The creeping diminution of Ataturk's secular Turkish state began in 1970, when Necmettin Erbakan (1926-2011), who had been elected to Parliament the previous year, formed Turkey’s first Islamic political party in the post-Ataturk era. A year later, … [Read more...] about The Rise of Islamist Dominance in Turkey – Part I
Turkey
Turkey’s Growing Instability*
Left: Credit: political cartoonist Latuff, for التقرير (Altagreer) Once NATO’s formidable eastern anchor, Turkey is increasingly becoming a major problem for Washington policymakers and a contributor to the Mideast chaos. The change is all the more … [Read more...] about Turkey’s Growing Instability*
Weekly Review, August 23-28, 2015
Reporting on ISIS and the Global Jihad - Rachel Ehrenfeld - News that White House pressure on military and intelligence brass have led to massaging the truth about the United States led coalition success in defeating ISIS, did not come as a … [Read more...] about Weekly Review, August 23-28, 2015
Reporting on ISIS and the Global Jihad
Left: A Twitter account affiliated with ISIS in Libya: Masked ISIS operative saying “we will conquer Rome, Allah willing, this is a promise by our Prophet [Muhammad], Allah’s prayers upon Him and His blessing of peace” (ISIS-affiliated Twitter … [Read more...] about Reporting on ISIS and the Global Jihad
After Vienna: Three Scenarios for Likely Confrontation with Iran*
Left: TEHRAN (FNA) - Iranian Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan stressed plans to powerfully continue manufacturing different modern weapons and equipment to increase the country’s deterrence power. Summary It is … [Read more...] about After Vienna: Three Scenarios for Likely Confrontation with Iran*
Weekly Review, July 27-31, 2015
ISIS: “We Are on Our Way to Rome” - Rachel Ehrenfeld - While officials of the countries fighting ISIS meet in different cities around the world to try to figure out how best to fight it and its...continue... No High Level Military Participation in … [Read more...] about Weekly Review, July 27-31, 2015
ISIS: “We Are on Our Way to Rome”
Left: “Thanks to Allah who ordered the jihad ... We are on our way to Rome,” ISIS spokesman (archive.org file-sharing website, July 23, 2015). While officials of the countries fighting ISIS meet in different cities around the world to try to figure … [Read more...] about ISIS: “We Are on Our Way to Rome”
Iran: The Closer You Look, The Worse It Gets*
Left: Khamenei - the deal was only about nuclear issues, Iran "won't let foreigners interfere with our affairs." (Photo : Twitter Photo Section) - Close examination of the nuclear agreement with Iran reveals just how much it will damage the West … [Read more...] about Iran: The Closer You Look, The Worse It Gets*
When the Syrian pot boils over*
Left: Bashar al-Assad, Reuters When President al-Sisi of Egypt says that Syria's President Assad is finished, it behooves us to listen. We must assume that Egyptian intelligence is very well-informed on the internal Syrian situation. So, if Assad … [Read more...] about When the Syrian pot boils over*
Syria breaking up – Lebanon next?*
Left - Members of al Qaeda's Nusra Front in Lebanon. The already extremely complex Middle East may be on the verge of becoming even more so. At this point, the Sh'ia northern arc of Iran, Iraq, Assad and Hezbollah is in confrontation with the … [Read more...] about Syria breaking up – Lebanon next?*