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.

Syria is a divided nation. The Alawite minority from which comes Assad and their Christian allies do not trust Sunnis who shout for freedom, but whose leaders all too often come from clerics. In Libya, the new Transitional Council has called for imposition of Sharia law, much to the anger of secular Libyans. Syrian Christians fear the overthrow of Assad will result in imposition of Muslim law upon them.

Step one in gaining peace in Syria is for opposition leaders to promise no Sharia law and no retaliation against Alawites. If Syrians believe in democracy it must also apply to those who are not  Sunni Muslim!

Sounds very threatening, but can he go beyond words in order to carry out threats? The Turkish government is furious, and it has established camps for deserting Syrian soldiers. Sanctions are in place and there is not a single Arab nation which will come to the assistance of this two bit tyrant. He can shout defiance, but he simply can not carry out his threat to “see another Afghanistan.”

In Syria, the vast majority oppose Assad. His end will resemble that of Gaddafi.

Members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party(PKK) launched a surprise attack on security outposts near the border with Turkey. The result was 24 dead Turkish soldiers and at least 18 wounded. In response, the Turkish army invaded Iraq in order to kill those who killed Turks. About 18 militants were dead as a result of this action. There are reports of Turkish commandos being dropped in northern Iraq as part of the effort to destroy the PKK.

For one who believes in conciliation and seeks a peaceful resolution of conflicts between Israel and Palestinians, it is surprising no such attitude is evident  when the issue is rights of Kurds. Perhaps, we should not be surprised. It is much easier telling others to seek peace!

However, Israel troops killed six Egyptian police officers, and after profound reflection, Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided: “based on the findings of the investigation it was decided to apologize to the Egyptians over the death of every Egyptian policeman.

There are no reports of God issuing a thunder bolt in the direction of Israel for this apology.

Oh, the Israel government agreed to free over one thousand Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. I wonder why?

The issue is how do societies confront issues of terrorism. Many times during the past ten years Americans have allowed terrorism to immobilize their way of life. The famous “shoe incident” resulted in everyone taking off shoes. One observes old ladies and men made to strip search on the assumption anyone can be a terrorist. We live in fear and fear is our comfort because we refuse to use brains in order to deal with solutions.

Prime Minister Recep Erdogan of  Turkey was even more blunt to his former friend. “I have halted talks with the Syrian government.  I did not wish to come to this point, but the regime there pushed us to make such a decision. We do not have any confidence in the current government.”

At this point, President Assad does not have a single friend in the Middle East, let aone in the world. So, exactly what is his policy?

Most polls show a majority of Americans who are Jews support the concept of a two states and most want the West Bank(with some land modifications) to be part of the new nation of Palestine. Again, Barack Obama has failed to present in clear terms the importance of creating a Palestinian state and the importance of not allowing fanatic fundamentalist Jewish settlers to determine the future of the Middle East. Speak openly and honestly to American Jews and speak bluntly to Benjamin Netanyahu if we want peace in the Middle East.

1. Israel has been occupying areas of Palestine the UN originally awarded to the Palestinian people.

2.  HALF  A CENTURY HAS PASSED WITHOUT CREATION OF A PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT!

3. Each year Jewish settlers grab more land from Arab farmers.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan blasted the Israel government for its policies of inaction. “The biggest obstacle against peace in the Middle East is the mentality of the Israeli government. The Israeli people are under the blockade   of the Israeli government. Israel’s government sess itself as above the law.” Harsh words from a man whose own record has all too often been above the law when dealing with issues of  Kurds in his nation. BUT, HE IS CORRECT IN SAYING: “Recognizing the Palestinian state is  not an option, it is an obligation.”

The people of Israel have to confront REALITY. Israel occupies another people who  want freedom. How can any JEWISH government deny freedom to those who seek it?

Netanyahu’s Foreign Mininister,Avigdor Lieberman had the ambassador from Turkey deliberately insulted. Netanyahu  blundered with the flotilla to Gaza and infurtiated the Turkish government, particularly since 9  of those killed were Turks. One can only wonder about the reaction of Israel if nine Israelis were killed. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has been provided ample opportunity that now enables him to pose as defender of Arabs against Israel.

Due to domestic considerations, President Obama has failed to support Palestinian needs and thus allowed right wing extremists in Israel to  control foreign policy decisions. Erdogan is now in Egypt and organizing an anti-Israel coalition. An “apology”from Israel might have avoided the current situation. But, in Israel, pride and West Bank settlers are more important than intelligent foreign policy decisions.

Each day witnesses growing isolation of Israel. Yes, Israel has an appointment in Samarra.

1. Israel inhabits a geographical area in which the few million Jews in this nation are subject to possible conflict with the other 95% of humans in the region. Thus, peace and close economic, political and social relations with other countries in the region should be the HIGHEST PRIORITY for any Israel leader.

2.  Israel must work to maintain its close ties with any Muslim nation. As late as 2009, Israel and Turkish military leaders cooperated. Today, this cooperation has ended. Why? Israel refuses to “apologize” for its actions towards the Gaza flotilla. A Realist would immediately apologize. Pride does not prevent war and conflict.

3. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu within three years has: caused a break in relations with Turkey, a close ally; created conflict with Egypt, a close ally; created the basis of ending close relations with Jordan; and refused to negotiate with a Palestinian government that is ready for peace. I realize defenders of Netanyahu argue Israel in the past has tried peace and it did not work. Sorry, that was the past. Germany and France fought three major wars within an eighty year time period that resulted in the deaths of over 5,000,000. They put aside the past in 1948 and began working for the future.

Israel must focus on the future.

Israel must cease placing the interests of West Bank settlers before those of the nation!