|
|
View My Stats |
 Subscribe in a reader |
|
|
March 16, 2010
Letting lebanon slip away
If the UN were capable of irony, Barry Rubin noted an ironic circumstance the other day:
If you want a good example of the ridiculous, shameful ironies in the terrible era we're living in here it is. The UN-Habitat organization, part of the United Nations, has initiated a Rafik Hariri Memorial Award. The award is named after the former Lebanese prime minister who was assassinated by Syria in February 2005.The first winner is Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Of course, Erdogan is an Islamist who is an ally of Syria, the murderer of Hariri.
In other Lebanon related ironic news, Walid Jumblatt, who also was orphaned by Syria, has apologized to --- Syria.
As another step towards reconciliation with Syria and in preparation for his visit to Damascus, Druze leader Walid Jumblatt expressed regret for the criticism and insults he leveled in the past at Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad.
Max Boot explains why Jumblatt would humiliate himself, its to ingratiate himself to the strong horse, Syria, and survive.
Jumblatt, as I mentioned, is known above all for being a survivor, and if he now feels compelled to distance himself from the March 14 coalition (something he has been doing to some degree since 2008) and to propitiate Bashar al-Assad, it is an indication that the balance of power in the Levant is shifting in Assad's favor. That is bad news, indeed. Assad has shown no willingness to give up his support of terrorist groups (notably Hezbollah and Hamas) or to sever links with Iran. And why should he, when the Obama administration is trying to court him despite his unwillingness to change his ways?Jumblatt knows which way the wind is blowing. This most sensitive of weather vanes indicates that American interests in the region are suffering serious setbacks. But the administration is probably too busy beating up on our most reliable ally in the area to notice.
Good to know that the administration has its priorities in order.
Posted by SoccerDad at March 16, 2010 6:33 AM
Hamas Economic Crisis Reveals Gaza As A Just Terrorist Group Surrounded By Human Shields
Gaza: you can never have too many snickers bars
Peter's perverse principle
Fortunately they weren't violent tea party types
It Takes Burning Down A Summer Camp For UNRWA To Notice
What's the difference between "disgraced" and a "higher ethical standard?"
The messaging or the strategy
The first prejudice
A treasure trove of terror
What if obamacare applied to state lotteries?
Everyone knows that Iran is the power behind the power. Lebanon and Syria are months away from becoming part of "Greater Iran" and Turkey will get Iranian assistance in exterminating enough Kurds to complete the Arc of the Iranian Empire from the Bosphorus to Afghanistan.
This is why Turkey is so 'outraged' by the Congressional committee vote on the Armenian genocide. Because Armenia stands in the middle of the path between Iran and the Mediterranean.
Posted by: Empress Trudy at March 16, 2010 12:29 PMI really miss George W. Bush.
Posted by: Laura at March 16, 2010 12:50 PMTurkey is not the ally of Syria (Naive to believe that, turkey has good relationships with Israel and the two countries have military ties.
If you open up a syrian geography school book, you clearly see that a large chunk of land (recognized by the world as Turkish) is still claimed by syria.
Syria and Turkey are neighbors, with some mutual interests, THATS IT.
Iran and Syria have mutual interests, both regimes fear getting exterminated by USA/ISRAEL with a fate similar to that of Saddam.
Iran is Shitte, Syria is Sunni and Alawitte.
In Iran the regime is faith driven and the government is a theocracy, Syria s the complete opposite. Syrians are Arabs and Speak Arabic, while Iran is Persian and the guys there speak farsi.
SO technically the USA is more Mexican than any of these states (Lebanon, Syria, Turkey) are Iranian.
Walid Jumblatt the Lebanese politician will only befriend Syria and Assad to latter stab them in the back, its a strategic move on his part.
Posted by: Fred at March 17, 2010 7:07 PM"Turkey is not the ally of Syria"
....................................
Perhaps you can relay that message to erdogan. He seems to think otherwise.
Turkey has been historically an ally of the USA and Israel.
Erdogan wants Turkey to have better relationship with its neighbors (and thats a fair game), he also believes that it is of Turkey's interests to be perceived as an independent minded state with a foreign policy that isnt dictated from Washington. Erdogan still maintains good relationship with the USA and Israel.
Thats only Erdogan's vision, and to go all the way and say that Turkey is Syria's ally is close to blasphemy.
Turkey needs to be perceived as more European and less pro-USA. Israel should not be offended if Turkey does not blindly support its cause anymore.
Posted by: fred at March 18, 2010 4:52 AM