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| Middle East |
| Israel and Turkey join forces to hunt down al-Qaeda |
| 2004-01-12 |
| Israel’s chief intelligence agency, the Mossad, is now working with Turkey to track down al Qaeda agents in the region. The extraordinary alliance between security officials in Muslim Turkey and the Jewish state shows how seriously the world’s intelligence agencies are taking the continuing threat from Osama bin Laden’s terror network. Turkey’s prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, confirmed the ties to Mossad in a recent interview with Israeli TV. Erdogan admitted Turkey had misread the al Qaeda threat before homicide bombers struck twice in Istanbul last November. "That’s the nature of terrorism," he said. "It is toying with the different intelligence agencies around the world." The bombers first attacked two synagogues and then, less than a week later, bombed the British consulate and an HSBC bank. "What hurt me deeply," said Erdogan, a proud Muslim, "is that the attacks on the synagogues took place during the prayers of innocent people." Turkey quickly launched a massive hunt for the bombers’ accomplices. Sources said one of the arrested suspects admitted: "We wanted to attack American targets in Ankara and Istanbul. But they’re so tightly guarded even birds can’t fly over them." So, he said, the terrorists chose the second-best targets. More than 50 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the bombings. Another man, a major suspect in the attacks, was arrested within two weeks of the bombings when he tried to flee to Iran with false ID. But still safe and in hiding is the mastermind of the attacks, a Jordanian named Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #10 Scott, very powerful, Blast off powerfull. Thats what I mean also. May god bless you all. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-13 12:02:02 AM |
| #9 Hearts and minds. If Erdogan was willing to publically admit that the killing of any non-muslim innocents was wrong, he should be told (along with all nominals) that he is repudiating the plain teaching of the Qu'ran. The problem IS the religion. Unless a wedge can be driven between it and those capable of thinking for themselves, there is always going to be an active breeder reactor for the most dangerous and replacable of WMDs, (as Friedman calls them)-human ones. If you know any Muslim immigrees, tell them boldly that; Mohammed was deceived, the Qu'ran was not inspired by Jehovah, Islam is a blatant counterfeit of biblical Judaism and Jesus DID declare Himself to be the Son of God (Jn 10:36) And then show him kindness. Islam purports itself to be the culmination and the perfecting of Judaism and Christianity. Showing them to be mutually exclusive causes a conflict and inserts a doubt that will never go away. (from there, it's God's problem. This is how you turn a Muslim) At the least, you will cause a potential supporter of terrorism to question his actions. At best, you've helped to create a change agent for a whole culture. Otherwise, the only alternatives I see to reaching hearts and minds are complete quarantine -or complete extermination. |
| Posted by: Scott 2004-1-12 3:31:24 PM |
| #8 I remain suspicious of the Dogman. He blows in the wind, like Clinton; he'll do whatever it takes to retain power. I guess he's better than some others...but I wouldn't turn my back to him. |
| Posted by: B 2004-1-12 3:27:18 PM |
| #7 Islamic moderation, if it's ever going to take hold, has to start somewhere -- and it will probably look a lot like this. We ought to encourage this point of view when we can, without forgetting to open cans of whupp-ass on the wahabbits. |
| Posted by: snellenr 2004-1-12 1:09:04 PM |
| #6 Maybe I was a little over the top, But only a little. An 8.5 ain't to bad though. I do want to have respect for a guy like Erdogan and other Muslims that are fighting for freedom in Iraq and all. I just have a problem with showing that religion ANY respect as it just gives them some standing. Like that head scarf brew-haha. It's a control freak thing. So shame and seething for me today and my regards to you all. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-12 12:46:13 PM |
| #5 a muslim whose working with Israel to fight terrorists, and is willing to say so in public, is quite good enough for me. Yes the culture needs to change, but Erdogan saying the things lucky called for wouldnt help him to lead any real changes. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2004-1-12 9:23:07 AM |
| #4 Actually, on the matter of the terrorism, Erdogan probably is a deeply shamed Muslim. That's one reason why he is working with Mossad. The other reason is that Erdogan is a Turk and the Turks know the Arab mind about as well as the Israelis do. |
| Posted by: mhw 2004-1-12 8:01:54 AM |
| #3 LOL! Sorry Dr Steve! Ah Lucky... sigh... I like how your mind works! ***8.5*** You left out the incompetence leading to deep shame and seething stuff. '-> |
| Posted by: .com 2004-1-12 3:14:08 AM |
| #2 Moderate? Whatever, what I want are conflicted muslims. Like a muslim that says, "hell no, hell fucking no, we've got a problem with our culture. It's one screwed up, backward, stone throwing, rote mezmerizing, brotherhood of idiotic face saving, honor my father, repressive sexual, batted eyelash, toothy smiley, fake hyper good manners. punk....punk. But being a proud muslim and being deeply hurt, oh hug! |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-1-12 12:55:02 AM |
| #1 "What hurt me deeply," said Erdogan, a proud Muslim, "is that the attacks on the synagogues took place during the prayers of innocent people." Good for us to remember this: there really is such a thing as a moderate Muslim. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2004-1-12 12:37:16 AM |