which set up local rulers in conquered
territories. In earlier time there was less need for an excuse to
conquer other peoples -- that's what was done and citizens of the
attacking nation had little to say about it, if they even questioned
it. As time went by a useful excuse was that the victims of the
attack were inferior, perhaps not even human, and 'meant' to be
conquered and enslaved by the
superior' people (and of course, 'god's side' manifest detiny,
'chosen people', etc. is a handy excuse and motivator). That doesn't
sell as well now that people more generally (although hardly
universally) recognize that people everywhere have equal rights, so
now the excuse is shifting more to the 'responsibility to protect',
although it's rich ruling class who is being protected in their quest
for more power and wealth.
Thu Sep 6, 2012 7:40 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://news.
Xinhua News Agency
September 7, 2012
Georgia to continue to contribute to Afghan mission: NATO chief
TBILISI: Visiting NATO Secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said here on Thursday that Georgia would continue its contribution toward the alliance's mission in Afghanistan in the post-2014 period.
"We have already started to develop the new NATO-led mission (in Afghanistan) and I am pleased that Georgia is committed to be part of it," said the NATO chief at a joint press conference with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
"The ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission will be completed by the end of 2014, but we will continue to support Afghan security forces beyond that date," the NATO chief noted.
NATO has promised to help train the Afghan security forces after it pulls out its combat troops from the war-torn country in 2014.
Georgia will become the largest non-NATO-member contributor toward the NATO-led ISAF mission later this year, as the South Caucasus country plans to send more of its troops to Afghanistan. Currently Australia is the largest contributor.
The NATO secretary-general arrived in Tbilisi on Thursday from Yerevan, Armenia. He will also visit Baku, Azerbaijan on the next leg of his South Caucasus trip.
============
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Xinhua News Agency
September 7, 2012
Georgia to continue to contribute to Afghan mission: NATO chief
TBILISI: Visiting NATO Secretary-general Anders Fogh Rasmussen said here on Thursday that Georgia would continue its contribution toward the alliance's mission in Afghanistan in the post-2014 period.
"We have already started to develop the new NATO-led mission (in Afghanistan) and I am pleased that Georgia is committed to be part of it," said the NATO chief at a joint press conference with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
"The ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) mission will be completed by the end of 2014, but we will continue to support Afghan security forces beyond that date," the NATO chief noted.
NATO has promised to help train the Afghan security forces after it pulls out its combat troops from the war-torn country in 2014.
Georgia will become the largest non-NATO-member contributor toward the NATO-led ISAF mission later this year, as the South Caucasus country plans to send more of its troops to Afghanistan. Currently Australia is the largest contributor.
The NATO secretary-general arrived in Tbilisi on Thursday from Yerevan, Armenia. He will also visit Baku, Azerbaijan on the next leg of his South Caucasus trip.
============
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 7:40 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.thefault
Faultlines
September 1, 2012
Sectarian divide, the modern warfare
By Farooq Yousaf*
The current situation in Syria is showing signs of bigger things to come. By the look of it, regime change may not be the sole purpose of the Western coalition, rather dividing Syria for long term goals may also be on the agenda.
Observers are of the view that the Syrian state may be heading towards balkanization - a model in which a state is fragmented into many parts. Maplecroft, one of the major risk assessment firms, also shares the same view:
“Kurds in the north, Druze in the southern hills, Alawites in the coastal northwestern mountainous region and the Sunni majority elsewhere”, it says talking of the different divides present in Syria.
With such an intricate nexus of different ethnic groups, it seems that the division of this Islamic state may be based upon these ethnic boundaries and may soon lead to a chaotic civil war among Shias and Sunnis. This, in other words, may mean that the process may initially lead to Lebonization, a mild form of balkanization, as witnessed in Iraq, before heading towards balkanization.
This scheme of things may promote sectarian hatred, ethnic dangers and racist expressions among different groups living in Syria. The pattern also seems to suggest that the in-fighting among these groups may be a far more easy tool to promote or force a regime change than a physical intervention. Such clashes also put a mark on neighboring countries, such as the Libyan effects in Niger and Chad where as the Syrian effects in Turkey and Lebanon.
The raging spiral of Syrian violence has also spilled over to Lebanon. As I write, members of the Meqdad Clan, belonging to Shia'ite community, of Lebanon have abducted some 20 Syrians in retaliation for one of their family members being kidnapped in Syria. The Saudi ambassador in Beirut and the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry undersecretary advised their nationals to leave the country immediately, as did Qatar and Bahrain. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry issued a similar warning anticipating the Syrian war aftermath in Beirut.
As the Arab Spring gained pace, public revolts gathered momentum in peaceful countries such as Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. But these movements had another dimension to them as well. Along with the public dissent against the rulers, there were ethnic Shia-Sunni conflicts in these regions. These conflicts boast a bigger danger compared to movements against the rulers.
Amidst the fiasco, there was still a state that kept itself safe from infighting and chaos. Egypt, a ground for both revolution and counter-revolution scenes, is heading towards positive developments, both domestically and internationally. Although the Western forces, along with Israel, are trying to meddle with internal affairs creating a faceoff between the Muslim Brotherhood and the army, the decision by President Morsi retiring an influential army general played down much of the speculations of the possible clash between him and the military establishment.
Libya, on the other hand, is a prime example of balkanization. With the country divided into countless splinter groups, killing each other, there seem to be no signs of improvements in post-Gaddafi Libya.
The stake and viewpoint of Israel is important in this regard. The president of a renowned Israeli think tank says, “What you have in Syria is that the Middle East is coming apart; a new form of chaos is replacing what has existed.”
Pakistan is also under the same ethic-cum-sectarian violence. With a fragile security situation in FATA and Balochistan, as a result of militancy and separation movements, a spate of ethnic violence on minority Hazaras, and different ethnic groups in Karachi, is making the situation worse. Although the situation is comparatively better compared to Syria, Iraq and Libya, yet a check on violence is imperative to avoid similar cases faced by the aforementioned states.
Sad enough is the situation of Sunni majority Muslim states supporting interventions in Shia-led states such as Syria at present or Iran in future. The recent moves by the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) suspending Syria's membership depict the same phenomena of the Muslim states helping in promoting a possible foreign intervention in Syria.
Interesting to note is Turkey's role, a moderate Muslim state, having strong ties with USA and weak with many of the Muslim states, including Syria. Erdogan, the Turkish PM, has time and again blamed Syria for fighting that has erupted in Turkey’s Kurdish areas. On the other hand, he ignores the fact that the violence in Turkey is a direct result of Turkish interference and its support to rebels in Syria.
Sarcastic for the Muslim states though, is the fact that China and Russia, non-Muslim states, are coming to the help of Syria in order to avoid any chaos. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently stated that the consequences in Libya have made Russia realise its mistake of allowing an intervention in Libya and that is why they are holding firm in the Syrian crisis.
The situation on the ground, although extremely complex, is portrayed as a a simple one by observers and analysts around the world. Even with the smallest of skirmishes in Muslim states, the blame is directly laid upon religio-sectarian reasons. This calls for greater unity and compassion among Muslims on the whole who must start agreeing to underlying disagreements in pursuit of unity, harmony and strength.
*The writer is working as a research analyst, programme consultant and content editor at the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad along with pursuing his Research Studies in Public Policy from Germany. He can be reached at farooq@crss.
============
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Faultlines
September 1, 2012
Sectarian divide, the modern warfare
By Farooq Yousaf*
The current situation in Syria is showing signs of bigger things to come. By the look of it, regime change may not be the sole purpose of the Western coalition, rather dividing Syria for long term goals may also be on the agenda.
Observers are of the view that the Syrian state may be heading towards balkanization - a model in which a state is fragmented into many parts. Maplecroft, one of the major risk assessment firms, also shares the same view:
“Kurds in the north, Druze in the southern hills, Alawites in the coastal northwestern mountainous region and the Sunni majority elsewhere”, it says talking of the different divides present in Syria.
With such an intricate nexus of different ethnic groups, it seems that the division of this Islamic state may be based upon these ethnic boundaries and may soon lead to a chaotic civil war among Shias and Sunnis. This, in other words, may mean that the process may initially lead to Lebonization, a mild form of balkanization, as witnessed in Iraq, before heading towards balkanization.
This scheme of things may promote sectarian hatred, ethnic dangers and racist expressions among different groups living in Syria. The pattern also seems to suggest that the in-fighting among these groups may be a far more easy tool to promote or force a regime change than a physical intervention. Such clashes also put a mark on neighboring countries, such as the Libyan effects in Niger and Chad where as the Syrian effects in Turkey and Lebanon.
The raging spiral of Syrian violence has also spilled over to Lebanon. As I write, members of the Meqdad Clan, belonging to Shia'ite community, of Lebanon have abducted some 20 Syrians in retaliation for one of their family members being kidnapped in Syria. The Saudi ambassador in Beirut and the United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry undersecretary advised their nationals to leave the country immediately, as did Qatar and Bahrain. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry issued a similar warning anticipating the Syrian war aftermath in Beirut.
As the Arab Spring gained pace, public revolts gathered momentum in peaceful countries such as Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. But these movements had another dimension to them as well. Along with the public dissent against the rulers, there were ethnic Shia-Sunni conflicts in these regions. These conflicts boast a bigger danger compared to movements against the rulers.
Amidst the fiasco, there was still a state that kept itself safe from infighting and chaos. Egypt, a ground for both revolution and counter-revolution scenes, is heading towards positive developments, both domestically and internationally. Although the Western forces, along with Israel, are trying to meddle with internal affairs creating a faceoff between the Muslim Brotherhood and the army, the decision by President Morsi retiring an influential army general played down much of the speculations of the possible clash between him and the military establishment.
Libya, on the other hand, is a prime example of balkanization. With the country divided into countless splinter groups, killing each other, there seem to be no signs of improvements in post-Gaddafi Libya.
The stake and viewpoint of Israel is important in this regard. The president of a renowned Israeli think tank says, “What you have in Syria is that the Middle East is coming apart; a new form of chaos is replacing what has existed.”
Pakistan is also under the same ethic-cum-sectarian violence. With a fragile security situation in FATA and Balochistan, as a result of militancy and separation movements, a spate of ethnic violence on minority Hazaras, and different ethnic groups in Karachi, is making the situation worse. Although the situation is comparatively better compared to Syria, Iraq and Libya, yet a check on violence is imperative to avoid similar cases faced by the aforementioned states.
Sad enough is the situation of Sunni majority Muslim states supporting interventions in Shia-led states such as Syria at present or Iran in future. The recent moves by the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) suspending Syria's membership depict the same phenomena of the Muslim states helping in promoting a possible foreign intervention in Syria.
Interesting to note is Turkey's role, a moderate Muslim state, having strong ties with USA and weak with many of the Muslim states, including Syria. Erdogan, the Turkish PM, has time and again blamed Syria for fighting that has erupted in Turkey’s Kurdish areas. On the other hand, he ignores the fact that the violence in Turkey is a direct result of Turkish interference and its support to rebels in Syria.
Sarcastic for the Muslim states though, is the fact that China and Russia, non-Muslim states, are coming to the help of Syria in order to avoid any chaos. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov recently stated that the consequences in Libya have made Russia realise its mistake of allowing an intervention in Libya and that is why they are holding firm in the Syrian crisis.
The situation on the ground, although extremely complex, is portrayed as a a simple one by observers and analysts around the world. Even with the smallest of skirmishes in Muslim states, the blame is directly laid upon religio-sectarian reasons. This calls for greater unity and compassion among Muslims on the whole who must start agreeing to underlying disagreements in pursuit of unity, harmony and strength.
*The writer is working as a research analyst, programme consultant and content editor at the Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad along with pursuing his Research Studies in Public Policy from Germany. He can be reached at farooq@crss.
============
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 7:58 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.civil.
Civil Georgia
September 7, 2012
McCain: 'Georgia Needs Defensive Weapons'
Tbilisi: Visiting senior U.S. Senators said in Tbilisi on September 6 that they would keep pushing for supply of the U.S. defensive weapons to Georgia.
“We have fought for in the Congress and will continue to fight for defensive weapons from the United States to Georgia so the government can defend the people of Georgia and their freedom,” Senator Joe Lieberman told journalists in Tbilisi.
“Georgia needs defensive weapons and we will continue doing everything we can to make sure that those defensive weapons are provided to Georgia, because every nation should have the ability to have defensive weapons in order to defend themselves,” Senator John McCain said.
Together with Senator Lindsey Graham, McCain and Lieberman are paying visit to Georgia on September 6-7, meeting with opposition leaders and senior government officials ahead of the October 1 parliamentary elections.
“We will continue to fight for Georgia’s admission to NATO,” Senator Lieberman said. “We condemned and continue to condemn the Russian invasion of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”
Senator McCain said that Russia’s planned military exercises Kavkaz-2012 were source of concern.
“Of course we should be concerned about Russian ‘exercises’ near the border; they are unnecessary and they can be viewed in some respect as threatening; I hope they are not, I hope that they are exercises routinely carried out by Russians, but there is always some concern when something like that takes place,” he said.
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Civil Georgia
September 7, 2012
McCain: 'Georgia Needs Defensive Weapons'
Tbilisi: Visiting senior U.S. Senators said in Tbilisi on September 6 that they would keep pushing for supply of the U.S. defensive weapons to Georgia.
“We have fought for in the Congress and will continue to fight for defensive weapons from the United States to Georgia so the government can defend the people of Georgia and their freedom,” Senator Joe Lieberman told journalists in Tbilisi.
“Georgia needs defensive weapons and we will continue doing everything we can to make sure that those defensive weapons are provided to Georgia, because every nation should have the ability to have defensive weapons in order to defend themselves,” Senator John McCain said.
Together with Senator Lindsey Graham, McCain and Lieberman are paying visit to Georgia on September 6-7, meeting with opposition leaders and senior government officials ahead of the October 1 parliamentary elections.
“We will continue to fight for Georgia’s admission to NATO,” Senator Lieberman said. “We condemned and continue to condemn the Russian invasion of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.”
Senator McCain said that Russia’s planned military exercises Kavkaz-2012 were source of concern.
“Of course we should be concerned about Russian ‘exercises’ near the border; they are unnecessary and they can be viewed in some respect as threatening; I hope they are not, I hope that they are exercises routinely carried out by Russians, but there is always some concern when something like that takes place,” he said.
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 7:58 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://rustavi2.
Rustavi 2
September 6, 2012
Rasmussen reiterates support for Georgia during his Tbilisi visit
====
At the press conference Rasmussen was asked about remarks by then Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ten months ago, when he said that the August, 2008 thwarted NATO’s plan to expand further on the post-Soviet space. Rasmussen responded: “If the intention of the 2008 conflict was to interfere with NATO decisions on our open door policy, NATO decisions on enlargement, I can assure – that has failed; because no third country has the right to interfere in NATO decisions.”
[Saakashvili] said that Rasmussen had traveled to Georgia for so many times that “he deserves to be an honorary Georgian.”
====
NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, reiterated during his visit in Tbilisi on September 6, that the alliance’s door remains open, praised Georgia for its reforms and said upcoming elections would be “a litmus test” for its democracy.
The same messages were delivered by the NATO Secretary General when he visited Georgia in November, 2011.
Speaking at a joint news conference with President Saakashvili, Rasmussen said that Georgia had made “tremendous progress” on its path of reforms.
“That hard work has brought you closer to NATO membership,” he said and called on Georgia “to keep the momentum of democratic reforms.”
...
At the press conference Rasmussen was asked about remarks by then Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ten months ago, when he said that the August, 2008 thwarted NATO’s plan to expand further on the post-Soviet space. Rasmussen responded: “If the intention of the 2008 conflict was to interfere with NATO decisions on our open door policy, NATO decisions on enlargement, I can assure – that has failed; because no third country has the right to interfere in NATO decisions.”
“It’s for NATO to decide on our open door policy and we have stated over and over again and reiterated in Chicago that our door remains open,” Rasmussen said.
President Saakashvili said that Georgia “is preparing for NATO membership; Georgia will become a member of NATO.”
...
Saakashvili also said that Rasmussen’s visit to Georgia – the fourth one and the third one in his capacity of the NATO Secretary General – was “very important gesture of support for us.”
He also said that Rasmussen had traveled to Georgia for so many times that “he deserves to be an honorary Georgian.”
“If a Georgian can be NATO Secretary General, then it’s really Anders Fogh Rasmussen,” Saakashvili added.
At the end of his visit, Rasmussen met the Georgian soldiers who are leaving for Afghanistan soon to participate in the ISAF operation. The soldiers of the 12th and the 32nd infantry battalions will get involved in the operation to protect security of the people in Helmand Province and participate in anti-terrorist operations. The secretary general wished the Georgian soldiers luck and thanked them for participation in teh international peace operation.
In the evening Anders Fogh Rasmussen left Georgia to arrive in Baku as planned by the regional tour.
============
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Rustavi 2
September 6, 2012
Rasmussen reiterates support for Georgia during his Tbilisi visit
====
At the press conference Rasmussen was asked about remarks by then Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ten months ago, when he said that the August, 2008 thwarted NATO’s plan to expand further on the post-Soviet space. Rasmussen responded: “If the intention of the 2008 conflict was to interfere with NATO decisions on our open door policy, NATO decisions on enlargement, I can assure – that has failed; because no third country has the right to interfere in NATO decisions.”
[Saakashvili] said that Rasmussen had traveled to Georgia for so many times that “he deserves to be an honorary Georgian.”
====
NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, reiterated during his visit in Tbilisi on September 6, that the alliance’s door remains open, praised Georgia for its reforms and said upcoming elections would be “a litmus test” for its democracy.
The same messages were delivered by the NATO Secretary General when he visited Georgia in November, 2011.
Speaking at a joint news conference with President Saakashvili, Rasmussen said that Georgia had made “tremendous progress” on its path of reforms.
“That hard work has brought you closer to NATO membership,” he said and called on Georgia “to keep the momentum of democratic reforms.”
...
At the press conference Rasmussen was asked about remarks by then Russian President Dmitri Medvedev ten months ago, when he said that the August, 2008 thwarted NATO’s plan to expand further on the post-Soviet space. Rasmussen responded: “If the intention of the 2008 conflict was to interfere with NATO decisions on our open door policy, NATO decisions on enlargement, I can assure – that has failed; because no third country has the right to interfere in NATO decisions.”
“It’s for NATO to decide on our open door policy and we have stated over and over again and reiterated in Chicago that our door remains open,” Rasmussen said.
President Saakashvili said that Georgia “is preparing for NATO membership; Georgia will become a member of NATO.”
...
Saakashvili also said that Rasmussen’s visit to Georgia – the fourth one and the third one in his capacity of the NATO Secretary General – was “very important gesture of support for us.”
He also said that Rasmussen had traveled to Georgia for so many times that “he deserves to be an honorary Georgian.”
“If a Georgian can be NATO Secretary General, then it’s really Anders Fogh Rasmussen,” Saakashvili added.
At the end of his visit, Rasmussen met the Georgian soldiers who are leaving for Afghanistan soon to participate in the ISAF operation. The soldiers of the 12th and the 32nd infantry battalions will get involved in the operation to protect security of the people in Helmand Province and participate in anti-terrorist operations. The secretary general wished the Georgian soldiers luck and thanked them for participation in teh international peace operation.
In the evening Anders Fogh Rasmussen left Georgia to arrive in Baku as planned by the regional tour.
============
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 8:02 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.b92.
Beta News Agency
September 6, 2012
"Crisis used to pressure Greece to recognize Kosovo"
BELGRADE: Greece will not recognize Kosovo, Greek Ambassador to Belgrade Dimosthenis Stoidis told Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović on Thursday in Belgrade.
This, the Greek diplomat explained, is true despite the fact that the economic crisis affecting Greece "was used in order to pressure Athens to recognize the authorities in Priština", Beta news agency is reporting.
Serbia rejected as illegal the unilateral declaration of independence of its southern province, made in early 2008 by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians. Five out of EU's 27 member-states, Greece included, have also not recognized it.
During the meeting in Belgrade today, Stoidis told Stefanović that his country "would do everything in order for Serbia's remaining path toward full EU integration to be as successful as possible".
A statement issued by the Serbian parliament also said that the ambassador noted that Greece "still supports Serbia's road toward the EU", and that this country's stance not to recognize Kosovo will not change "although the economic crisis was used to pressure Athens" to do otherwise.
Stoidis further stated that Greece "encouraged Serbia to continue its dialogue with Priština" - although, as he noted, the term "normalization of relations" was being interpreted differently within the EU itself.
Stefanović told the ambassador that Serbia will also not change its policy toward Kosovo and Metohija - and "will never recognize it", although it remains "open to negotiations wishing to secure the lives and existence of Serbs in Kosovo".
The speaker added that Serbia recognized agreements reached thus far in the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue, and expressed his expectation that Greece "will continue to have a firm position, and offer assistance in the fight to respect international law".
Stefanović accepted an invitation relayed by Stoidis to visit the Greek parliament in Athens, it was announced on Thursday.
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Beta News Agency
September 6, 2012
"Crisis used to pressure Greece to recognize Kosovo"
BELGRADE: Greece will not recognize Kosovo, Greek Ambassador to Belgrade Dimosthenis Stoidis told Serbian Parliament Speaker Nebojša Stefanović on Thursday in Belgrade.
This, the Greek diplomat explained, is true despite the fact that the economic crisis affecting Greece "was used in order to pressure Athens to recognize the authorities in Priština", Beta news agency is reporting.
Serbia rejected as illegal the unilateral declaration of independence of its southern province, made in early 2008 by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians. Five out of EU's 27 member-states, Greece included, have also not recognized it.
During the meeting in Belgrade today, Stoidis told Stefanović that his country "would do everything in order for Serbia's remaining path toward full EU integration to be as successful as possible".
A statement issued by the Serbian parliament also said that the ambassador noted that Greece "still supports Serbia's road toward the EU", and that this country's stance not to recognize Kosovo will not change "although the economic crisis was used to pressure Athens" to do otherwise.
Stoidis further stated that Greece "encouraged Serbia to continue its dialogue with Priština" - although, as he noted, the term "normalization of relations" was being interpreted differently within the EU itself.
Stefanović told the ambassador that Serbia will also not change its policy toward Kosovo and Metohija - and "will never recognize it", although it remains "open to negotiations wishing to secure the lives and existence of Serbs in Kosovo".
The speaker added that Serbia recognized agreements reached thus far in the EU-sponsored Kosovo dialogue, and expressed his expectation that Greece "will continue to have a firm position, and offer assistance in the fight to respect international law".
Stefanović accepted an invitation relayed by Stoidis to visit the Greek parliament in Athens, it was announced on Thursday.
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 8:13 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
September 6, 2012
NATO Secretary General arrives in Azerbaijan
E. Mehdiyev
Baku: NATO Secretary General Angers Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Baku on Thursday.
Rasmussen is expected to hold talks with the Azerbaijani leadership. The talks are expected to focus on Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation, as well as regional issues.
Rasmussen is in Azerbaijan as part of his regional visit.
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Trend News Agency
September 6, 2012
NATO Secretary General arrives in Azerbaijan
E. Mehdiyev
Baku: NATO Secretary General Angers Fogh Rasmussen arrived in Baku on Thursday.
Rasmussen is expected to hold talks with the Azerbaijani leadership. The talks are expected to focus on Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation, as well as regional issues.
Rasmussen is in Azerbaijan as part of his regional visit.
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 8:13 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
September 6, 2012
Georgian PM acquaints troops with new concept
N. Kirtskhalia
Tbilisi: Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili and Defense Minister Dmitri Shashkin have acquainted servicemen and their families with the new concept of the ministry on Thursday at the Vaziani military base near Tbilisi.
Merabishvili said a new concept based on the Three T principles, will come into force from 2013. This concept means Total Care, Total Training and Total Defence. Merabishvili focused on the Total Care component.
...
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Trend News Agency
September 6, 2012
Georgian PM acquaints troops with new concept
N. Kirtskhalia
Tbilisi: Georgian Prime Minister Vano Merabishvili and Defense Minister Dmitri Shashkin have acquainted servicemen and their families with the new concept of the ministry on Thursday at the Vaziani military base near Tbilisi.
Merabishvili said a new concept based on the Three T principles, will come into force from 2013. This concept means Total Care, Total Training and Total Defence. Merabishvili focused on the Total Care component.
...
============
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Thu Sep 6, 2012 8:13 pm (PDT) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://en.trend.
Trend News Agency
September 6, 2012
‘CIA chief's İstanbul visit aimed to restore Turkish-Israeli relations'
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director David Petraeus, who recently paid an unannounced visit to İstanbul, came to the city improve relations between Turkey and Israel, Turkish media has claimed.
Today`s Zaman reported Petraeus, whose program was kept secret due to security concerns, was initially thought to be in İstanbul to discuss the deteriorating situation in Syria and the fight against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) with Turkish officials.
However, some Turkish columnists including Fehmi Koru and Eyüp Can, have claimed that the main topic of the discussions was Turkish-Israeli relations. Petraeus flew to Israel after his one-day visit to İstanbul, the columnists claimed, to achieve his goal of helping to restore the relations.
The alliance between the Jewish state and Turkey, a mainstay of Washington's influence in an unstable region, fell apart after the Israeli military raid in May 2010 of the Mavi Marmara ship headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian aid, which killed eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish American.
Can, who writes for the Radikal daily, drew attention in his column on Thursday to the fact that Petraeus was accompanied during his İstanbul visit by US senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, who are known to be close to Israeli government.
In apparent support for these claims about the aim of Petraeus's visit, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said on Wednesday that the US was trying to mediate an end to the dispute, for which Turkey has set several demands including that Israel apologize for the Mavi Marmara deaths. Israel denied wrongdoing after the flotilla attack and offered statements of regret, rather than contrition.
Israeli and Turkish officials had no comment on the report. But Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said on Tuesday he was open to taking a page from US diplomacy in crafting a statement to try to end an impasse with Ankara.
The foreign minister compared the Mavi Marmara incident to one in which the United States mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in an air strike last November on the Afghan border. Following the strike, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her country was "sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military" and that Washington was "committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this from ever happening again."
The foreign minister said Clinton's statement could not be termed an apology, but was rather "an expression of regret on the killing of innocents."
"I say to you if this is the wording - if the Turks accept the American wording - I will certainly go with it. This is what I am willing to accept [in terms of an apology for the raid]," he told his party in a speech on Tuesday.
The signal from the minister was significant because he had been among the Israeli leaders most vocally opposed to accommodating the Turks' rapprochement demands.
Trend News Agency
September 6, 2012
‘CIA chief's İstanbul visit aimed to restore Turkish-Israeli relations'
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director David Petraeus, who recently paid an unannounced visit to İstanbul, came to the city improve relations between Turkey and Israel, Turkish media has claimed.
Today`s Zaman reported Petraeus, whose program was kept secret due to security concerns, was initially thought to be in İstanbul to discuss the deteriorating situation in Syria and the fight against the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) with Turkish officials.
However, some Turkish columnists including Fehmi Koru and Eyüp Can, have claimed that the main topic of the discussions was Turkish-Israeli relations. Petraeus flew to Israel after his one-day visit to İstanbul, the columnists claimed, to achieve his goal of helping to restore the relations.
The alliance between the Jewish state and Turkey, a mainstay of Washington's influence in an unstable region, fell apart after the Israeli military raid in May 2010 of the Mavi Marmara ship headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip carrying humanitarian aid, which killed eight Turkish citizens and one Turkish American.
Can, who writes for the Radikal daily, drew attention in his column on Thursday to the fact that Petraeus was accompanied during his İstanbul visit by US senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman, who are known to be close to Israeli government.
In apparent support for these claims about the aim of Petraeus's visit, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said on Wednesday that the US was trying to mediate an end to the dispute, for which Turkey has set several demands including that Israel apologize for the Mavi Marmara deaths. Israel denied wrongdoing after the flotilla attack and offered statements of regret, rather than contrition.
Israeli and Turkish officials had no comment on the report. But Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said on Tuesday he was open to taking a page from US diplomacy in crafting a statement to try to end an impasse with Ankara.
The foreign minister compared the Mavi Marmara incident to one in which the United States mistakenly killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in an air strike last November on the Afghan border. Following the strike, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her country was "sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistani military" and that Washington was "committed to working closely with Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent this from ever happening again."
The foreign minister said Clinton's statement could not be termed an apology, but was rather "an expression of regret on the killing of innocents."
"I say to you if this is the wording - if the Turks accept the American wording - I will certainly go with it. This is what I am willing to accept [in terms of an apology for the raid]," he told his party in a speech on Tuesday.
The signal from the minister was significant because he had been among the Israeli leaders most vocally opposed to accommodating the Turks' rapprochement demands.
