by Kakaouskia
Greetings to the Saker community and readers.
In one of Start Trek DS9 episodes, a Ferengi (the ultra-exploiters of the galaxy for the uninitiated) made the following comment: War is good for business; however the closer you are to the frontlines the less your profit.
It appears that this mantra is followed by Turkey, especially when considering the Syrian refugees. In 2013 Syria was estimated to have a total population of around 22 million people. The latest estimates show that between 2.5 and 2.7 million Syrians now live in Turkey
That Turkey has been benefitting from the war in Syria is well known; it has not been long since the Russian MOD has shown the videos of the endless columns of tankers crossing the Turkey – Syria border carrying over ISIS oil. However little is known of what is happening inside Turkey.
According to data from the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, in the first three months of 2016 alone 1369 companies with foreign partners have been established in the whole of Turkey. From these, 589 have Syrian partners. Not bad, considering that in up until November 2010 there were no Syrian-owned registered companies in Turkey. According to Syrians I have spoken to, apart from the obvious stability / safety and continuity offered to Syrian businesses, the Turkish government actively encourages Syrians to move their business to Turkey promising visas for them and their entire family if they do so – what the Syrians refer to as a “business visa”. Business with Syria is going well; according to a study by The Brookings Institution, the trade between Turkey and Syria has returned to the 2010 levels of $2B despite the fact that there is a civil war going on. And of course if you have millions of desperate people at your doorstep, you can always find cheap labour that does not need welfare and does not have to be paid the minimum wage.
This tough causes tensions as locals cannot compete in the labour market. The Turkish government realised that in order to maintain some control, things have to be normalised. Hence as of January 2016, the Turkish government started issuing work permits to Syrian refugees and decreed that those with a permit must be paid the normal minimum wage and enjoy all benefits a local worker has. Still, there is a surplus of people and they need to get employed otherwise trouble will ensue.
Enter the EU.
Since the Syrian crisis started, millions of people have crossed from Turkey to the EU and hundreds more attempt the Aegean crossing every day. One would expect the vast majority of these people to be Syrians trying to flee the civil war however according to the latest UNHCR data only 53% of those arriving in Greece are Syrians. This indicates that there is an active drive to traffic economic migrants to the EU.
As to the origin of the migrants and refugees, this map from UNHCR is quite clear:
(map retrieved from file Daily_Arrival_greece_14042016.pdf located at https://data.unhcr.org/mediterranean/download.php?id=1050)
Greece as it was expected quickly became overwhelmed with the number of people arriving, its own financial disaster leaving little room for effectively handling the crisis. It then turned to the EU as a member of what is supposed to be an alliance of European States.
However, the EU has transformed from an attempted alliance to an aspiring empire with a powerful core and impoverished periphery; the bureaucrats in Brussels give the impression that they consider Club Med countries as trouble provinces instead of equal members.
The internal EU conflict on how to deal with the refugees and the individual policies and wishes of EU countries have compounded the problem to such a degree that the EU is running scared to Turkey for a solution, effectively offering to pay Turkey ransom money. The agreement that was finalised on March 18th 2016 (full text here); in it among other things there is the provision of practically paying Turkey 3B Euro as a “first instalment” for keeping the refugees in Turkey as well as a target of “lifting the visa requirements for Turkish citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016” (extract from full text). Crucially it was also agreed to accelerate the accession process for Turkey by opening up more Chapters. EU is the only alliance that I am aware of that is in discussions with a prospect member (Turkey) that is illegally occupying part of another EU member state and officially does not recognise the existence of that Member State.
At this point I want to relate an interview I stumbled upon on the radio a couple of days ago. The guest, a European Parliament Member, was speaking of a proposal made in relation to the Syrian refugees. A group of EU Parliament Members proposed that instead of paying Turkey 3B Euros now and another 3B in 2018 to allocate that money in rebuilding a city in Syria in order to give incentive to people to return to their country. As for the security of that city, it was proposed that EU should coordinate with the Syrian government and Russia. Predictably this raised a furore and was promptly rejected; after all it is not part of the grant plan. And nothing is allowed to interfere with this plan – Germany has decided to allow prosecution by Turkey of a comedian that wrote a poem ridiculing Erdogan. So much for EU democracy.
Therefore to summarise, Turkey:
- Sees its business with Syria is as good as ever
- Has a surplus of cheap, expendable labour
- Got most of what it wanted from a paralysed, scared and gutless EU
- Can play geopolitics with the Saudis and the rest of the GCC
Frankly if the “unfortunate event” of Russia entering the war in Syria had not taken place one could argue of a triumph of Turkish planning. However, even with current events war is good for business – at least for Turkey.
(Authors note: In no way am I trying with this article to belittle the problems faced by ordinary Syrians caught in the war nor do I pretend to understand the horrors people face at the hands of Wahhabis. Unfortunately there are elements of the human race that are always ready to exploit (and in some cases inflict) suffering on their fellow humans.
Finally, I purposefully did not delve into the effects of the sanctions Russia has imposed on Turkey as I believe there are still not enough data to judge their full effect. Initial predictions show the impact to Turkish economy to be at least $10B)
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/18/461309/Syria-opposition-HNC-Geneva-peace-talks-Assad-ouster/
Militants declare new war despite Syria truce
Foreign-backed militant groups announce a new war against Syrian government forces after threatening to abandon UN-brokered talks in Geneva.
Factions fighting under the banner of Turkey-based Free Syrian Army and Ahrar al-Sham said in a statement Monday that they would respond “with force” against the government which is currently fighting Daesh and Nusra Front in Aleppo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIYL2O4xRe0
Just an FYI Saker and Ft Russ readers, but it appears the American who has surfaced in Ukraine as a member of Kiev’s ‘Georgian Foreign Legion’ (aka those Georgians the CIA recruited under Saakashvili and brought with Misha the Tie Eater to Ukrainian territory after Misha was thrown out) and was profiled on the UkraineToday TV channel in early April…is this man:
http://www.wcti12.com/news/police-man-arrested-after-desertion-from-fort-bliss/21076996
Craig Lang, an American Army deserter from Ft. Bliss, TX. I’m assuming he got a dishonorable discharge and quite possibly needed money. Still it would be ironic if he and Russell ‘Tejas’ Bentley or the other purported Americans fighting for the NAF ended up meeting on the battlefield.
MOSCOW, April 18./TASS/. In a telephone conversation on Monday, the presidents of Russia and the US, Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama, discussed the situation in Syria, confirming a bid to contribute to the strengthening of the cessation of hostilities regime in that country initiated by Russia and the US , and to ensure access of humanitarian aid to Syrian regions, the Kremlin press service reports, noting that the conversation was initiated by the US.
“Putin put an accent on the need for moderate opposition distancing itself as soon as possible from IS and Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as for shutting the border between Syria and Turkey from where gunmen keep infiltrating and arms are supplied to extremists,” the press service said.
They also agreed to “keep boosting coordinated effort of the two countries in the Syrian direction, including through secret services and defense agencies,” it went on. “With this aim additional measures will be worked out for prompt reaction to the existing violation of the ceasefire regime,” it said.
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/870702
moderate opposition has been warned………
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seems like State Dept is still “inspiring”
the HNC to walk away, create trouble…
Several Syrian rebel groups unleashed a wide-scale offensive in northwestern and central Syria on Monday dealing a fresh blow to the ongoing peace talks between Damascus and the leaders of the moderate opposition, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
In a statement issued on Monday the leaders of about a dozen armed factions, including the Saudi and Turkish-backed Jayshal-Islam and Jaysh al-Fateh, announced the formation of “a joint operation room” to coordinate new attacks on government forces.
Damascus residents on the streets of the city on the first day of truce
© SPUTNIK/ ILIYA PITALEV
Putin, Obama Agree to Further Assist in Maintaining Ceasefire in Syria
The declaration came hours after Mohammed Alloush, the chief negotiator of Syrian opposition delegation in Geneva, called to ignore the months-long ceasefire and resume fight against the government forces.
Both the Syrian government and the opposition sides have accused one another of breaking the truce deal signed on February 27, which excluded the Daesh and al-Nusra Front terrorist groups that are operating in the east and north of the country.
The hard-won ceasefire began to unravel as fighting escalated near Syria’s second largest city Aleppo this month, Fars News reported.
On Monday, militants launched a fierce attack against Syrian government forces in Latakia province and in Haman amid heavy government air strikes in Homs province in the south.
A Syrian military source confirmed intense fighting in the area.
“Today they attacked in the northern Latakia countryside in several areas, in violation of the cessation of hostilities agreement, and also in the northwestern Hama countryside,” the military source said.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160419/1038235491/syria-militants-offensive.html#ixzz46HS9UIAb
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“Two week ago the foreign supported “rebels” already broke the ceasefire when they took part in a large al-Qaeda attack south of Aleppo city. Several “rebel” attacks took place against the Kurdish quarter in Aleppo city with over a hundred civilian death. Other attacks took place in north Latakia.
Today the “rebels” announced a full return to open war and more fronts were reopened including in north Hama where Uighur “Turkmen” Jihadis used two suicide bombers against the Syrian government positions.
The UN sponsored talks in Geneva went nowhere and the “rebel” side now suspended them to renew the fighting. Only three men of the Saudi controlled “rebel” negotiating team attended today. They still insist on the unconstitutional removal of the Syrian president before agreeing to any further talks about a unity government.
The Syrian army has suspended its ongoing offensive against the Islamic State. The plan was to march from the recently freed Palmyra to the Islamic State held Deir Ezzor in the east. The troops have now been recalled to protect the Syrian people from the renewed “rebel” attacks in west Syria. This may well fit the U.S. intentions in its phony war on ISIS.
There will soon be reports about local retreats of the Syrian army from this or that town or hill. Do not give them too much weight. Since the Russian intervention last year the Syrian troops have orders to retreat when under hard pressure. This to preserve manpower. As soon has the enemy occupies a position the artillery and air force will take care of them. Then, when the enemy attack has been blunted, the Syrian army and their allies on the ground will reoccupy the position and if possible launch counterattacks.”
extract
http://russia-insider.com/en/syria-rebel-sponsors-order-new-round-defeat/ri13959
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http://www.anna-news.info/node/57037
very long and detailed Syrian situation report
relevant re Turkey
“”Attempts to say that there is some secret negotiation channel, and the more so in this secret negotiation channel someone promised to solve the fate of Assad beyond mezhsiriyskih negotiations, this is not true, “- said Lavrov.
terrorists influx to Syria continues despite calls from Russia to the United States to promote the closure of the Turkish-Syrian border, also said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov We put questions to our American colleagues about that. ., close to the Turkish border This is a long-standing problem, it is well known, but to terrorists, although to a lesser extent, continues, “- Lavrov said. “Turkey does not leave their attempts, and the right of these states to intervene by force put forward different ideas -.. The introduction of no-fly zones, security zones is very concerned that not suppress this kind of Ankara aspirations in the EU”, – the minister added.
The number of settlements have joined the reconciliation process has increased to 64. The number of armed groups that have declared their commitment to adopt and implement a cessation of hostilities conditions – 50. The
cessation of hostilities was observed in most provinces of the Syrian Arab Republic. During the day, 5 recorded violations of the ceasefire (in Latakia province – 4, in the province of Hama – 1). For days previously recorded 8 violations (in the provinces of Latakia and Homs – 3, in the province of Damask- 2).
Russian VKS by opposition armed groups, have declared a cessation of hostilities and to report to the Russian or American centers reconciliation information about their location, strikes are not applied . ”
continues
“Damascus is not going to give up the fight against terrorism in Aleppo, which is in accordance with the resolution 2254 of the UN Security Council, because of the groundless accusations by the delegation of the Supreme Negotiating Committee (WCP), the Syrian opposition, said Bashar Jaafari. “According to resolution 2254, have two positions, political and military, to fight terrorists so that the fight against terrorism -. Fully legitimate actions taken by the Syrian army and its allies in accordance with the resolution,” – he said, answering the question, is ready Is Damascus to take a break in the fighting in the district of Aleppo on the negotiations in Geneva. Jaafari called the accusations by the CPSU in violations of the ceasefire “false and baseless”.
Representatives of the Group of Riyadh (HNC) are responsible for the violations of the ceasefire in Syria, they have no right to blame Damascus also said Bashaar Jaafari. “Those who violate the truce and the cessation of hostilities represent Riyadh Group (HNC) so that they can not blame others, they are doing it.” – He said.
Jaafari stressed that the delegation of the Supreme Committee for the negotiations Syrian opposition to participate “those who are to blame for the escalation of violence in the country.” “Riyadh group includes representatives of” Ahrar al-Sham “, which shelled Aleppo and the representative of” Jaish al-Islam “, which occupies the position of chief negotiator (HNC). They shelled Damascus. He also publicly stated last week that he instructed his fellow terrorists violate the ceasefire, the cessation of hostilities and attacks Syrian forces shelling the city, “- said Jaafari.
VKP opposition Syria will not be renewing its participation in the talks until progress on the cessation of hostilities, said the representative of the MIC Monzer Mahus . “There was no progress in all matters. First of all, with regard to the political process itself, in particular, to form the so-called supreme body that will manage the political process “, – said Mahus. According to him, in Damascus continue to talk about the expanded government, but under the current regime now. “This is absolutely unacceptable for us. Therefore, there is a real dead end, “- said Mahus, pointing to the need to release political prisoners and resolve the issue with the delivery of humanitarian aid. “Third. With regard to the agreement on the cessation of hostilities – essentially broken completely, to the point that we doubt that the agreement still exists, “- he said, adding that” now there is a real war. ”
Earlier, the coordinator of the Supreme Negotiating Committee (HNC) Syrian opposition Riyad Hijab said that the continuation of the peace talks on Syria is “unacceptable” in connection with the alleged facts of the continuing ceasefire violations by the Syrian army. Riyadh Naasan Agha also said that the cease-fire in Syria came to an end.
April 17 the head of the delegation of the Syrian opposition’s Supreme Negotiating Committee (HNC) Asaad al-Zoubi called in posted on the Internet handle the Syrian armed opposition “to respond to strikes by government forces” on their positions .
on Monday, 10 organizations of the Syrian opposition, including radical Islamic groups “Ahrar al-Sham” and “Jaish al-Islam”, accused the Syrian government of violating the truce and announced their intention to start fighting. “After increasing the number of violations of the forces directed in particular against the refugee camps and neighborhoods, we announce the establishment of a single operations center and the launch retaliatory military actions”, -. Said grouping
French authorities are seriously concerned about the deteriorating situation in Syria, he said in Monday French Foreign Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal. “France expresses its very serious concern at the deteriorating situation in Syria, especially in Aleppo, where dozens of people were killed in the last few days”, – the statement said Nadal. Responsibility for violation of the ceasefire regime Paris holds the Syrian authorities to “continue the bombardment, including civilians and moderate groups.” “We are also concerned about the difficulties of providing humanitarian assistance, particularly in the suburbs of Damascus, where Syrian regime interferes with the delivery of food and medical supplies to hundreds of thousands of people,” – Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
The US State Department said that the expansion of control by the Assad government in Syria will go into harm to the people of this country, said agency spokesman John Kirby. “We are concerned about the extension of the control of the Assad regime in Syria – both politically and geographically point of view This is bad for the people of Syria.”, – He said.
He noted that the United States expressed concern over “the ongoing violence in Syria.” “We understand that ceasefire violations have been from the first day … But we want this regime continues,” – said Kirby. State Department spokesman also reiterated Washington’s position that Assad has “lost legitimacy” and can not be part of the political future of Syria.
Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said he could not agree with the view that the idea of a transitional governing body Syria failed. “I do not think that the idea of a transitional governing body is dead,” – he said.
De Mistura said that the political transition in Syria remains the main topic of the talks. However, according to him, the delegation of the Government and the opposition Supreme Negotiating Committee understands it differently: first talk about a national unity government, the second – on the transition body. ”
google translate
well worth a read
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GENEVA, April 19. /TASS/. Speculations about the demise of ceasefire in Syria are questionable and ungrounded and the Syrian Army will continue struggle with terrorists with assistance from the Russian Aerospace Force, the Russian Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Alexei Borodavkin told TASS on Monday.
READ ALSO
Russia to further assist Syrian army in fighting terrorists — diplomat
“All the speculations claiming the ceasefire is dead are absolutely misleading and groundless,” he said. “The people spreading them can’t be trusted.”
“The combat actions that the Syrian Armed Forces are conducting with assistance from the Russian Aerospace Force aim to suppress the terrorists from Jabhal al-Nousra and the Islamic State and they will continue,” Borodavkin said. “Incidentally, that’s precisely the objective specified by the UN Security Council’s Resolution 2254.”.
Extremists raise upper hand in delegation of Syrian opposition’s negotiating committee
Decision of the Syrian opposition’s High Negotiations Committee to suspend participation in the inter-Syrian talks in Geneva proves that extremists have raised the upper hand in its delegation, Borodavkin said.
“We regret the HNC delegation’s decision to suspend its participation in the talks,” he said. “It’s an erroneous step on their part.”
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/870739
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GENEVA, April 18. / TASS /. The suspension of the participation of the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) in the intra-Syrian negotiations in Geneva will not lead to their disruption, one of the leaders of Syria’s Popular Front for Change and Liberation, representative of the opposition “Moscow platform” ( within the Moscow-Cairo group) Qadri Jamil told TASS on Monday.
“There is a difference between leaving the negotiations and taking a break,” he noted commenting on media reports saying that the HNC decided to suspend its participation in the talks over the situation at Aleppo. “Let them take a rest in the hotel for a day or two. They will relax and come back.”
According to Jamil, the situation near Aleppo is used by the HNC as just a pretext for attaining political goals. “Aleppo is not the most important issue,” he said. “They (HNC members) overestimate the role of the Aleppo issue. They create such problems every time there are opportunities for a political breakthrough.” “So, all this does not surprise us. We expect such complications. However, this is not a problem for the negotiations,” the politician said.”
More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/870665
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More refugees to come, soon looks like it, from Libya.
3 headlines that topic today, strong hints each one. Should be a separate forum topic exclusively for this, as events clearly speeding up & that other site recognized this days ago with a detailed daily topic of big things ongoing!:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/16/461095/Libya-NATO-Vershbow-UNbacked-government-Tripoli/
The NATO deputy secretary general says the military alliance is ready to help the new UN-sponsored Libyan government in building up security institutions if requested.
“The progress towards the consolidation of this new government of national unity in Libya is encouraging and we stand ready to assist the government if it requests,” Alexander Vershbow said on Saturday.
French, German FMs make surprise Libya visit amid eastern battles
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/16/461115/Libya-surprise-Tripoli-visit-Germany-France-foreign-ministers-JeanMarc-Ayrault-FrankWalter-Steinmeier-Fayez-alSarraj-GNA/
Camoron pipes in:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/18/461361/UK-Libya-Cameron-Daesh-Tripoli/
British PM David Cameron has come under renewed pressure to reveal details of possible UK military action in Libya as EU ministers are about to meet to discuss sending security units to the North African country.
Some 1,000 British troops may be dispatched to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, as part of a 6,000-strong coalition purportedly to train Libyan soldiers and fight Daesh terrorists.
Terrorists Continue to Cross Turkish Border to Syria
APR 18
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950130000300
TEHRAN (FNA)- Informed sources said that a large number of terrorists, with different nationalities, have crossed the Turkish border with Syria’s Northern province of Aleppo to join their comrades in al-Nusra Front.
“Foreign-national terrorist, trained and supplied in Turkey, have entered the territories of Northern Aleppo in groups to join the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front,” the sources said, adding, “The fresh terrorists have brought with them a large volume of ammunition and weapons.”
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13950130001006
Mon Apr 18, 2016 4:10
Syria: Jeish Al-Islam Leader Begs Terrorist Groups to Rush to Lattakia-Idlib Border
TEHRAN (FNA)- The top commander of Jeish al-Islam terrorist group urged all militant groups across Syria to leave their positions and gather in a united front in Lattakia border with Idlib, warning that their territory near the border with Turkey and Idlib will soon be completely lost if fresh forces do not join them.
http://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Idlib-and-Latakia-Map-Final-Update.gif
The Emir of Jeish al-Islam called on the leaders of at least nine terrorist groups of Ahrar al-Sham, Faylaq al-Sham, Ansar al-Sham, Sham al-Islam, Jeish al-Nasr, Jeish al-Eza’ah, Jeish al-Mujahidin, al-Firqa al-Shamaliyeh and al-Ferqa al-Owla Saheliyeh to forward more forces to Lattakia battlefronts to take part in a large-scale operation against the Syrian government forces.
“War is good for business; however the closer you are to the frontlines the less your profit.”
A notable exception here would be Greece and Turkey with regard to Syria. Small wonder though, given the interesting — even slightly entertaining — discrepancy in Zionazi leadership qualities between the two NATO fiefdoms. Put bluntly: A grovelling invertebrate vs. a rogue, cunning megalomaniac. It goes without saying that Erdogan’s courting of the Euro-trash is way more impressive in the eyes of the latter. Scum pull together in all kinds of weather.
From the Ferengi rules of acquisition:
34th rule of acquisition: war is good for business
35th rule of acquisition: peace is good for business
Couldn’t resist.
In chess, they say a bad plan is better than no plan. So we should at least give Ankara credit for trying to gain strategic importance in that part of the world. And some say the anti-Assad refugees will get the right to vote so as to improve the AKP’s performance.
Also, despite the harsh yet true comments about Erdoghan, one can at least make the case that he is working to make a stronger, richer, and more important Turkey. Can you say that about, say, Tsipras or Hollande or Obama?
Here I have to disagree with you. While “theoretically” ,in his dreams he may have had that plan. But everything he has done has made Turkey poorer and less important. While he was dealing with Putin,Turkey was growing in importance. And the riches coming its way with the South Stream,would have been good for Turkey.But now,while dealing with ISIS may have helped his family and cronies get richer. The average Turk,will be getting poorer daily. Today they have a good chance of being killed in the civil war. Or blown-up in a terrorist attack. While the huge Turkish tourist business is dying quickly.He had a very good chance of being a great Turkish President. And he let greed take him over. And now history will record him as one of the worst Turkish Presidents. He will be lucky to avoid being killed. Or seeing history name him as responsible for the end of a united Turkish state.
I have my doubts about some of what you are saying, but don’t question that Erdoghan may go down in history as the man who took Turkey to the wall. For starters, like Mark Sleboda, I doubt that South Stream was real. It was just Kremlin PR and positioning. Next, Russia and Turkey have opposing interests all over the place, so the only friendship possible is the friendship of money. That won’t last when the balloon goes up. ZATO wanted to redesign the maps in that part of the world, so perhaps the only reasonable approach for Ankara was to ask for assurances about the US attacking Syria and that Ankara could expel a large percentage of her Kurds to the new Kurdish state and deprive the remaining ones of Turkish citizenship. Turkey is thoroughly infested with Western agents of various sorts and is not independent, so do you really think she could say no to the Western desire for destroying Syria? Besides, what is Russia offering? As in the discussion of Serbia, I mean “what muscle is Russia offering?” Lawyers, guns, and money. Not a business deal with China five years from now.
Things like the death of Turkey’s tourist business were likely once it became clear that Russia and Iran were going to save Syria. Ankara crossed the Rubicon some time ago.
In other words, I think you are downplaying the fact that Erdoghan was somewhat in Yanukovich’s shoes. You can say that Yanukovich could have been a bridge between the EU and Russia and prospered greatly. Sure, but the West had control of the police and KGB and media and finance to the point where he was doomed. At least Erdoghan is a fighter, unlike Yanukovich.
Also, it is worth keeping in mind that the Western/Zionist desire for a Kurdish state is possibly fatal for Turkey. How should Erdgohan have handled that?
So Erdoghan is a dirtbag, but one can make the case that he wanted Turkey to turn into a power that the EU and Russia had to treat seriously. For better or for worse, it is likely that this is going to fail and Turkey will be in deep trouble.
I don’t see Erdagon as like Yanukovich at all. Yanukovich was interested in getting rich,and staying out of trouble from both sides. He was dragged into the mess that destroyed him. And then was too stupid to make the right decision to get out of it. Erdagon,while also a crook.Has had for years dreams of being a great power in the World. He didn’t need to be dragged into anything. He jumped in with both feet first.As we’ve learned from many reports Erdagon was a top player in the plots to destroy Syria right from the first. He sold Turkey’s future for dreams of Ottoman glory. Not realizing that the US doesn’t take direction from its stooges. And sooner or later will punish him for trying to blackmail them.Its ironic that the EU is allowing him to blackmail them. They could stop it very simply if they tried. Tell him they will close the EU borders to all travel from Turkey,put sanctions on all Turkish products. If he doesn’t stop allowing the migrants through Turkey. They hold all the keys. Yet are too stupid to use them.But instead are letting a two-bit hoodlum dictate to them.
I said “in Yanukovich’s shoes”, not like Yanukovich as a person. Though they both seemed like gangsters to me.
And the point of this is that both countries had tremendous Western influence or control and that there are Western strategies that are very harmful to their countries. Blowing up all countries on the border of Russia, for example. And creating a Kurdish state. Erdoghan may have been enthusiastic about attacking Syria, although a number of political commentators think otherwise. He wisely hasn’t trusted the West.
One point in this is that Russian media are trying to paint Turkish issues as an Erdoghan problem, and that is very debatable. Just because he is scum like Poroshenko doesn’t mean he is that much more independent than Poroshenko. Davutoglu might be more dangerous for all we know. He wrote a book “Strategic Depth”, which is pretty threatening and calls for a return to the Ottoman use of gangs to clean out or weaken foreign areas before Turkish troops come in. He went to a German school, and may be part of the German nexus inside Turkey. And it is more than questionable whether the German elites are pushing things in the right direction. So I doubt the EU is too stupid; I think they are evil and have their reasons.
The desire for a “great” Turkey seems to me to have been pretty widespread throughout Turkish society and the elite. The only question was how to do it. Some wanted an Ottoman Empire while others wanted the pan-Turkic league. And all wanted to be able to stand like an equal when dealing with the EU or Russia.
Turkey has entered a period of high tension and the government needs to act quickly to consolidate the society their people and power before things get out of control, the US Henry Marshall Foundation warned, citing an article by Dr. Emre Erdogan who is the founding partner of Infakto Research Workshop in Istanbul.
“Turkish politics is one existential struggle that goes on forever,” Dr. Erdogan wrote in his article titled “‘Turkey: The Force of Division.”’
He added that the level of polarization of Turkish society had reached a degree that rules out any reason for optimism.
Citing the results of a survey by the US-based Marshall Fund, Dr. Erdogan pointed to a civil conflict brewing up in the country with 44 percent of respondents naming the Kurdish People’s Democratic Party as the main irritant, followed by the ruling Justice and Development Party with 22 percent.
Turkish flag flies at the refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Islahiye, Gaziantep province, southeastern Turkey,Wednesday, March 16, 2016
© AP PHOTO/ LEFTERIS PITARAKIS
Land of One Man: ‘Turkey is Not a Democracy’ as It is Devoid of ‘All Rights and Freedoms’
Eighty-three percent were opposed to having someone with dissenting political views as a family member. Seventy-eight percent said they would never do business with a dissident and seventy-four percent would not let their kids play with the children of their political opponents.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan enjoyed the support of 47 percent of those polled, while only 15 percent of opposition-minded respondents backed his policies.
President Erdogan remains popular among the country’s civil servants and those in the military and security organizations, with 75 percent of those in the armed forces endorsing his line.
“Some of the abovementioned factors have to do with consistent conflicts happening in our society,” Dr. Emre Erdogan wrote.
In a recent interview with Radio Sputnik, former Attorney General of the Supreme Administrative Court of the Republic of Turkey, Tansel Çölaşan, spoke about the violation of human rights and freedoms in the country.
“Today, Turkey is not a democracy; it is dominated by one person. Therefore, the problem in Turkey is not only in compliance with the freedom of speech or the press, the problem is much bigger — today in Turkey practically all rights and freedoms have been suspended,” Çölaşan said.
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160419/1038258193/turkey-poll-unrest.html#ixzz46HkVBJ4g
Two local men attacked an American soldier at a US air base in Turkey, attempting to put a sack over his head. The assailants, who were briefly arrested, said they wanted revenge for a 2003 incident in Iraq involving American troops hooding Turkish soldiers.
The incident took place during an invitation-only event at the US Incirlik air base in the southern province of Adana on Saturday, according to Turkish media.
Two members of the Youth Union of Turkey, the right-wing group, identified as Yalcin Semir Akarsu and Cenk Kizilirmak approached a US soldier, whose name hasn’t been released. The group opposes Turkey’s aspirations to membership in the EU and fights what it calls “American imperialism.”
In the video released by the group on Facebook, Akarsu tells the US soldier: “You put sacks over our soldiers’ heads in 2003. You are responsible for that and for the terrorism in our country.”
https://www.rt.com/news/340223-us-soldier-hood-turkish-radicals/
Several media outlets reported the resignation by Sweden’s Minister of Housing and Information Technology Mehmet Kaplan, a member of Sweden’s Green Party (!) which is currently part of the ruling coalition with the Social Democrats. The resignation was requested by Sweden’s Prime Minister after Kaplan was reported to have had lunch last year with members and senior leaders of Turkey’s Grey Wolves organization, such as Barbaros Leylani and Ilhan Senturk.
Sweden: Gov’t Minister with Jihadi Ties Quits
By J.Hawk Several media outlets reported the resignation by Sweden’s Minister of Housing and Information Technology Mehmet Kaplan (pictured above),…
SOUTHFRONT.ORG
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9th April 2016, occupied Kherson republic, fascist state Ukraine
The first conflict for lands between local Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars: fighting for 500 acres in south of Kherson region. The pro-Turkish, pro-Tatar politic of Kiev junta in the Kherson region in action.
About fight between farmers and private enterprise for same land 3 days ago wrote local Kiev junta media, but they avoided mentioning nationalities of the wranglers. Boss of private enterprise have name Ruslan Gakaev (he could be Crimean Tatar), head of farm have name V. Erohina (media by unknown reason didn’t write her full first name, she is Ukrainian). They are accusing each other of false documents on the ownership of land. Media reported that everyone has their own truth and pretend that they take a neutral stance…
Ruslan Gakaev, boss of a private company said in a video interview about some Turkish investors willing to invest to his private company and buy Khersonian lands. I think our readers know about the plans of the Kiev junta to give the south of Kherson region to Turkey and extremists from the Crimean Tatars in order to create a terrorist enclave. Purchase of land by Turkish companies threatens Ukraine’s sovereignty over the loss of part of the territory …
This conflict between the local farmers and the Crimean Tatar’s private enterprise for the land is the first. The number of such conflicts in the south of the Kherson region will increase because the arrival of thugs from Turkey. Especially because “law enforcement agencies prefer not to intervene in the situation.” – local Kiev junta media in that article admitted this politic of local police and prosecutors.
By materials from local Kiev junta media
http://kherson.life/…/vojna-za-zemlyu-v-kalanchakskom-raj…/…
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addendum
“Thousands of Internet sites and news agencies, most of them opposition ones, have been shut down since the Islamic-inspired Justice and Development Party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power in 2002. According to Bilgi University Professor Yaman Akdeniz, the number of banned websites reached a staggering 90,000 in 2015.
A man holds up a placard as people demonstrate in support of Turkish daily newspaper Zaman in front the headquarters in Istanbul on March 4, 2016.
© AFP 2016/ OZAN KOSE
Internet Censorship in Turkey Is Unacceptable – Amnesty International
Observers and editors of several leading Turkish internet portals commented on Ankara’s current crackdown on media freedoms in an interview with Radio Sputnik.
Vecih Cüzdan, political observer and editor of Swendika.org news portal, which has seen its content censored eleven times over the past nine months, said that official censorship had become instrumental in the government’s attempts to put a damper on opposition media outlets.
“Censorship has become an instrument of the large-scale war being waged by the Justice and Development Party. In their bid to do this they will keep blocking the people’s access to all independent media resources as long as it takes to shut them up. But the harder they try to do this the more such opposition websites will spring up, because there is no way you can stop this process altogether,” Vecih Cüzdan emphasized.
Commenting on Ankara’s recent order to block internet access in the country to the website of the Russian news agency Sputnik, Cüzdan said that it was a politically-motivated move made as Turkey’s relations with Russia hit a historical low after a Turkish F-16 shot down a Russian bomber in Syria late last year.
Ali Barış Kurt, editor-in-chief of ANF news portal, which was equally shuttered under the controversial Internet Law No 5651 which allows for blocking access to websites with the goal of protecting children from harmful content children” from “harmful content” and the need to “prevent online crime.”
Read more: http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160420/1038303608/turkey-opposition-censorship.html#ixzz46Lr6p9wC
Turkey yesterday threatens Eu to abandon refugee scheme if it doesn’t get visa free travel asap………….learning a lot from Ukraine isn’t it……………who is complaining to WTO about loss of transit goods across Russia despite the sanctions against rus and threat of breaking off diplomatic relations….., has asked to delay a second meeting re Rus-ukraine 3b “settlement’…….
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/04/19/461514/Turkey-Ahmet-Davutoglu-EU-deal-visafree-travel/
This passage from today’s MOA moonofalabama.org says it all.
BTW, ziad Fadel syrianperspective.com yesterday was saying in one of his updates that the Syrian army helos have the anti-MANPAD technology installed & are using it.
Most poignant but left out of a mention everywhere are those B-52s moved up to Qatar 10 days ago!
Those likely will not be using any “old school” dumb bombs, but have the ‘carousel changer’ cruise missile launcher that they can fire off up to about a dozen in sequence in one flight.
Maybe they’ll even arrange to put one through a Chinese embassy somewhere out there, invoking nostalgia for the glorious age of the first Clingon president.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/apr/9/barksdale-b-52s-arrive-in-qatar-to-fight-islamic-s/
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard General Suleiman visited Moscow last week. After his first visit last summer the Russian intervention was planned and executed. It brought the “rebels” to the border of total defeat. Their sponsors then agreed to a ceasefire and to hold talks in Geneva. Since the ceasefire announcement on February 27 the time was used by the U.S. to rearm and reposition the “rebel” force.
It seems that another round of the cycle is now necessary. Iran has deployed regular ground troops in Syria and these, even while not yet battle-tested, will have some effect. The Syrian air force has been reequipped and its older planes have been updated. Russian helicopters are active on the Syrian front and new short range (200 km) “Iskander” ballistic missiles were recently seen.
LONDON, April 20. / TASS /. Turkey’s border guards continue shooting at Syrian women and children who try to flee their home country, The Times newspaper has reported.
“Eight Syrians, most of them women and children, have been killed by Turkish border guards while fleeing their war-torn homeland. The group was trying to cross into Turkey via a mountain smuggling route at the western end of the frontier when they were pushed back by Turkish forces firing live rounds, “according to the report.
The British daily says the killings on Sunday were the latest in a series of cruel incidents in which at least two dozen people have been killed since December. In late March, the paper reported that 16 migrants, including three children, have been killed over the past four months by Turkish border guards.
More:
http://tass.ru/en/world/871137
MOSCOW, April 19. /TASS/. Relations between Russia and Turkey at the official level cannot be restored, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told a news conference on Tuesday.
“As for Turkish officials are concerned, there are no prospects. Those people did what they did. As we now perfectly understand, it was their conscious choice. As for relations between countries and peoples, they will be developing,” she said.
“The card castle of what they [the Turkish authorities] decided to build in international relations has started falling apart,” Zakharova stressed.
“As for relations between peoples and countries, they will certainly continue to develop. There can be no antagonism campaigns against the Turkish people, business and representatives of economic medium,” Zakharova said.
More:
http://tass.ru/en/politics/870926
Letter to the editor in a Dutch newspaper.
I regularly visit a playground in Rotterdam West with my 2 year old grandson. It’s a playground enjoyed by children of different cultures. Some time ago my grandson made a rabbit out of sand using a little mold, but before I could praise his “masterpiece”, a girl of foreign descent of about nine years old put her foot on it, declaring in a loud voice “No images with eyes”. When I asked her why not, she said “We do not tolerate that here.” I decided not to press the incident and didn’t mention it to the playground supervisors. But 14 days later all sand molds of animals have been removed from the sandbox. Maybe it’s time Dutchmen with Christian values learn how to integrate in Islamic culture so we are treated with respect, as they are now?
J. Visser, Spijkenisse.
(“Een konijntje in de zandbak is niet toegestaan, Algemeen Dagblad”)
http://www.geenstijl.nl/mt/archieven/2016/04/de_een_zijn_konijn_in_de_zandbak_is_een_anders_konijn_in_de_koplampen.html