Both the Israeli government and its cutouts here have been sticking it to Turkey lately. (See this silliness from the House today and this from Rep. Gary Ackerman, chair of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and, more relevantly, a powerful and devoted ally of the "pro-Israel" lobby.)
The bash-Turkey movement did not start with the flotilla incident. It began when Turkey spoke out against Israel's bloody invasion of Gaza in 2009.
Back then, I was still at Israel Policy Forum and, as a Jewish organizational figure, I was regularly invited to meetings at the Turkish embassy to discuss Middle East issues.
I always asked my assistant to go in my place because I knew that I would find it excruciating to listen to the other "pro-Israel" professionals lecturing the Turks (including the ambassador) about what they needed to do to avoid trouble with them and Israel.
But my assistant did go and always came back with her head spinning. Not only did she share my take on the Middle East, including the belief that the lobby does more harm than good, she also believed that it is inappropriate for Americans to threaten the representatives of one foreign government for not doing what a second foreign government wants.
After one meeting she told me that it seemed clear to her that the lobbyists -- from AIPAC, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League -- were essentially telling the Turks that if they didn't shape up, it would affect Turkey's standing in Congress. She also said that they hinted that any Turkish distancing from Israel could lead to the lobby dropping its opposition to the Armenian Genocide Resolution, then pending in Congress. And that would mean that the resolution would pass.
That resolution, pushed by the Armenian community, basically states that the killing of 1.5 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 95 years ago was genocide and should be recognized as such by the United States.
I never understood why the Turks had such strong feelings on this subject. After all, the modern Turkish Republic is not the Ottoman Empire. True, Turkey is the successor state to the Ottoman Empire (or, at least, part of the empire), but modern Germany is the successor to Nazi Germany and only crazy people blame today's Germany for the crimes of the Nazis.
But, no matter, this is how the Turks feel. They will do almost anything to prevent the stain that they think passage of the resolution by Congress would bring.
I remember telling my assistant that I did not believe that the lobby could drop its opposition to passage of the resolution. After all, if the Armenian genocide was not a genocide last year, how could it suddenly become a genocide this year?
We both felt that the lobby's position on the resolution was utterly cynical. Yes, Turkey was Israel's friend. But why should that require the lobby using its clout to prevent the United States from memorializing the killing of a million-and-a-half people?
That seemed especially unsavory considering how strongly Jews feel about Holocaust denial. And, after all, it was Adolf Hitler himself who cited the Armenian slaughter when he reassured his aides that Nazi Germany could indeed get away with the murder of millions of innocent Jews:
"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"
Those words are inscribed on a wall in the United States Holocaust Museum.
Nonetheless, the lobby backed the Turkish position. It pushed the view that the Armenians who were slaughtered had died in the context of war.
Back during my days working on Capitol Hill, I heard this argument from Israeli diplomats as well as from the various Jewish organizations. And when the resolution looked like it was going to pass, it was the "pro-Israel" lobby that stopped it.
The whole thing was sickening. But on Capitol Hill, we were told that we had to oppose the resolution. Turkey was Israel's friend. That was that.
But now, the Netanyahu government and its lobby are having a change of heart. According to media reports in Israel and the United States, the lobby may indeed drop its opposition to the resolution. The Netanyahu government, the lobby, the neocons, and their acolytes in the media, have decided that Turkey needs to be punished for its opposition to the Gaza blockade and its role in the flotilla fiasco.
The word is going out. Turkey is no friend of Israel, no friend of Jews, and has become, yes, a Muslim state that cares about its fellow Muslims in Gaza.
This statement from Rep. Anthony Weiner takes the prize:
Let's consider Turkey. This [the flotilla incident] would not have happened were it not for the nation of Turkey taking the role that they did... And for a lot of time, we kind of worship at the altar of the moderate Muslim state, the moderate Arab states that, you know what, we hope that they are there to be a fulcrum for peace, but it's not unlike a child wanting to see a unicorn. It would be great if it happened, but we have to realize the facts are the facts, and NATO membership for Turkey has to be called into question here.
Say what? Because the Turks no longer are doing what Israel wants, they should be thrown out of NATO?
Incredible. NATO membership makes Turkey a formal ally of the United States. That formal alliance with Turkey (as with our other NATO allies) was established not because we love the Turks (or the Greeks, the Italians, or whoever) but because the alliance serves our strategic interests. Turkey, situated on the Mediterranean, just south of Russia and north of the oil-rich Middle East, is indispensable to the United States. But the lobby (not just Weiner) would toss it overboard because it is has offended Netanyahu.
Anyone who questions just how far the lobby will go in defense of the Netanyahu government's policies has their answer.
Expect the lobby to get the Armenian genocide resolution passed at the next opportunity -- but not out of recognition of the demands of history, or empathy with Armenians, or because passage is long overdue. Congress will pass it because the lobby and Netanyahu want us to. It's all about sticking it to Turkey, our NATO ally, which has the temerity not to clear its policies with the American Jewish Committee and AIPAC.
Both the Netanyahu government and its lobby are operating with callous disregard for U.S. interests. But what else is new?
As for Israel's interests, they are only invoked to rally support from people who would otherwise understand that Israel's interest is just a political football in this game. For Netanyahu, the game is political survival. For the lobby, it is throwing its weight around in Washington. For members of Congress, it is pleasing donors.
The Israeli people and the Palestinians -- and, now, the Turks and Armenians too -- are mere pawns.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJMpszdFZk4
Our top military guys also say Turkey is an asset.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703890904575296900180727936.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird
"The Pentagon has long been an advocate for Turkey both within the U.S. government and internationally. The U.S. and Turkish militaries have strong ties, including the Incirlik Air Base in southwestern Turkey, which the U.S. Air Force uses as a hub for operations in the Middle East and Central Asia."
I don't seem to be able to find any information that states Israel is a member of Nato ,yet they are lobbying for a Nato member to be removed ?
'We will throw them into the sea'.
New footage from the Mavi Marmara was released by the Foreign Ministry on Friday afternoon, this time showing IHH head Bülent Yildirim inciting to violence against Israeli commandos hours before the encounter that claimed the lives of nine Turkish passengers.
IHH head calls for violence, "martyrdom" in new 'Marmara' footage
You MUST see this new video footage. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSYjuDEZw1w
As we know, many martyrs have died for the cause of right. We have heard many times people saying that they will kill someone who invades thier houses or steal thier property.
We also see that the Israelis have told these men from the beginning that of they tried to enter Gaza, they would be met with a military response. The men had no weapons of military caliber, so, they did not intend a violent act.
Whatever happened on the ship, Israel brought, and intended a violent act. The people responded by defending themselves, even if they intended to throw the Israeli soldiers off the ship.
Israel got the responce they prepared for...they expected the people to defend themselves...that is why they came with commandos, gunships, and helicopters...and that is what happened.
But the point of the movie is different. It shows that the an well organized group of activists--certainly not all of them--planned to engage in a violent act. This was their aim. The IDF was stupid enough to give them what they cleverly planed to do, including the dead ones.
Was it right on behalf of Israel - no it wasn't.
Does it absolve the provocative extremists or changes the fact it was a well organized provocation - no it does not.
Should an intelligent observer realize it and not disregard it - yes s/he should.
Are Turkish authorities asleep? These people on the video are fanatics who should have never been allowed to board a humanitarian ship. If this is the president of IHH, then IHH should definitely be placed under watch or better yet closed down for good. This organization is dangerous for Turkey.
Ordinary Turks will be deeply embarrassed and ashamed when their country gets associated with this deplorable fringe minority.
Up until today, we were criticizing Israel for its handling of the ship. But I hadn't seen these lunatics. I had no idea. In view of this video, I have to say some of the people on the ship Mavi Marmara were just as responsible for the resulting deaths.
The Nuclear powered electricity issue? How does that theory of Iran going all out gangbusters -IN SECRET- to procure nuclear weapons, advance the betterment of it's society? Wipe out Israel? Isn't that the fastest way for Iran to be 'wiped out' itself? Who honestly thinks that Iran's -secret- national policy is to kill itself? gimme' a friggin' break already.
Iran is still surrounded by 2 wars, is that why maybe there are accusations about Iranian nuclear warmongering?
The terror infrastructure was fundamentalist Islamic Arabs. Thus, the Turkish infrastructure and constitution calls for affirmative separation of Mosque and State. This was a big reason they were admitted into NATO to begin with. But by siding with Hamas and its Sharia, charter, they have abrogated this critical distinction.
Both Israeli government and Hamas should respect the rule of law and the sanctity of human life. Both of you are wrong and unlawful.
The Ottoman, Nato "analysis" is the nuttiest, most uninformed commentary I've ever seen. Secularism and Ottomans is an oxymoron.
USA! Great game!!!
blame the Jewish people for those troubles that a few people known as AIPAC, in unison with
a few Republicans & Democrats, and a few Israeli Right wing leaders cause. At most there is
a core of less than one thousand people that if removed would return peace & prosperity to
America's 300 million. The American voter can begin with a demand that AIPAC be banned
as an organization. AIPAC is not like other PACs. Its' sole purpose is to influence Congress
and the Pentagon to supply arms, financing, and political support, so that Israel can ignore
world opinion and even American opinion, in their pursuit of domination over all of the nations of
the Middle East. Israel's angst will always be there, nothing can cure it. They will always ask
America to sacrifice for their interests. They are a welfare state of America and always will be.
Their needs will never end.
All told, similar such US lobbies account for dozens of high profile, high stakes contests between the interests of American people versus foreign nations, families (the Saudis for example) and companies.
The US Congress appreciates the monetary and social power the Jews and their supporters in the USA have and use. But all such critics disingenuously ignore that the US public also sides with Israel. Get off your high horse. Maybe the Muslim outside world and even the Christian outside world sides against Israel but in the USA, our two groups are seen as spiritual and strategic allies.
Ban APAIC? OK. Ban all lobbies. None are a whip of good to the American people. Otherwise, leave the Jews alone.
I think you are right. I've been a firm supporter of Israel until I saw how they handled the flotilla incident. They are not thinking rationally. Anybody who criticizes them becomes anti-semitic. It's like a knee-jerk reaction. They look around and see enemies. The tragedy of the Holocaust may have permanently damaged Jewish people. I see paranoia in their reactions.
The obvious and very relevant difference is that Germany owned up to its crimes, took responsibility, asked the victims for forgiveness and paid reparations. Turkey has not. That makes all the difference in the world. Anyone interested in Tikkun Olam should not so blithley overlook the Turkish refusal to take responsibility for their actions.
This is even more relevant as Turkey has been fighting the minority, stateless Kurds, killing over 50,000 (disproportion, anyone), limited their political freedom and even banned their language. But this is never mentioned in this convoluted and misleading article.