When Turkey’s parliament, obeying to the will of 90-something % of the people, refused to take part and to be a launch pad for the war in Iraq great neo-con Paul Wolfowitz [champion of spreading “democracy and freedom” through the Middle East] said she should be punished. Economy, or to put it better economic punishment was on everybody’s mind [at the time Turkey just started recovery from huge economic crises of February 2001]. That didn’t happen, but still it was clear that soon or later some revenge for disobedience to the empire would follow.

Group of neo-con authors led by [whom else but] Michael Rubin of AEI [American Enterprise Institute] recently put it [black on white] on the paper what they have in mind for the region in the article Launch Regional Initiatives.

Article is one of the several comments on the book 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World, by Frank J. Gaffney Jr.

And who is this Frank? Well, frankly, Frank is one of craziest of them all [neo-cons]. He is in the project from the very beginning i.e. he is the signatory of so called Statement of Principles of American New Century [I fail to see any principles that bunch of gangsters have]. He has been in the spot light recently for advocating bombing of Al-Jazeera, something he advocates from 2003. He also claims WWIII is happening right now. I tend to agree with that, provided that USA is in the role played by Nazi Germany in WWII. In short, Frank is a wonderful example of peace and freedom-loving person as you can see.

Back to the Mr Rubin's article. It is dealing with five states [Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkey and Israel] and except few remarks I would concentrate just on Turkey, since that is the country I am living in and know her certainly better than some neo-con "expert" blinded by ideology.

Beside of bending the facts [till the point of being ridiculous] to suit ideology and “strategy” of neo-con agenda it is remarkable how in this article “history” begins from any point of author’s choice. In case of Iran author choose to ignore history of that country before the revolution. So he writes:

It is often forgotten, however, that the Iranian revolution was originally composed of three factions: the democratic nationalists; the Soviet-backed Marxists; and the Islamists, inspired by the radical Shi’ite Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

I have to add that it is often forgotten that CIA started the business of regime change by overthrowing popular prime minister of Iran Mohammed Mossadeq back in 1953. Just as it is often forgotten that USA gave card blanche to tyrannical policies of Shah. Policies which eventually led to Iranian revolution.*

On Saudi Arabia Mr Rubin writes:

Saudi Arabia is in fact a nation of tribes, afflicted with the turbulent religious and ethnic complexities that we associate with the Balkans.

The Saudi royal family has deployed its peculiarly puritanical version of Islam as an instrument to seize, hold, and expand its power over the rest of its country's people (see Step 1). Dating back only 250 years, this doctrine, known as Wahhabism...

"Turbulent religious and ethnic complexities that we associate with the Balkans". Well, coming from Balkans I know it is painfully simple - it’s economy stupid! Whatever can't be simplified to the black and white or "good guys vs. bad guys" is too complex for American. The fact is that "divide et impera" [divide and rule] is the main principle of any imperial power. So, creating inter-ethnical conflicts where there’s none is one of empire’s most used tools. Unfortunately it works.

"Dating back only 250 years". It is quite a bold statement for the representative of the country much younger than that. The big question is if USA in this shape [with policies like this] will last "only" 250 years.

On Israel:

Finally, Israel is an island of democracy surrounded by varying shades of tyranny.

It’s not surprise that Israel, which exercises apartheid and occupation, is “island of democracy”. What is “surprising” that she is “surrounded by varying shades of tyranny”. Since all regimes of the countries bordering Israel, except Syrian, are receivers of American support proprtional to the level of tyranny [i.e. more tyranny, more money].

Mr Rubin is particularly harsh on Turkey. In fact he goes ballistic. Following Goebel’s rule that bigger the lie it is easier to accept [the rule neo-con cabal on the power already practicing – obviously with great success]. So he writes on Turkey [again choosing the point “when history starts, and by the way one very selective history]:

During the Cold War, the United States and its European allies had no more important strategic partner than Turkey. If anything, Turkey's role in the War for the Free World could be even more vital were it to serve as a democratic Muslim bulwark against Islamofascism. Yet, we now seem poised to lose that ally.

In another words while accepting to pay blood price Turkey was very important ally. Democracy was not of importance in those days. New toys for generals could always buy their loyalty, even if such enterprises costed the economy great deal [first Gulf War $30 billion].

In a process with parallels to Pakistan (and reminiscent of other totalitarian hijackings of democratic governments), an fascistic takeover is under way in Turkey. It is being orchestrated by the Islamist AK Party (AKP), led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is systematically turning his country from a secular democracy with a Muslim society into a state governed by a radical Islamic ideology hostile to Western values and freedoms.

Wow! Hijacking Mr Rubin is writing about happened by free and fair elections [one of the kind in many years]. Won by a landslide by AK party. O.K. that doesn’t say anything about nature of the government or AK party, but it is outrageous to call it fascistic.**

The “evidence” Mr Rubin is offering to support neo-con hallucinations are on the level of “evidences” of existence of WMD in Iraq, just they are less corroborated and in the realm of surrealism. So, let’s see that “evidence” paragraph by paragraph.

Turkey is awash with billions of dollars of what is known as ‘green money,’ derived apparently from funds withdrawn by Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf states from the United States after September 11. U.S. policy makers are concerned that this unaccountable cash is being laundered in Turkey and used to finance businesses and generate new revenue streams for Islamist terrorism. It is certain at least that Erdogan’s Islamist agenda is being lubricated by these resources.

This is clap-trap, and I need more evidence than Mr Rubin’s word that this is happening. There’s no economic boom here which would point that billions of $ are injected in businesses. However, it shows what is hurting neo-cons – withdrawal [if it happened] of Saudi money from USA.

Turkey’s traditionally secular educational system is being steadily supplanted by madrassa-style ‘imam hatip’ schools and other institutions, where students are taught only the Koran and its interpretation according to the Islamists. The prime minister is himself an imam hatip school graduate and has championed lowering the age at which children can be subjected to this form of radical religious indoctrination, from twelve years old to four. In 2005, 1,215,000 Turkish students are expected to graduate from such schools. As we have seen elsewhere, the products of such schools emerge ill equipped for anything besides implementing the Islamist program of Erdogan’s AKP.

This is simple kind of bending the truth till the point of breaking it. First of all, the number of ‘imam hatip’ schools rose significantly during the last government of Suleyman Demirel. Secondly those high schools have the same curriculum as state schools or private schools plus religion lessons. Being high school the lye about lowering the age is obvious. However, there is something going on about those schools. Namely, graduate students of those schools are discriminated when they apply to the universities, because universities, regardless state or private, value their diplomas less. I repeat, curriculum are the same as in not religious schools [+ religious lessons]. To make absurdity complete diplomas from let’s say catholic high schools are valued same as secular schools. By the way, prime minister graduated both religious and secular high school.

Tens of thousands of these madrassa graduates have already received government jobs, replacing experienced, secular bureaucrats with ideologically reliable theo-apparatchiks. In addition, an estimated four thousand madrassa graduates have packed Turkey's secular courts, in effect transforming them into instruments of Shari'a religious law.

Even if the numbers given by this “reliable” author are true, do I have to repeat that curriculum of what Mr Rubin calls "madrassas" are the same as in secular school [+religious lessons]. Mr Rubin probably thinks of himself as expert on Middle East. If he would be one he should know that “Shari’a religious law” is pleonasm [so often used by westerners]. Either you say “Shari’a” or “religious law” – no need for repetition. Shari’a in Turkish courts? Hilarious! We would already have army tanks rolling on the streets [and jubilation among neo-cons].

I have to add something on education & government. One of the most remarkable campaigns of this government is “Haydi kızlar okula” [Come on Girls go to School]. Main target of this campaign are girls in eastern Anatolia. While in theory both sexes have equal rights to education, reasons as tradition and poverty are often keeping girls out of school. Campaign in which prominent role is performed by prime minister’s wife helped to close the gap between sexes to 6% on the average. It is hardly action of Taliban-like regime described by Mr Rubin.

Religious intolerance is also on the increase. The one-third of the population known as Alevis observe a strain of Islam that retains some of the pre-Islamic traditions. Regarded as "apostates" and "hypocrites" by Sunni fundamentalists, they are subjected to increasing discrimination and intimidation. Other minorities, notably Turkey's Jews, are apprehensive of receiving the same treatment.

As I stated earlier "divide et impera", and this is nothing but that. Nothing is on increase or decrease on the front of religious intolerance/tolerance except of increasing number of Adventist missionaries on Istanbul streets.

In the name of internationally mandated "reform" of Turkey's banking system, the government is seizing the assets and operations of banks run by businessmen associated with the political opposition, even in the face of successive rulings by Turkey's supreme court explicitly disallowing one such expropriation.

This one is wonderful, and can go under the title “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”! Mr Rubin could even provide the picture of “businessman” in question [because there is just one such case]. Mr Cem Uzan, 45, was a little bit late with forming his Genç parti [Youth Party] and even free kebab and T-shirts on its rallies couldn't provide him enough votes to make him PM [threshold in Turkey is 10%] and hence make him “untouchable”. “Jewel” of his empire, pyramidal scheme bank [Imar bank] collapsed soon after elections, and was seized by country's independent banking regulator. But his troubles started earlier when he refused to pay Motorola & Nokia $2.7 billion debt. Time article [I linked his name with] is worth reading in order to understand that neo-cons don’t have any decency in choosing whom they defend in order to attack opponents.***

What is not in the article and worth typing is wonderful “explanation” he gave after arsenal of many dozens of Uzi machineguns, rocket launchers and stock of ammunitions was found in one of his villas. “It’s arm collection of my brother”. Another one, on finding of more than $million worth pre-paid cellular phone cards – “It’s for my employees.” [I hope there’s no need to write he had no any paper trace].

The article is mentioning that Uzan clan started in construction business but failed to mention that the “break through” was construction of Galatasaray stadium that collapsed after few years. By the way, Cem’s father and brother are in self-imposed exile somewhere in Far East i.e. on the run, and Cem is still around pathetically crying over his persecution [of political nature, of course].

The AKP-dominated parliament has enacted legislation modeled after Nazi Germany's 'kinship laws' – statutes that allow even distant relatives of business owners to be prosecuted for the proprietors' alleged wrongdoings. Among the beneficiaries of such shakedowns have been so-called Islamic banks tied to Saudi Arabia, some of whose senior officers now hold top jobs in the Erdogan government.

To be quite honest I don't understand what Mr Rubin had in mind writing this, I'm not sure if he does. What I know for certain is that Turkish laws & parliament are under watchful eyes of European Union and it would be the first to cry foul if something goes wrong, as it happened before. They do not need "expert" Michael Rubin as “whistleblower”. However, no doubt that the words like “Nazi” are very effective. It would be nice to know Mr Rubin's definition of Islamist, and Islamic banks. Not to speak about explanation what connection alleged law have with them.

By the way are all neo-cons illiterate or it is just him [or his secretary, or whoever typed that article]? Namely, word “modeled” is spelled “modelled” [don’t they have spell cheques?].

By expropriating assets--or threatening to do so--the government has managed effectively to take control of the Turkish media. One conglomerate friendly to the Islamists now owns upward of 90 percent of the nation’s press outlets. Combined with the increasing self-censorship of reporters, the result has been to deny prominent vehicles for the expression of mainstream views opposing the government.

Again, Cem Uzan’s TV. If anything is obvious for me as a foreigner here is the higher level of the press freedom and freedom of expression, that came with this government. That is very well documented in foreign correspondents statements. I don’t claim it’s all honey and milk but it is certainly much better than before.

Back in 2000 Ecevit’s government was pushing [twice] law for controlling the Internet. Draft of the law [it passed the parliament, but president refused to sign it] was remarkable for its complete lack of the understanding of what is Internet, what is site etc. [by that law it was foreseen that owners of sites should provide the officials with two copies[!?] of site initially, and after every update].

Thanks in part to Erdogan's domination of the press, Turkey has seen an inflaming of public opinion against President Bush and the United States. In 2005, a novel describing a war between America and Turkey and the nuclear destruction of Washington became a runaway bestseller, even in the Turkish military.

At least he wrote “in part”. Well, let’s get the timeline correctly. Anti American, and especially anti Bush feelings started to increase/develop just after it was obvious that USA will attack Iraq [being better informed about their neighbours Turks didn’t buy WMD story], it was by the beginning of 2002, elections were in November of 2002 and by that time those feelings were very well developed. It is faceless to say that Erdogan and/or media inflamed public opinion. There was no need for that. Behaviour of US administration was enough.

Book, Rubin is writing about, is “Metal Storm”, by Orkun Ucar and Burak Turna, it was published in 2004, and immediately become bestseller. Neo-cons are not up-to-date, in 2005 second edition was published.

What comes in my mind regarding this “book question” is visit of Mrs Rice in February. I wrote at that time:

Mehmet Dülger [Parliament's Foreign Affairs Commission head] revealed on state TV that the Turkish part complained about depicting Turks as terrorists in some US TV serials [the old diplomat Dülger didn't named it, but 24:00, inevitably comes to mind]. The answer was that the government could not control Hollywood, if it could control it, it would ban Michael Moor's Fahrenheit 9/11.

See quotation in footnote ** again.

The Islamists have also made substantial inroads in the Turkish armed forces--traditionally the guarantor of the secular, pro-Western Muslim state created by modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
- The army must increasingly fill its ranks with conscripts who are products of an Islamist-dominated educational system.
- With Erdogan's 'zero-problem' policy toward neighboring Iran and Syria, the Turkish military no longer provides a check on the regional drift toward Islamism.

I already wrote about “Islamist-dominated educational system”, so I am not going to repeat it. Wolfowitz, after parliament refused that Turkey should take part in Iraq war and/or to be launch pad for American troops, said "the Turkish Army didn't do its job." You make conclusion, I just have to remind you that, by any possible poll, over 90% of Turkish population was against the war.

Regarding “zero problem” policy toward its neighbours I also would like to remind readers that one of the conditions for acceptance to EU is solution of all disputes with bordering countries. Trying to fulfil that condition Turkish government is trying to improve relations to all its neighbours, including long-term adversaries like Greece and Armenia.

I am in somewhat awkward position to defend Turkish government, first of all because the AK party is a little bit [a lot to be blunt] too far to the right for my taste, and prime minister is too friendly with guys like Berlussconi. However, I can’t notice that this government is first after many to actually do something about EU accession. Previous governments were all declarative for Europe, but in practice they were sitting on their hands, and losing time [hence Turkey is the longest waiting candidate].

The very fact that I'm writing this from my home [middle of the nowhere - south-western Turkey], connected to Internet by the broadband, is speaking of this government. Erdogan, promised every village [and every school] in Turkey will have broadband connection by the end of the next year [and I am witnessing fulfilment of that promise] - hmmm, strange promise and action of somebody who wants to establish "fascism".

Generally, Mr Rubin’s article is hair-raising stuff, because it lays "strategy" for conflicts beyond Iraq. That is nothing new since the strategy was laid down in documents of PNAC years ago. What is a bit chilling is that neo-cons are ready to make new enemy from basically friendly country just for the sake of revenge.

For a long time I didn’t read such trash as Michael Rubin’s venomous lies and propaganda, and that made me react. If I made anybody even think of the subject my “mission” is fulfilled. If not, at least I relieved my soul.

-

* All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror by Stephen Kinzer is an excellent book on the matter. Here are the comments published on the cover:

"Remarkable, readable and relevant "All the Shah's Men" not only reads like an exciting, page-turning spy novel, it deals with the hard issues of today."
Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee

"A well-researched object lesson in the dismal folly of so-called nation-building. British and American readers of today should blush with shame."
John le Carre, author of "The Spy Who Came In From the Cold" and "The Tailor of Panama"

"Stephen Kinzer's brilliant reconstruction of the Iranian coup is made even more fascinating by the fact that it is true. It is as gripping as a thriller, and also tells much about why the United States is involved today in places like Afghanistan and Iraq."
Gore Vidal, author of "Lincoln," "Burr," and "1876"

I especially like second sentence of John le Carre.

Here is what CIA have to say on the book. I like the last sentence of it.

** Although it’s not entirely applicable, because I can’t see even “f” of fascism in Turkey’s government I, as a “fanatical atheist”, can’t resist to quote Jesus: "You see the sliver in your friend's eye, but you don't see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend's eye."

*** Another brilliant example for western hypocrisy is Mikhail Khodorkovsky in Russia. While it is “mortal sin” not to pay taxes in USA/West, in case of Russian oligarch [euphemism for thief on grand scale] “political persecution” is going on when state wants its share.