Doc's Talk: Wild turkey and it's not the whiskey!

Monday, September 05, 2011

Wild turkey and it's not the whiskey!

SERVET YANATMA , İSTANBUL

Turkish minister warns Greek Cypriots about oil exploration in Mediterranean

Turkish EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bag(?s, has issued a warning to the Greek Cypriot administration, saying that Turkey will not hesitate to deploy war ships in the Mediterranean if Greek Cypriots enter Turkish terrestrial waters during their oil exploration efforts in the Mediterranean, scheduled to start on Oct. 1.

Saying that Turkey has sent naval vessels to the area in cases like this before, Bag(?s, added, “This is what we have the navy for.”

In a conversation with Sunday's Zaman, Bag(?s, shared his opinions on the recent rise of Islamophobia and xenophobia in Europe, stressing his concern that the situation could become even worse. He also shared with Sunday's Zaman readers his take on a number of issues ranging from the state of affairs in Turkish opposition parties to humanitarian aid in Somalia, the London riots and the Libyan refugee crisis.

Greek Cyprus has declared that it will begin oil exploration in the Mediterranean on Oct. 1. Can you comment on this?

The kinds of things that have happened in the past [Turkish naval interference with exploration] whenever the Greek Cypriots have made such attempts may well happen again. That is how serious Turkey is. Doing this in waters where they have no jurisdiction is illegal. Turkey will rely on international law to pursue its rights to the fullest extent. Will the navy send a fleet?

This is what we have the navy for. We have trained our marines for this; we have equipped the navy for this. All options are on the table; anything can be done.

The Arab Spring still dominates the world's daily agenda. Has Turkey's EU membership bid been put to the side during this regional crisis?

We never stopped discussing the reforms. We are taking the necessary steps spelled out in our national program. We cannot say Turkey lost popularity in Europe during the Arab Spring. The international community cannot effectively reach out to the region without relying on Turkey's mediation.

The Schengen Agreement was undermined during the crisis over Libyan refugees, and the EU is now struggling with an economic crisis. What would you say to arguments that the EU will be dissolved?

I don't think this is going to happen. The EU's mechanisms may change, and its power over member states may change. The decision-making procedure may be made more local. The EU is essential for many of the member nations, which had fought each other for centuries. This is the primary reason for our eagerness to become a member; we see it as a project of peace. Substantial reforms have been introduced in Turkey in recent times: Without the impact of the EU bid, the progress we have made in recent decades would have been fairly difficult. The EU guidelines have served as a platform on which different social groups can reach consensus. The administration and the opposition meet in this platform.

Some are criticizing Turkey's aid to Somalia, arguing that there are Turks suffering from poverty and hunger.

What have those people who are criticizing Turkish efforts in Somalia done to address hunger in Turkey? It is our mission to extend support to Somalia. The current Turkish prime minister is the first in the last three decades to pay a visit to this region. Those who exploited these people sold them guns to incite enmity and hatred between different tribes. They made these people believe that sea products are not edible, while they exploited the lobster and tuna resources along the Somali coast. We want to send fishermen there to teach them how to fish. Once the security problems are resolved, we would like to set up a tuna processing plant there.

What would you say about the ongoing investigation into the football match-fixing allegations?

I am a Fenerbahçe fan; Fenerbahçe will remain a major team. But if there is wrongdoing at Fenerbahçe, the independent judiciary will implicate them.

In the aftermath of recent street protests in Britain, the British government discussed banning some websites, including Twitter and Facebook, as a preventive measure. However, the proposed voluntary filtering system in Turkey is being strongly criticized in Europe. Can you comment?

We are sick of this double standard. The chair of the Supreme Board for Communication, Tayfun Acarer, went to Brussels to brief the commission; we briefed the envoys of EU member countries. But they are still attempting to intimidate us on this issue. The lines of freedom should be drawn very carefully. If a mother wants to protect her children from pornography, violence and Satanism, she should be allowed to do so. We are obliged under the Constitution to protect young people; adults may do whatever they want.

Turkey has declared that it will not talk to the Greek Cypriots during the term of their EU presidency next year. Why has the EU remained silent regarding this decision?

They have nothing to say about this because they are aware of Turkey's determination. We are opposed to attempts to try to make us sit at the same table with the Greek Cypriots. We have said that we will not communicate with Greek Cyprus as president of the EU. We will only talk to the commission. This will blow over in six months anyway; it should not be a big deal.

Leading Republican People's Party (CHP) figure Gürsel Tekin criticized Turkey's financial aid to opposition groups in Libya, asking, “What would you do if someone sends money to the Kurdistan Worker's Party [PKK] in the future?” How would you respond to that?

Gürsel Tekin has not had enough experience to serve as a leading administrator, after serving in the local party administration. In general, we are pleased with the main opposition party, thanks to their poor performance. We were pleased with Deniz Baykal, but Kemal K?l?çdarog(lu is even better.

Does Europe extend sufficient support to Turkey's fight against terrorism?

In the past, EU member countries and the European Commission were critical whenever Turkey initiated a cross-border operation. However, asked about Turkey's most recent operation, the French foreign minister said they extended full support to Turkey's fight against the PKK, which the EU lists as a terrorist organization. We want peace and serenity. The Europeans understand this. Europe has shown its support by not making any criticisms at all of the recent operation. The PKK is now detrimental to the interests of Europe.

Do the CHP and the Grand Unity Party's (BDP) positions on combating terror overlap?

It was obvious [that the two parties were working together on the Kurdish issue] when they formed an alliance before last year's Sept. 12 referendum. K?l?çdarog(lu's efforts at election rallies in the Southeast to make sure that the audience would not wave a Turkish flag and the BDP's eagerness to transport people to the occasion were indications of this cooperation.

What do you think about the rise of Islamophobia and xenophobia in Europe?

I am worried about this. I was already concerned by the fact that a racist party received 16 percent of the vote in the Netherlands, and that a political movement that insults the values of the people is attracting further support. The reaction to the remarks by the German president that Islam is a reality in Germany was another indication. Multiculturalism, plurality and solidarity are fundamental values of the EU, but are now seriously at risk. Turkey can be an antidote in the resolution to these problems.
Everyone has an opportunity in Turkey

Minister Bag(?s, said he was honored to have shared fast-breaking dinners with people of many different backgrounds this Ramadan, and shared an anecdote: “A 9-year-old girl from a poor family ranked first in math in I.stanbul. Her brother was admitted into a prestigious university. Everybody has the opportunity to succeed. These kids now have opportunities, and this has raised my hopes.”
Ramadan does not mean going hungry

“Ramadan is about empathy, not about staying hungry. You come to better understand the problems and priorities of others once you are in their place. This is why Ramadan is such a meaningful time.”
Reaction to criticisms of Nihat Dog(an

“You may not like some of his views or style, but Nihat Dog(an is a good person. He volunteered for Somalia. What did those who criticize him do for the Somali people? At least he tried. If you don't like his music, don't buy his album. Unfortunately, this campaign of criticism was initiated because he publicly shared his political opinions and support for democratization.”

--
Thanks to:
--------------
Blog: http://www.mererhetoric.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mererhetoric

No comments:

The IDF’s Minorities in Numbers and Pictures

In honor of IDF Diversity Week, we present diversity through numbers and pictures. Each year, more and more Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouin and immigrants from around the world take on the responsibility of defending Israel.

MUSLIMS:

Muslim Arab Israelis are not required to draft in the IDF, but there are many who volunteer. In 2013, there were over 200 Muslims serving in the IDF and over 300 in the reserves.

Bedouins:

Bedouins are nomadic Muslims who were in Israel when modern borders were set in place and are now considered Israeli citizens. They are not required to draft but a growing number choose to enlist. In 2012, there were over 1,400 Bedouin Muslim soldiers doing regular IDF service and almost 1,500 in the reserves.

Read more:http://www.idfblog.com/2014/02/27/truth-idf-numbers-pictures/#more-34027

Are you aware that in 2013, Middle class taxes go up-significantly?

In January of next year, the federal income tax rate for middle-class taxpayers is scheduled to rise from 25 percent to 28 percent, and the payroll tax is scheduled to rise from 13.3 percent to 15.3 percent… This drives the marginal tax rate based on the aforementioned three taxes to 48.12 percent. Add in state and local property, corporate, excise, and other state and local taxes, and the percentage of each additional dollar that is taxed hovers around 50 percent… When half of each additional dollar earned is taxed away, taxpayers experience a disincentive to start businesses or expand existing ones. This leads to fewer jobs being created.

Why is HAMAS Inside Tampa Schools?

Clare Lopez

Kelly Miliziano, who teaches history classes at Steinbrenner High School in the Tampa, Florida area apparently thinks it’s perfectly OK to invite a senior official of a HAMAS-affiliated organization into her classroom to discuss Islam with her students. According to local media reports, not only has this been going on for years, but in spite of the civil and criminal proceedings that could result from such reckless negligence, the Hillsborough County school superintendent, Mary Ellen Elia, and the chairman of the school board, Candy Olson, also expressed approval for students under their responsibility to be exposed repeatedly to guest speaker, Hassan Shibly, who is the Executive Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in the Tampa area.
More...

Did You Know... Ignoring the Call to Islam will Bring Jihad

‘Conquest through Da’wa [proselytizing] that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through sword but through Da’wa.’
-- Yousef al-Qaradawi , Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader The Arabic word ‘Da’wa’ means the “call to Islam.” But do not think that Da’wa is the same thing as an invitation to an optional holiday event. The classical Islamic doctrine of jihad mandates that enemies must be given the opportunity to convert to Islam or pay the jizya tax before it is permissible to attack them.
Clare M. Lopez

Who is being discriminated-facts tell the truth

Religious bias

Hate crimes motivated by religious bias accounted for 1,409 offenses reported by law enforcement. A breakdown of the bias motivation of religious-bias offenses showed:

65.4 percent were anti-Jewish.
13.2 percent were anti-Islamic.
9.5 percent were anti-other religion, i.e., those not specified.
4.3 percent were anti-Catholic.
3.8 percent were anti-multiple religions, group.
3.3 percent were anti-Protestant.
0.5 percent were anti-Atheism/Agnosticism/etc.

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/hate-crime/2010/narratives/hate-crime-2010-incidents-and-offenses.

On March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview

with PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here's what he said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct "Palestinian people" to oppose Zionism.

For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

In March 1977, Zahir Muhsein, a PLO executive, said:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct Palestinian people to oppose Zionism."

"For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan."

The Arab Apartheid

Ben-Dror Yemini
In 1948, the Arab countries refused to accept the UN partition proposal and they launched a war of annihilation against the State of Israel which had barely been established. All precedents in this matter showed that the party that starts the war - and with a declaration of annihilation, yet - pays a price for it. Between 550,000 and 710,000 Arabs fled because of the war and a larger number of 850,000 Jews were expelled or fled from Arab countries (the "Jewish nakba").
Population exchanges and expulsions were the norm at that time, occurring in dozens of other conflict points and affecting about 52 million people. In all the population exchange precedents that occurred during or at the end of an armed conflict, there was no return of refugees to the previous region, which had turned into a new national state.
Only the Arab states acted completely differently from the rest of the world. Instead of assimilating the refugees, they crushed them despite the fact that they were their coreligionists and members of the Arab nation - instituting a regime of apartheid. So the "nakba" was not caused by the actual dispossession, which had also been experienced by tens of millions of others. The "nakba" is the story of the apartheid, oppression, abuse and denial of rights suffered by the Arab refugees at the hands of the Arab countries. (Maariv)

International Law and Military Operations in Practice - Col. Richard Kemp

"Islamist fighting groups study the international laws of armed conflict carefully and they understand it well. They know that a British or Israeli commander and his men are bound by international law and the rules of engagement that flow from it. They then do their utmost to exploit what they view as one of their enemy's main weaknesses. Their very modus operandi is built on the correct assumption that Western armies will normally abide by the rules, while these insurgents employ a deliberate policy of operating consistently outside international law. "

Lost Historical Moments

What Rabin’s last Knesset speech really said:repudiation of a Palestinian state

Rabin ruled out a fully sovereign Palestinian state :

“We view the permanent solution in the framework of State of Israel which will include most of the area of the Land of Israel as it was under the rule of the British Mandate, and alongside it a Palestinian entity which will be a home to most of the Palestinian residents living in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. We would like this to be an entity which is less than a state, and which will independently run the lives of the Palestinians under its authority.”

Rabin ruled out a total withdrawal from Judea and Samaria and thus a return to the pre-June 1967 borders :

“The borders of the State of Israel, during the permanent solution, will be beyond the lines which existed before the Six Day War. We will not return to the 4 June 1967 lines.”

Rabin ruled out withdrawing form the Jordan Valley:

“The security border of the State of Israel will be located in the Jordan Valley, in the broadest meaning of that term.”

Rabin ruled out uprooting settlement blocs, like the Gush Katif bloc in Gaza (which was subsequently uprooted by former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon):

“The establishment of blocs of settlements in Judea and Samaria, like the one in Gush Katif.

AND

Rabin ruled out removing any settlement before coming to a full peace agreement with the Palestinians:

“I want to remind you: we committed ourselves, that is, we came to an agreement, and committed ourselves before the Knesset, not to uproot a single settlement in the framework of the interim agreement, and not to hinder building for natural growth.”

Rabin insisted on Israel retaining full security control of the borders with Egypt and Jordan, contrary to Israel’s relinquishment of the Philadelphia Corridor on the border with Egypt:

“The responsibility for external security along the borders with Egypt and Jordan, as well as control over the airspace above all of the territories and Gaza Strip maritime zone, remains in our hands.”

Correcting Oslo Myths-Part 2

3) Kuttab laments that the post-1993 Oslo process resulted in a Palestinian Authority "whose ministers and legislators are not guaranteed passage between Gaza and the West Bank ...."

Before free passage or other perquisites, PA leaders were obligated, among other things, to eliminate the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, end anti-Israeli, antisemitic incitement in schools, mosques, and communications media, and resolve all outstanding issues through peaceful negotiations. They met none of these commitments, sometimes bolstering terrorism and greatly increasing incitement.

4) Kuttab complains that under Oslo the PA got "lightly armed police ---- but no real sovereignty over the land or contiguity between our communities in Gaza and the West Bank."

Oslo agreements repeatedly were revised, regardless of Palestinian non-compliance, until the authorized number of police grew from 8,000 to 40,000. Though they were to be the only armed forces in the territories, Israeli estimates early in the second intifada put the number of gunmen - police, "security services," terrorists, and armed gangs - at 85,000. Their armament reportedly included not only heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, but also anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.

Sovereignty was to be negotiated in the envisioned 1998 "final status" talks - after a five-year period of confidence-building. Palestinian leadership chronically undermined the process. Palestinian terrorism made the 1993 - 1998 Oslo period more deadly for Israelis than the 15 years preceding it.

The United States doesn't have contiguity between the lower 48 states and Alaska and Hawaii; territorial contiguity between the West Bank and Gaza Strip - that is, through the 20 miles of Israeli territory between them - was never promised and would destroy Israeli contiguity.

5) "Palestinians have been made to endure hundreds of checkpoints in the West Bank, an eight-foot wall deep in our territories, and tight Israeli control over borders."

The security barrier is not "deep in Palestinian territories," but rather encompasses less than 8 percent of Judea and Samaria, and is mostly a fence, rarely a wall; the land in question is not "our [Palestinian] territories" but disputed territory to which, according to the authors of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, Jews as well as Arabs have claims; and there are no international borders, only the 1949 armistice lines with Jordan. Under 242, borders remain to be negotiated. As for checkpoints - like the security barrier and "tight Israeli control" - Palestinian Arabs precipitated these measures themselves. No terrorism and there would be no fence or tight Israeli control and few checkpoints - like before the first intifada.

Correcting Some Oslo Myths

1) In Oslo "Israeli, Palestinian and other world leaders promised that ... Palestinian sovereignty would be solidified."

No, they didn't. The 1993 Declaration of Principles and subsequent Oslo agreements outlined a process by which final status negotiations about the West Bank and Gaza Strip would be reached. The process required an end to anti-Israel terrorism and incitement and a commitment to peaceful negotiations. The PA, Fatah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and other terrorist groups, sabotaged the process from the start.

2) "The reality is that, in defiance of U.N. Security Council Resolution 242, which states that it is inadmissible to occupy land by force, Palestinian territories are still under foreign military occupation."
Wrong again. Resolution 242 (1967) does note "the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war." It also affirms the right of every state in the area "to live in peace with secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force." There were no "Palestinian territories." Jordan occupied the West Bank, Egypt controlled Gaza. Israel did not have "secure and recognized boundaries," so retention of some of those territories was possible under 242. Israel is not a "foreign" military occupier in the West Bank but, pending final negotiations, the lawful military administrator as a result of a successful war of self-defense.

Doc's Talk