Yes, Egyptians actually believe Sharia law will result in a more prosperous nation. Of course, 10% of Egyptians are Coptic Christians, but, what the heck, they also should follow the Muslim religion if they want to be saved. Egypt contains millions of young people who cannot find jobs that match educational levels. However, if fellow Egptians have their way, no job,  but plenty of time in a mosque will lead to happiness.

Turkey is at a crossroads and its Muslim government must decide whether or not to respect those who are not Muslim. Denying the righ to build new churches, allowing militants to  attack non-Muslims and displaying a lack of support for Christians will only exacerbate religious  violence. It will also doom any chance to enter the European Union.

Clinton is working to avoid an armed conflict with Iran  despite a push from Israel for war, war, war.  She urged Iran to understand that “the international community now wants to see actions associated with that statement of belief.” She understands one must engage  in “jaw, jaw, rather than war, war.” There is a basis for compromise, work for that goal.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan is in Iran urging its government to cooperate with western nations such as the US, Rusisa, UK, France, Germany and China in an effor to resolve the nuclear issue of atomic weapons. It would make sense to hold the scheduled meeting in Istanbul since Iranians have a solid relationship with Turkey.

This is one time the US should take a back seat and allow  Turkey to lead.

Two journalists were freed by a court. Ahmet Sid and Nedim Sener were set free and all charges of being involved in plots were dropped.  Prime Minister Recep Erdogan would restore faith in his desires to foster democracy by freeing all imprisoned journalists. Trust the people of Turkey and democracy will flourish. Imprison journalists and your claim to be a Muslim democracy is tainted.

I gather the issue is whether singing a song constitutes violation of “good conduct” on the part of the prisoner. I had better not go to Turkey. As a child they placed me in the “listeners” section of the auditorium due to my lousy singing.

Anyway, how about a God bless Turkey to make things sound better?

Alevi residents in Karakpinar awoke to discover someone had marked every home in which a member of their religion lived. Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin dismissed concerns as simply the work of “a couple of kids.” The response of Alevi leader Huseyin Guzelgu was rather different. “They called the suspects who bombed Umut bookstore in Sirnmak, ‘good kids.’ They called Hrant Dink’s murderer a ‘kid.’ They said those who marked the homes were kids. We need to find out who those kids are and those who made them mark the homes.”

Behind those “kids” are “adults.” Let’s get their names.

“Children should be analyzed immediately after birth. If they are to become harmful to this country, to this nation, they should be eliminated before they can walk.” He argues that kids are no better than their parents. “Most children in my neighborhood are thieves”which simply reflects coming from parents who are thieves and lazy.

For some strange reason, Mr. Aydin was removed as principal by school authorities. Goes to show what happens to creative thinkers these days.

Ms. Cengiz appealed to a judge concerning being beat by local police, but the judge ruled that his court did not have jurisdiction as to what happens in a jail. I assume the jurisdiction belongs to local police since who better than them knows when it is OK to beat the hell out of a woman.

Let us all remember that courts are for criminals to be judged, not for police to be judged. They are the “good guys.”

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe fears a new nation whose size raises new issues. “The fiscal crisis proves again that our political project for the union cannot handle the membership of a country of Turkey’s size.” German President Christian Wulff has a different view. He believes the EU made a promise to allow Turkey to seek membership and the application should be honored.

Of course, the unstated issue is whether European Union nations want to allow millions of Muslim possible entry into their lands since once in, all citizens of the EU can travel to other countries. We suspect it is the “Muslim issue” which most concerns EU members.

The Turkish economy is proceeding towards creating a modern society. This requires working with people who are not Muslim. It also means if Turkey desires membership in the European Union it must abandon this assault on democratic forces.

Prime Minister Recep Erdogan made clear what he desired. “Do you expect the conservative democrat AK Party to raise atheist generations? This may be your objective, but not ours. We will raise a generation that is conservative and democratic and embraces the values and historical principles of this nation.”

I regret to inform PM Erdogan, but in a “democratic society, ” children are NOT raised to believe in the philosophy and values of A  political party. If they are raised in the Erdogan approach it is a dictatorial society.

In most normal societies, the above is a description of rape, but not according to this court in Turkey. They concluded it was consensual sex because she did not resist or cry out for help!! In their view, no scream, no rape. The rapist was released from jail.

Oh the only female judge on the panel was absent on the day of this verdict!

For some reason, Turkey continues to deny reality as though acknowledging what happened in the past somehow reflects on current society. The French government has made denying the Holocaust a crime and now seeks to make denying the Armenian genocide a crime. Passing laws to forbid people to express opinions is a violation of free speech. If someone denies the Holocaust, it is my responsibility to engage them in the marketplace of ideas. The same is true about the Armenian genocide.

Actually, weapons are an insurance policy which ensures death, not life. Her argument is necessity on the part of the government to prove it means peace and not until there is evidence should arms be put aside. There is also the issue of trust. A unilateral cease fire places the ball into the court of the Turkish government. Let them prove themselves unable to work for peace.

Rick did serve in Turkey during his time in service. Let’s look at the record:

1.  Turkey has freedom of religion and there are still Jews in the country.

2. There currently is a fight over whether wearing the niqab should be allowed in college classrooms.

3. Name a terrorist group funded by Turkey is the real question!

4. Yes, there have been restrictions of freedom of the press and there is still conflict over the Kurdish issue, but these do not translate into terming Turkey a friend of terrorism.

5. Israel refused to allow aid to people in Gaza, Turkish boats were attacked and Turkish citizens killed. Turkey asked for an apology and Israel refused.

Journalists Nedim Sener and Ahmet Sik were denied freedom. Sik told the media: “To silence journalists is to silence the people. It is journalism that is on trial here, and the principle of confidentiality of the news source that is being strangled out.” He is a journalist and made clear that he printed the truth, and “never received orders from anyone.”

If Turkey’s “moderate Muslims” stifle press freedom, what do Egyptians and Tunisians have to fear?

The issues are rather simple:

1. Israel MUST halt further construction of settlements in the West Bank while discussions are being held.

2. Israel MUST halt further construction of  Jewish housing in Jerusalem while discussions are being held.

3. If Israel refuses to cooperate with Fatah and Meshal it faces the prospect of a new Intifada which will transform the Middle East into a center of death and anger.

4. Religious fanatics in Israel and Middle Eastern Arab nations refuse to talk and prefer standing on “principles.” Peace is the only principle of importance at this time in history and it requires compromise on the part of all involved in the process of peace.

The tragedy if that American officials and military “experts” insist that planes thousands of feet in the air are always right when blasting “militants” on the ground. America played this game during the Vietnam war when thousands of innocent Vietnamese were killed by plane attacks as part of the “body count” game that enabled the US military to proclaim it was winning the body war against the Viet Cong. The game goes on only today the body count is a Taliban or a member of al-Qaeda. Don’t you believe a drone knows what goes on in the mind of someone it is killing?

1. The US Congress publicly apologized to people of Japanese American ancestry over their internment during WWII.

2. American school textbooks are filled with stories about oppression of Native  Americans.

3. American school textbooks are filled with stories about the evils of slavery.

4. Germany  has done a fantastic job in its schools to teach children about the horrors of the Holocaust.

Armenians were murdered during this genocide. American Ambassador Morgenthau at the time sent detailed reports what he and his staff witnessed about Armenians being murdered by the thousands. It does NOT denigrate one’s national heritage to be open concerning past mistakes. It demonstrates maturity as a society.

There are two issues emanating from his statement. One argues there was genocide in Algeria and the other argues there was no genocide in Turkey against Armenians. I get confused. What does genocide in Algeria have to do with genocide in Turkey? Is Mr. Erdogan attempting to prove that if you commit genocide it means you are not allowed to discuss our genocide? When will Turkey admit it killed over a million Armenians and in order to demonstrate moral and ethical health as a nation? The US Congress apologized to Japanese Americans for their internment. Germany has apologized for the Holocaust. Just admit the truth and everyone who engaged in genocide can finally cleanse their souls.

MTTB is convinced educating youth concerning sexual conduct translates into telling “our young brothers and sisters they can have sex without  any setbacks.” The MTTB solution is simple: get people married. Of course, that assumption is that those who are married will never engage in sex with someone other than their fellow spouse. An interesting hypothesis. I wonder if there is evidence in Turkey that  those married never have sex with  someone else?

Meanwhile, back in Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu refuses to discuss peace with President Abbas who wants peace and hanging around on the outside is Hamas, the supposed center of  terrorism which announced it would not use violence, would accept the 1967 boundary with Israel and work with the Palestinian Authority. Naturally, such words of peace met with violent reactions from Israel leaders.

Who knows what tomorrow brings to the Middle East. Perhaps, we will awake to discover that Iraq is going to war against Saudi Arabia or Yemen wants to invade Jordan. Anything is possible in the Middle East. Just hang around for the next furor.

General Basbug emphasized that Ataturk wanted to make clear that many people were influential in creating the nation that bears the name of Turkey. I trust this clears up the issue and allows aliens to depart — most probably shaking their heads over what humans argue about — and often kill one another about!

Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezlouar has formed a coalition of more secular groups and awaits what happens to the Muslim bid to assume control of government. PJD leaders emphasize their model is  Turkey which has found a way to bridge the gap between modernity and religion. Hopefully, they continue on that path toward an open society.

Even as he spoke, Syrian rebels fired the first shot inside Damascus. Two rocket grenades hit headquarters of the Baath party. There was slight damage and no one was killed. The real question is: are we witnessing opening shots in what might eventually become civil war in Syria?

However, Syria now joins the list of nations from whom Turkey wants apologies. Armenia is on the list because its government still talks about the Armenian genocide. Turkey simply does not believe any such event ever occurred. In reality, Armenians were taken away in space ships and sent to the planet of Xul. Turkey wants an apology from Israel for causing the death of innocent civilians.

Yes, Turkey is entitled to apologies from Israel and Syria. But, life goes on with or without apologies. Turkey should continue its good work in Syria, with or without apologies from anyone. A triumph of Syrians against their government is the best apology.

A word of caution to the Turkish government. We Americans in the 1920s attempted to curb alcohol and unleashed a generation of crime. Let them drink, and let them shout, it is a lot safer than making criminal what people do for enjoyment.

There is no doubt thousands of Turks died during the war, and many were killed at the hand of Armenians.  BUT, it was the systematic program of the government of Turkey to kill Armenians. The evidence is simply overwhelming that thousands were driven to their deaths. The people of Germany can feel proud for acknowledging their role in murder of millions of Jews during the Holocaust. It is time for Turkey to cleanse its soul.

Naturally, the Obama administration has also killed such resolutions. What else can one expect from a president who never met a crisis without running away from it?

The above is a statement of fact, not opinion. My statement in no way offers an interpretation of his effectiveness as leader of Turkey. It simply states, as did Ms.Alci, that Ataturk was an authoritarian ruler. There are cries Ms.Alci is guilty of blasphemy because she described reality. One wonders as to why in so many Islamic states there are blasphemy laws which prevent expressions that run counter to majority views.

If the Muslim religion is really the correct way to live one’s life, then it should bve able to handle words of difference.