The Islamization of Turkey IV

Daniel Pipes, president of the Middle East Forum and a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution of Stanford University, wrote a piece today at National Review Online titled: Is Turkey Going Rogue? You might surmise from the title that Professor Pipes thinks there are big problems with Turkey. He does. Here are some of the problems he highlights in today's article:

When four out of five of the Turkish chiefs of staff abruptly resigned on July 29, 2011, they signaled the effective end of the republic founded in 1923 by Kemal Atatürk.

Ironically, secular Turks tend to be more anti-Western than the AKP (the party in power).

Turkey faces a credit crunch, one largely ignored in light of crises in Greece and elsewhere. As analyst David Goldman points out, Erdoğan (pictured above) and the AKP took the country on a financial binge: Bank credit ballooned while the current account deficit soared, reaching unsustainable levels.

Some 15–20 percent of Turkey’s citizens identify as Kurds, a distinct historical people; although many Kurds are integrated, a separatist revolt against Ankara that began in 1984 has recently reached a new crescendo...

In the tradition of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Saddam Hussein, the Turkish prime minister deploys anti-Zionist rhetoric to make himself an Arab political star. One shudders to think where, thrilled by this adulation, he may end up.

As economic troubles hit, a once-exemplary member of NATO may go further off track; watch for signs of Erdoğan emulating his Venezuelan friend, Hugo Chávez.

There are a number of other reasons that lead Pipes to consider a rogue Turkey "the region's greatest threat." You can read his entire article by clicking on the link below.

Is Turkey Going Rogue? - Daniel Pipes - National Review Online


For earlier posts on Turkey, click on "Turkey" in the Labels below.

Turkey Suspends Defense Ties With Israel

Erdogan just won't let it go.

From Jihad Watch two hours ago:

Turkey to step up naval patrols in waters where Israeli navy operates

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/09/turkish-pm-suspends-all-defense-ties-with-israel-promises-this-process-will-be-followed-by-different.html

Robert Spencer: Islam is islamism

Robert Spencer of Jihadwatch.org posted this must read piece on his website on Saturday. He called it: Islam versus Islamism -- a distinction without a difference? These short clips pretty much summarize his thesis:

"The Quran says that Muslims are fated to rule the world, and everyone in it. While Jesus of Christianity says, "My Kingdom is not of this world," Muslims are explicitly commanded to do otherwise, to remake the world into an Islamic kingdom and all religion is for Allah (Quran 8:39). In other words, the Quran is an inherently political document. Consequently, there is no separation between mosque and state in core Islamic texts. In traditional Islam, dating back to the time of its prophet, the spiritual and the political are one.

"Drawing distinctions between Islam and its corresponding '-ism' is a false dichotomy. There is no political Islam, no 'Islamism', no 'Islamists' -- there are only Islam and Muslims. The so-called 'radical', 'fundamentalist' or 'militant' Muslims, the 'Islamists', and indeed the terrorists, are the ones faithfully practicing the dictum of Islam, exactly as Islam's founder intended."

Click below for the entire piece.

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2011/09/islam-versus-islamism----a-distinction-without-a-difference-1.html

The Islamization of Turkey III

Caroline Glick, Israel's Iron Lady, points out how Turkey is once again trying to ingratiate herself with the Islamic world. Prime Minister Erdogan has practically neutered the military that has, since the days of Ataturk, been charged with maintaining the secular government of the country, and he continues to move the country closer and closer to an Islamic Republic. That's bad news for our closest ally in that part of the world, and bad news for us.

Listen to Turkey's latest unprovoked attempt to embarrass the Israelis for no apparent reason:

"Monday morning Turkey took its anti-Israel campaign to a new level. Beyond downgrading diplomatic relations with Israel; beyond suspending military agreements; beyond threatening naval war; beyond threatening to foment an irredentist insurrection of Israeli Arabs; the Turks decided to terrorize Israeli tourists landing in Istanbul airport.

"Forty Israeli passengers, mainly businessmen who had landed in Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight from Tel Aviv, were separated from the rest of the flight passengers. Their passports were confiscated.

"They were placed in interrogation rooms and stripped down to their underwear. Their carry-on bags were checked. And then they were lined up against a wall, forbidden to sit down or use the washroom.

"Passengers who contacted the Foreign Ministry said they felt frightened and intimidated.

"The ordeal went on for 90 minutes, until Turkish authorities returned their Israeli passports and permitted them to pick up their suitcases and exit the airport."

Click the link below to read the entire article.

http://www.carolineglick.com/e/2011/09/turkeys-chosen-scapegoat.php


For previous posts on this subject go HERE and HERE.


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Have the Turks Been Brainwashed? Were we?

Claire Berlinski, in her post yesterday at Ricochet.com sounds like she might be getting a little more concerned about the future of Turkey (where she's been living for some time) than she was in this prior post.

To view all prior posts on Turkey, click on the label "Turkey" below.

Claire Berlinski: Huge News From Turkey

Claire Berlinski, who lives in Istanbul and writes for City Journal and many other publications, and edits Ricochet.com, just posted this at Ricochet:

Huge News From Turkey: Highest Ranking Military Officers Resign
Claire Berlinski, Ed. · 24 minutes ago
This just came across the transom:

Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Işık Koşaner announced his resignation Friday afternoon.

His resignation was followed by the resignations of Turkey's Land, Sea and Air Force commanders.

I don't yet know what this means or what the implications will be, but obviously it's a very big deal.

It would be difficult to think this is anything but bad news - very bad news - for Israel (and us), as it appears to be yet another step away from the reforms put in place by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in 1923, and a step closer to The Islamic Republic of Turkey.

For prior posts on this scary topic go Here and Here.

Say Goodbye to Turkey

That's Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and he's no Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the father of modern Turkey who truly believed in a secular democracy form of government for his homeland. Erdogan doesn't much like us or Israel (somebody tell our president before he sells Turkey our F-35 Joint Strike Fighter), but he's gotten very close to our greatest enemy, and together they are Two Dangerous Guys.

Erdogan was reelected last Sunday, and that is bad news for us, because there can be no doubt his plans are to eventually replace the country's secular government (the legacy of Ataturk) with a religious one (guess which religion).

Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at The American Enterprise Institute, just wrote about Sunday's election in Turkey and the title of his piece is: Erdogan’s Re-election Marks a New Era, But Not a Good One, which pretty well sums it up.

Finally, here's a much more in-depth piece on the problems of Turkey written by Michael Rubin for the July/August 2010 edition of Commentary.

Turkey, from Ally to Enemy

Claire Berlinski: An Open Letter to Turkey and Israel

Claire Berlinski is not as concerned as some about the drift away from a secular government in Turkey. In fact, she thinks there is a chance that relations between Turkey and Israel can return to what they were not that long ago. She posted this Open Letter to Turkey and Israel at Ricochet.Com, the outstanding Blog she edits. It should be noted that Berlinski lives and writes in Istanbul, and obviously has strong feelings for the country and its people.

There are others who are not as optimistic as Berlinski about the future of Turkey as a secular state, and much less optimistic about current and future relations between Turkey and Israel. You can read some of those views by clicking on the links on this prior post.

Moderate Muslims and Progressive Catholics

That's Steven Emerson, who is doing the Lord's work as the founder of The Investigative Project on Terrorism. He was a guest on Bill Bennett's radio show this morning talking about Radical Islam, and the phony reasons being put forth by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf for the building of a Mosque at Ground Zero. Mr. Emerson's Blog can always be accessed through My Blog List on the right side of this Blog. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a feed so new posts do not appear as soon as they are published. You have to click on the link to see what's new on the site.

For prior posts on Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, who is about to embark - at your expense - on a U. S. State Department tour of those friendly, religiously tolerant Middle Eastern countries, none of which has condemned the massacre on 9/11, go here and here.

Emerson, while talking with Bill Bennett, made many laudatory remarks about an American Muslim doctor, Zuhdi Jasser, of Arizona. Here's a photo of Dr. Jasser with yet another gift to the country from the state of Minnesota (as if Al Franken wasn't enough), Representative Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to serve in the U. S. House of Representatives. Jasser is on the right.



These two gentlemen engaged in a rather lively debate on the subject of Islam. The debate was recorded in nine parts on You Tube, and is worth the time to watch. You can watch the first part here. Suffer through the first few minutes of Congressman Trent Franks of Arizona, who sponsored the debate; you won't regret it.

Dr. Jasser comes across as being exactly what he is touted to be: a moderate Muslim, but Pamela Geller isn't sure about him. She published this post about him on her Blog, Atlas Shrugs, back in May 2009.

Zuhdi Jasser impressed me as being completely sincere in his beliefs and, just as importantly, in his loyalties (he served as a medical officer for 11 years in the U. S. Navy). Somehow, though, I can't forget the words of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey: "There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.”

I think Erdogan and Rep. Ellison are right about Islam, and Dr. Jasser is wrong. "Muslims" who do not believe in Sharia Law are not moderate Muslims; they're just NOT Muslims. Dr. Jasser, not only does not believe in Sharia; he believes in "separation of Mosque and state." I think Dr. Jasser is very much like today's so-called Progressive Catholics who have no problem with abortion or same-sex marriage (among other things). They're not "Progressive Catholics;" they're simply NOT Catholics.

An Open Letter to Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

(Erdogan and wife Emine at the G8/G20 summit in Canada last month)


(Erdogan with BHO at the G8/G20 summit in Canada)

This letter (click below) was sent to The Investigative Project on Terrorism by an academic who happens to be a devout Muslim and a Turkish-American (I hate hyphens before American; an American is an American). The professor takes Erdogan who, when he was mayor of Istanbul, described himself as a “servant of Sharia,” to task for his obvious agenda aimed at restoring the Caliphate, first by transforming the Republic of Turkey into the Islamic Republic of Turkey.


An Open Letter to Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

The Islamization of Turkey II

The inestimable Andy McCarthy is interviewed in the above video by Will Cain of National Review. It's now past the point where Turkey can be considered an ally of the United States. In fact the recent turmoil over the humanitarian flotilla fiasco off the coast of Israel was choreographed by Turkey, and that was just the beginning of what could possibly turn in to WW III should that Iranian ship headed to Israel achieve its objective.

Andy McCarthy wrote an extended article on the problem of Turkey's return to Islam for the paper edition of National Review, which can be accessed here.

Two previous posts on this Blog discussing the emerging Islamization of Turkey can be found here, and here.

Two Dangerous Guys

Daniel Jackson of the Sense of Events Blog posted this piece yesterday about the growing tension between Turkey and Israel - two former allies. The picture painted by Dr. Jackson is a scary one, but one that needs to be widely circulated. An earlier post on this Blog addressed the Islamization of Turkey, which certainly has led to the growing tension with Israel.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, pictured above with his new best friend, reportedly has islamified his control of the Army and Intelligence upper ranks with "loyal cronies" so a coup from secular forces, as mandated by the Father of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, appears not to be a possibility. It is clear that Erdogan is a fundamental islamist who is determined to bring Sharia to Turkey, which will dramatically effect the security of Israel.

The Turkish Navy, a force of 55,000 personnel and 37 vessels (23 frigates and 14 submarines) would have a decided advantage over the Navy of Israel, a force of 9,500 personnel and three submarines, in any future war which surely would start (if it hasn't already) at sea. Of course Israel has been totally outmanned in every war they have been forced to fight - and they haven't lost yet. Turkey spends almost twice as much as Israel on military expenditures, in terms of U.S. dollars (although Israel spends 2 percent more of its GDP), but it would still be unwise to bet against the Israeli military.

Donald Sensing of Sense of Events posted this follow-up piece on the website today.

The Islamization of Turkey: Ataturk Abandoned

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who was responsible for creating the first Republic of a formerly Moslem nation, is turning in his grave. On 29 October 1923, the Republic of Turkey arose from the ashes of The Ottoman Empire and Atatürk was unanimously elected as its first President.

The office of the Sultan was abolished in November 1922, the caliph was abolished in March 1924, and the Republic of Turkey became a truly secular democratic nation.

Since the founding of the Republic, the Turkish military has been charged with maintaining the secular democracy created by Ataturk, intervening when it deemed necessary to keep religion out of politics, but fairly recent developments are threatening the secular nature of the Republic, as reported in this piece from The Washington Post.

Paul Mirengoff of Powerline posted the below piece on the recent ominous (for us) developments in Turkey. Should Turkey become an Islamic Republic, it could pose serious problems for not only the U.S. but for the entire Western world.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/05/026270.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+powerlineblog%2Flivefeed+%28Power+Line%29

A personal note: In September 2008, I was returning home from the Turkish Naval Base at Aksaz. While awaiting my flight at the Istanbul airport, I engaged in conversation with a Turkish woman who had just retired after teaching English at one of the universities there for 25 years. Since I was returning from a teaching assignment (English) on a U. S. Navy ship, we talked about our mutual occupations for awhile, but the conversation turned quickly to the political situation in Turkey. Approximately 50 former generals and admirals had been arrested on suspicion of planning a coup against the Islamic leaning government. She was very concerned about the future of her country and allowed how it had become impossible for a man to advance professionally if his wife did not observe Islamic dress codes. She said she was on her way to visit a sister in the United States, and that as soon as possible after returning home she would finalize plans to leave her country for good. She was that sure that Sharia law was coming, and there was no way she was going to allow herself to be subjugated to its restraints.

We just call it Afghanistan, Mr. President.

Click on map to enlarge.

Was I the only one bothered by President Obama, when he congratulated Hamid Karzai the other day for being "elected" for a second term as president of (as Obama called it) the "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan?" I hate to be picky, but has anyone ever heard him refer to the U.K, our top ally, as the Parliamentary Democracy of the United Kingdom, or to our good neighbor to the north as the Constitutional Democracy of Canada?

Not only has he never referred to our county as the Christian Republic of the United States of America; he went out of his way, when speaking in the Republican Parliamentary Democracy of Turkey (he did not refer to it that way, but just wait until they adopt Sharia Law and become the Islamic Republic of Turkey), to declare that we do not consider ourselves to be a Christian nation. He better not be counting me in that we.

It gets worse. How does our president refer to that country in Western Asia, the rogue exporter of terrorism throughout the world, determined, in the face of world-wide opposition, to acquire a nuclear bomb with which to obliterate Israel from the face of the earth? That's right: he refers to it as the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I don't think he likes US much. Our former Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, was right when he referred to Barack Obama as our First Post-American President.