

29 November 2016



Babak Makkinejad

Iranian government had high hopes in him. He and a few of others in his circle had read the recent books of Iranian thinkers on Islam, Modernity, Islamic Government etc.

They knew that he was a Muslim Brotherhood in orientation, which was "closest to us" as an advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei - Dr. Velayati - used to observe on many occasions.

And he and President Silva did try to mediate between Iran and NATO states on the matter of Iranian Nuclear File.

I think what caused the change in him was the onset of Arab Spring. Like the Iranian leaders, he interpreted that event as an Islamic Awakening, for which the most advanced part of the World-Wide Muslim Brotherhood thinkers, e.g. those in Turkey were to be supply political leadership.

The AKP were also encouraged in this by NATO states, hoping to use Turkey to push Iran out of Iraq. Likely, he expected a quick victory in Syria, followed by further ones in Iraq against Iran and the Shia Iraqis.

What he accomplished, in my opinion, was dashing the hopes and beliefs of the Iranian leaders and likely a very large number of Iranians as well, that there is a thing called Islamic Unity; that the differences between Shia and Sunni are not important or substantive.

That belief was informing the minds of Muslim Revolutionaries in 1979 and later; to be smashed by the Iran-Iraq War and now, yet again by the Syrian War.

I personally never entertained it as anything but an ideal; knowing full well the history of wars waged by Sunni dynasties against Shia Iranians over the past centuries; always the theft and rapine excused as Jihad against the Infidels.

People have to be disabused of their quaint notions; in the West or in the East. That seems to be a common human experience; people must suffer for them to get some sense into their heads.

Babak Makkinejad

There is not much Christian presence left in Istanbul; there are a few Armenian churches here and there - but that is all.

Babak Makkinejad

Zionist Judaism is the dominant form of Judaism in the world today. Being against it is like being against Freedom and Democracy in US. As far as I know.

Babak Makkinejad

You might like this:


Ishmael Zechariah

OK. Want to bet? State premise, time frame and cover.
P.S: The very best way, in fact the only way, to keep tayyip-the-effing-moron in power is to attack Turkey.


" It derives from the Greek phrase "στην Πόλη" "

Yes, I've often seen that, but it sounds like an over-fussily precise derivative from a Greek expression, explanation invented by a Greek. Greeks (or Europeans) would want that to be the case, in order to demonstrate how dependent Turkish culture is on Europeans. I'd more go with the colonel: it's just a sloppy adaptation of Constantinople.


IZ, I. Case you haven't heard, here is the song "Istanbul" by 60' French Armenian singer Marc Aryan from time I was youngster.



Babak you got to consider that for Iranian leaders, and Shia in General is easy to distant/separate (at least in the eye of muslims) themselves from practices, politics and vision of sunnies for him and AKP It is not so, they cannot disown Sunni practices and politics and not to iligimate themselves from part of thier constituencies. You don't have this disunification in Shia.



What reason or evidence do you have for thinking Gulen is a US IC asset or under IC protection? pl

Ken Roberts

Re: Anna's post 1:52 pm 29-Nov:
Anna said...


Committees: House - Foreign Affairs; Judiciary; Financial Services | Senate - Foreign Relations"

The story at the link does not seem to back up the headline -- is a relief !

This manner of behaviour is perhaps going to cause trouble. As a non-expert on constitutional matters, I believe that the US Congress (House?) is the body that can declare war. Usurped nowadays by the executive branch, and as a result, perhaps congress reps have become accustomed to introducing strong (overly strong) resolutions to appease vocal constituencies. However, what is a legal expert of diplomatic service of a "target" country to believe? It may be that such posturing may lead to de-jure declarations of war, which the executive would not desire, and nor would the US people support if there were a debate. How to indicate that Congress was in "just mouthing off" mode? Is it even possible to trash-talk at that level, without consequence?

This risk will become highlighted if, as Tyler hypothesized, the electoral college process is hung, and the decision on president is then made by the House -- thus exemplifying the importance of House debates and resolutions. Or if the House begins to exercise some of its constitutional rights later, as a result of ... whatever. Balance of power requires maintaining balance.

We are indeed living in interesting times. It's not just about number of media eyeballs.

mike allen

He is General Flynn's buddy.


IMO, Erdogan never had the vision nor he had he the necessary education ( philosophy) to be able to lead the Sunnies to modernity, it was false hope the west and Sunnies had on him, he was not the man for it, although, admittedly he had lots of suport and opportunity to do so from every one including Shia Islam as Babak mentioned. On the contrary, Ayatollah Khomeini never wore a suit and tie, but against all odds, he was able to lead the Shia to a form of modernity compatible with thier religious practices, there is non similar vision in Sunni world as of yet.


Dear Colonel,

also lakeside.

I recall stopping at a lakeside eating place in eastern Turkey with the wide and ordering fish (no menu). The owners went down to their lake caught the fish and cooked it up exceedingly deliciously, and even asked us how we would like it prepared.

Could Erdogan be simply improving his negotiating position, or does he have delusions of grandeur? One hopes the former, suspects the latter.

mike allen

"Anything else"

1] Levelling of Kurdish cities in Eastern Turkey. Sirnak shown here: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/kurds-return-sirnak-whats-left-it-after-curfew-partially-lifted-1591488 and many others.

2] Resettlement of Turkmen into traditionally Kurdish villages, and pushing out current residents.

3] Arrest of HDP party leadership and many rank and file. Why? Because they dared to win more than 10% of seats in Parliament.



Eric Newhill

I think Erdogan is testing the US - Trump's US - resolve and NATO alignment. Also, in typical Turkish fashion, seeking opportunities to gain some baksheesh. He's putting a foot in the water to see if it's comfortable enough to dive in.

I do not believe that Trump will fall for this nonsense. Trump has already signaled a desire for an improved relationship, perhaps outright partnership in certain matters of concern to Tayyip, with Russia. Furthermore, Trump has signaled a reluctance to be entangled in NATO affairs, especially if the US has to foot the majority of the bill. Finally, Trump has made big noise about crushing IS, Tayyip's little buddies.

Therefore - and I relish the thought, btw - Tayyip is going to find out that the water is not only unpleasantly cold, but that it is also filled with sharks and alligators. If Tayyip is true to his heritage he may just belligerently dive in anyhow and then the Russians will destroy his military (such that it is these days), while the US and NATO stand by watching.

So he either backs down and shuts up accepts $0 baksheesh and looks the fool or he gets destroyed. This is going to be fun.


Oliver Sacks of "Awakenings" and other wonderful books fame, told in his memoir of childhood "Uncle Tungsten" of the bullying by Zionists his parents endured in London and how it coloured his attitudes against them. The unfortunate part of the dominance of Zionist narrative is how badly it represents the spectrum of Jewish opinion, I think (as a non Jew).
PS I took a tour of the central Synagogue in Buenos Aires about 10 years ago and had to don a ¿yarmulke? After the tour I wandered around outside still wearing it, oblivious of the fact, and don't recall any animosity during that time other than envy of my natural Irish Catholic good looks haha.


Syria will soon have the best, most battle-hardened army in the Middle East, save for Israel. With the airpower it'll be able to handle the Turks (who won't be able to fly in Syria).
Erdogan definitely has some screws lose in his head. It won't end well for him and his country.

Babak Makkinejad

That is funny; I was in the Blue Mosque and found it amusing that the young European men in shorts had to wear skirts supplied by Turks to enter that mosque.

And in the Vatican they have mantles fro all those scantly clad women as well...

Babak Makkinejad

You might be right. On the other hand, Ayatollah Khomeini broke with Islamic Tradition on at least 6 important points that were common among the Shia and the Sunni.

Many in Iran try to excuse AKP, I am not one of them.

On the other hand, like the Shah of Iran, the Kemalists also abridged scope of non-religious politics; nurturing, in their own way, the religious parties.

Babak Makkinejad

Do not ignore the role that PKK played in this. I know Kurds are darlings of some commentators here, but they cannot be separated from the massive stupidity of PKK.

Parti Karegaran Kurdistan - A Persian name - based on a discredited political program, for a population that has almost no industrial proletariat to speak of, leading only more young men and women to their deaths.

If you were a young Kurdish woman in Diyar Bakr, your aspiration would be to someday attend the Laleli university, interacting freely with your male class mates, going out to dinner with your girl-friends, and enjoy your youth in that cosmopolitan city called Istanbul.

As is, the program PKK only promises years of bloodshed and hardship, in which your youth will be burnt up in smoke, you would be likely given in marriage to another ignorant young man who has never lived outside of Diyar Bakr but who clearly knows how the world works, and after a number of pregnancies and trying to run a household, your hope and aspiration will be reduced to wishing Lalei attendance for your daughter.

Babak Makkinejad

None of them have any vision. You saw Mursi did not even stay for lunch in Tehran lest he be contaminated by the Shia virus.

Ishmael Zechariah

Typical armenian wet dream, but now is your chance. We have an idiot running/ruining the place. Suit up, come down and win your own war. You might be more successful than your great grandfathers.
Ishmael Zechariah


Tidewater to ISL,

If the lake was Lake Aksehir, it's gone. If the fish was the Central Anatolian Bleak, which once thrived there, it's extinct.

If the lake was Lake Beysehir (28 miles long, twelve miles wide), that one is predicted to be dry by 2040. There are many other endemic lake fish in Turkey that are facing extinction.


Wasn't Gulen connected to Paul Henze and Graham Fuller? In any case, it's certainly strange that a fairly recent immigrant with a fifth-grade education should run the largest charter school network in the US--funded by our tax dollars, natch. Gotta love this school-choice grift.

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