Ten Conditions Set by Saudi Arabia for Qatari Government.

Ten Conditions Set by Saudi Arabia for Qatari Government. (Ifp)

In a post in his Twitter account, senior Al Jazeera journalist Faisal Edroos published Saudi Arabia’s 10 demands from Qatar, which were put forward in the form of a 24-hour ultimatum to the Doha government on Tuesday night.

These conditions are Riyadh’s prerequisites for normalization of its relations with the fellow GCC member state.

Saudis have reportedly given Qatar a 24-hour ultimatum to fulfil a number of conditions they set in response to efforts to mediate between the two Arab states.

In a meeting with Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was in Jeddah on June 6 to mediate in an ongoing rift between Doha and a number of Persian Gulf Arab states, Qatar was given the one-day ultimatum to fulfil ten conditions set by the Al Saud regime.

According to Edroos, the demands are:

1. Immediate severance of diplomatic relations with Iran,


2. Expulsion of all members of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas from Qatar,


3. Freezing all bank accounts of Hamas members and refraining from any deal with them,


4. Expulsion of all Muslim Brotherhood members from Qatar,


5. Expulsion of anti-[P]GCC elements,


6. Ending support for ‘terrorist organisations’,


7. Stopping interference in Egyptian affairs,


8. Ceasing the broadcast of the Al Jazeera news channel,


9. Apologising to all [Persian] Gulf governments for ‘abuses’ by Al Jazeera,


10. Pledging that it (Qatar) will not carry out any actions that contradict the policies of the [P]GCC and adhering to its charter.

He added in case Qatar abides by the conditions laid out by Saudi Arabia, an emergency meeting of all [P]GCC leaders will be held in the Saudi capital of Jeddah.

Turkey’s Claims Aimed at Justifying 'Neo - Ottoman' Expansionist Policies: Iran.

Turkey’s Claims Aimed at Justifying 'Neo - Ottoman' Expansionist Policies: Iran. (IFP).

Iran has dismissed the recent “unacceptable and unjustifiable” remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan against Tehran, saying Ankara is leveling accusations against other countries to justify its expansionist policies.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi expressed regret on Sunday that Turkish officials continue to make “baseless, meddlesome and troublesome” remarks against the country’s neighbors.

“By accusing others and repeating fictitious claims, they [Turkish officials] are trying to justify their meddlesome and expansionist policies toward their neighbors,” he added.

Speaking at a Turkish-British forum in the southern city of Antalya on Saturday, the Turkish president accused Iran of adopting and pursuing “racist and discriminatory” policies in Iraq.

The Iranian spokesperson also dismissed as incorrect comments by Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, who recently claimed that some three million refugees, mostly Afghans, were trying to go to Turkey from Iran, expressing concern that Iran was “ignoring their demand for migration.”
“Iran has been hosting millions of refugees from its neighboring countries for more than 30 years,” Qassemi said.

“Turkey must learn from Iran how it has hosted millions of refugees for more than three decades and has never abused this human and humanitarian issue for specific and politically-motivated purposes against any other country.”

He recommended Turkish officials to avoid conflating humanitarian issues with political disputes, urging them to respect the national sovereignty of their neighboring states, particularly Iraq and Syria.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran regards respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries as the best option for strengthening and developing relations among nations and countries,” Qassemi said.

Iran also considers “constructive dialogue with neighbors, instead of accusing others, as the most appropriate way” to deepen ties with them, he pointed out.

Video - Hamas is Stealing Funds Intended for Gaza’s Needy from the Turkish Agency TIKA.

Video - Hamas is Stealing Funds Intended for Gaza’s Needy from the Turkish Agency TIKA.(Cogat)

Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav (Poly) Mordechai: "The egotistical Hamas terror organization has robbed funds that are meant for the needy of Gaza from international organizations. Hamas prospers at the expense of the residents of the Strip and uses donations meant for them to finance terror. How long will the world and the Gazan people ignore this?"

A recent example is Muhammad Faruq Sha’aban Murtaja, a Gazan building engineer, who was planted in the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Murtaja is the latest in a long line of similar occurrences. World Vision, UNRWA and many other organizations have fell victims at the hands of Hamas’ infiltration and exploitation . The activities of these organizations have suffered, as their reputation has been tainted due to them being declared as facilitators of terrorism. These events have triggered diplomatic incidents between countries which finance these organizations and Israel. Ultimately, the primary victim is the Palestinian resident of Gaza whose access to food , shelter, education and a brighter future for their children is denied so that Hamas can continue its murderous terrorism.

From a Civil Engineer to a Terror Engineer

Approximately one month ago, Israeli forces arrested Muhammad Faruq Sha’aban Murtaja, a Gazan resident and civil engineer, who for the past several years served as the branch manager in the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). Murtaja’s interrogation revealed how he exploited his seniority in the agency in order to aid Hamas’ terror activities at the expense of the Palestinian public in Gaza - without the knowledge of the Agency’s senior leadership and the Turkish government.

Murtaja was born in 1977, studied in Turkey and was recruited by Hamas in 2008. During 2009, he joined an engineering unit of Hamas’ military wing, while at the same time serving as deputy director of IHH in Gaza - an Islamic Turkish NGO, declared as a terrorist organization by several countries, which seeks to delegitimize the State of Israel. 

Murtaja subsequently sought to infiltrate TIKA, an organization which provides humanitarian aid to Muslims across the world. In light of TIKA’s resources and his extensive past experience with Turkish organizations, Murtaja set forth to become involved in the organization. Hmmmm......As usual the IHH is involved. Read the full story here.

Related:

#Turkey's official aid agency #TIKA's director in #Gaza arrested for funneling funds to #Hamas' military wing.https://t.co/kaDclwCLYz

— Aykan Erdemir (@aykan_erdemir) March 21, 2017

The 'desire' to buy the Russian S-400 Air defense system, another Blackmail plot from Turkish Dictator Erdogan?

The 'desire' to buy the Russian S-400 Air defense system, another Blackmail plot from Turkish Dictator Erdogan? (SP).

The Turkish leadership has indicated that Ankara is interested in purchasing the S-400 Triumf, one of the most advanced air defense systems designed and manufactured in Russia. Both nations stand to gain from the deal if it is finalized.

Defense analyst Mikhail Khodoryonok:

"The buyer will become attached to the country producing the weapon due to maintenance and professional training. Close military and technical cooperation will not allow Turkey to make aggressive political maneuvers against Russia. In addition, the purchase made by a NATO member will enhance the image of the Russian defense industry. It's hard to come up with a better ad," he told RIA Novosti.

Andrei Frolov, the editor-in-chief of Arms Export magazine, told RIA Novosti that Ankara is interested in enhancing its air defenses to protect itself from neighboring countries.

"Iran is Turkey's key opponent in the region. The Islamic Republic has a rather potent air force. At the same time, Iran is capable of protecting its territory from a retaliatory strike. Last year, Russia delivered four S-300PMU2 battalions to the country," he explained. "In addition, Ankara's relations with Damascus are tense to put it mildly. The Syrian government has long-range tactical missiles and short-range missiles, while Turkey's air defense systems are notoriously weak."

Although Turkey would benefit from adding the S-400 to its arsenal, Frolov expressed doubt that the deal would actually take place.

"Erdogan is more likely trying to pressure his partners in NATO by making these statements. He is essentially trying to blackmail them into selling European and American air defense systems under favorable terms," the defense analyst said. Read the full story here.

Video - House Intel Chairman David Nunes: Hard To Believe Gulen Behind Turkey Coup.

Video - House Intel Chairman David Nunes: Hard To Believe Gulen Behind Turkey Coup.(GP)

The United State House Intelligence Committee chairman has said it is “hard to believe” that U.S.-based Turkish cleric is behind the military coup attempt last summer, questioning Turkey as a reliable ally.

“I find that hard to believe,” David Nunes told Chris Wallace from Fox News when asked if cleric Fethullah Gulen is the architect of the coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Mr. Nunes added that the government of Mr. Erdogan is becoming very authoritarian and that Ankara, as a NATO ally, is “becoming more and more worrisome in terms of actually being a reliable ally.”Read the full story here.

Video - French MP Thierry Mariani: " Europe has become'Turkey's hostage', They'll be delighted to send ex-jihadi's to Europe'

Video - French MP Thierry Mariani: " Europe has become'Turkey's hostage', They'll be delighted to send ex-jihadi's to Europe'

Belgium rejects working visa applications for four Turkish imams.

Belgium rejects working visa applications for four Turkish imams. (Express).

The decision by Belgian immigration minister Theo Francken was supported by the Belgian Council.

Mr Francken has already declined the applications of 12 imams this year, saying they wanted to preach sermons in mosques unrecognised by the state, according to German newspaper Deutsche Welle.

Ten of the imams objected to the decision, claiming their religious freedom was being violated.

However the council said the imams could not be evaluated under Belgian law because they did not live in Belgium.

There are 65 mosques affiliated with the Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), according to reports.

Meanwhile 30 are said to be close to the Turkish National Vision movement, which is being monitored by the German Federal Office for suspected radical Islamist activities.

Only 82 of around 300 mosques are recognised by Belgium, which covers some part of the salaries for imams, according to 2015 figures.

It comes after Belgian Justice Minister Koen Geens ordered security intelligence to monitor mosques linked to Diyanet.

EU-Turkey relations are at all time low after Recep Tayyip Erdogan launched an attack on the European Union during a speech in the northwestern province of Sakarya.

He said that the EU’s ruling over wearing religious symbols, such as a headscarf for Muslim women, represented “a clash between crescent and cross” and condemned “EU values, principles and justice”. Hmmm......If anyone started a religious war thaan it is Erdogan's AKP party , see below.Read the full story here.

Turkish religious foundation head: Religion of ISIS is religion taught in our theology schools. ISIS are trying to put Islam into practice.

— Ankaralı Jan (@06JAnk) June 23, 2016

Related: 

Belgium decides to bar Turkish State’s clerics visiting.

Erdoganist Columnist Calls On Islamist Gov’t To ‘Set West On Fire’ Before It Occupies Turkey.

Erdoganist Columnist Calls On Islamist Gov’t To ‘Set West On Fire’ Before It Occupies Turkey.(Stockholm.org).

Yakup Köse, a staunch supporter of Turkey’s autocratic President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a columnist for the pro-government Star daily, on Monday called on the Turkish people and government to “set the West on fire” before it occupies Turkey.

“It is useless to wait for the enemy [to act]. Let’s introduce to fire those who want to set our country on fire. At least, the idea that ‘if you try to come to our county, we can come to you before that’ should be inculcated into both our nation and the West. There are different ways to do this, and people who run the state must know it!..” wrote Köse in his column in the Star daily on Monday, claiming that the West may try to directly occupy Turkey after failing to accomplish it by use of internal actors.

According to Köse, who spent years in jail for allegedly participating in bomb attacks of fundamentalist militant group the Great Eastern Islamic Raiders Front (İBDA/C) before being released in 2015, all the reforms that were made when the Republic of Turkey was established were the installation of degenerate Western values in Anatolia.

“The soul of Anatolia, which they imprisoned in 783,000 square kilometers by saying ‘Peace at home, peace in the world’ [a motto of Turkey’s founder Atatürk] has been breaking its chains. After a century, for the first time the nation and the state show a joint will to break the chains placed by the West. It is this will that panics and frightens the West,” wrote Köse, claiming that the West failed to destroy that will by using the Gülen movement, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and other internal actors.

Claiming that the West has been making final moves after defeats of their efforts through the Gezi Park protests, the PKK resistance in the eastern cities and an “occupation attempt by the coup attempt” on July 15, the columnist said that is the reason why Western countries took sides with naysayers ahead of a critical referendum on April 16.

“The moves that could be considered casus belli such as not allowing top Turkish authorities to enter their countries show how big a panic they have gone into. With this panic, they may attempt to occupy [Turkey] which they have failed doing by means of internal actors,” added Köse, before calling on the Turkish people and the government to “introduce the West to fire” as a preemptive and deterrent measure. (turkishminute.com) March 13, 2017

Hmmm......Erdogan has a huge Fifth Column to help him in Europe.

Press statement of the group of #Turks protesting in front of Consulate: ' the minarets are our bayonets '. https://t.co/RVAgwxbOzz pic.twitter.com/DEniNSJday

— MFS - The Other News (@MFS001) March 12, 2017

Pro-Erdoğan paper @yeniakit: "The Dutch army has only 48,000 troops, but 400,000 Turks are living in the #Netherlands" #Turkey pic.twitter.com/shljnXpxVG

— Cahida Dêrsim (@dersi4m) March 12, 2017

#Erdogan calls on Turks in #Germany, #Netherlands, #Belgium & #Scandinavian countries, ask'em if they know what to do against his enemies. pic.twitter.com/Bvdn5DivXH

— Abdullah Bozkurt (@abdbozkurt) March 12, 2017

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein: "Turkish State Of Emergency Measures Target Criticism, Not Terrorism."

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein: "Turkish State Of Emergency Measures Target Criticism, Not Terrorism." (Stockholmcf.org).

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has voiced concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Turkey, saying that measures taken under emergency rule in the country target criticism, not terrorism.

A state of emergency was declared in Turkey in the aftermath of a failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

Releasing his Annual Report and Oral Update to the 34th session of the UN Human Rights Council on Wednesday as he informed members of the council on various issues around the world, Al Hussein said:

“In Turkey, bombs and other shocking terrorist attacks against civilians continue to claim lives, which I condemn, and I fully understand the authorities are operating in a challenging environment in many respects. However, I am concerned measures taken under the state of emergency appear to target criticism, not terrorism. The fact that tens of thousands of people have been dismissed, arrested, detained or prosecuted following the attempted coup – including numerous democratically elected representatives, judges and journalists – raises serious alarm about due process guarantees being met. ”

Al Hussein also said it will be particularly crucial for the credibility of April’s referendum on amending the Constitution that space for open debate, free of intimidation, be guaranteed.

Turkey will hold a referendum on April 16 which will introduce an executive presidency in Turkey.

Also dwelling on the human rights situation in Turkey’s southeast, Al Hussein said the situation in the region remains deeply troubling.

“Without access to the area, the remote monitoring procedure engaged by my Office has established credible indications of hundreds of deaths, suggesting disproportionate security measures in response to violent attacks,” said the UN official. Read the full story here.

Russian general LG Sergei Rudskoy confirms a Kurdish-Russian deal against Turkey.

Russian general confirms a Kurdish-Russian deal against Turkey. (ARANews).

Lieutenant General Sergei Rudskoy, Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the Russian General Staff, has confirmed a deal between Russia, the Syrian government and the Kurds in Manbij against Turkey and Turkish-backed rebels.

“The detachments of the Syrian army approached the south-west areas of the city of Menbij, which is under control of Kurdish militia groups,” he said.

“Today, the Russian Centre for reconciliation of the opposing sides sent the first humanitarian convoy with food, medicines and items of the first necessity to Menbij,” he added.

Furthermore, the Russian Army confirmed the entry of Syrian army forces to the Syrian Democratic Forces-held areas.

“In addition, since March 3 the Syrian Armed Forces enter the territory occupied by Kurdish militia groups [in reference to SDF] according to the agreements reached with the participation of the command of the Russian grouping of forces in Syria,” General Sergei Rudskoy said.

The general added that the Syrian government is taking measures to resume the work of state authorities in Menbij and surrounding areas.

The SDF-linked Manbij Military Council announced on Thursday that they have reached an agreement with Russia for the protection of the western villages of Manbij from the Turkish army and Turkey-backed rebels, handing over villages in Western Manbij to the Syrian government.

“Defending the civilians and protecting them from the adverse impact of the war, ensuring the security of Manbij and frustrating the invasion plans of the Turkish army against Syrian soil are the goals we have taken for all the peoples living on the lands of Syria,” the Manbij Military Council (MMC) said in a statement.

“In order to realize these goals of ours, we as Manbij Military Council confirm that we have handed over the defense of the line – where villages between the positions of our forces in western Manbij and Turkish-affiliated gangs are located – to Syrian state forces as part of the alliance we have made with Russian officials,” the council said.

“The SDF ceded this territory west of Manbij because it is clear that there are limits to the extent that the United States will intervene on behalf of the SDF’s interests west of the Euphrates,” the statement added. 

However, despite of the alleged handover of some villages to the Syrian army, heavy clashes continued on Saturday between the Turkish-led Euphrates Shield rebels and the SDF forces west of Manbij. This makes it unclear whether these areas are handed over to the Syrian government, since clashes are ongoing since Thursday.

“Euphrates Shield forces continue to attack MMC regions. They failed, and a lot of them were killed in recent clashes [about 34 km] west of Manbij,” SDF-spokesperson Sharvan Darwish said on Saturday. 

In an interview with ARA News, Nicholas A. Heras, Bacevich Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), said: “Ceding that territory west of Manbij to Assad’s forces, via a Russian-brokered deal, sends a signal to Turkey that the SDF understands the strategic value of the territory to Euphrates Shield, and will spite Turkey by giving it to Assad.” 

“Notably, the SDF has retained territory south and west of Manbij that continues to allow it an access road to Afrin via Assad-controlled areas. Access to Afrin from the area of Manbij is the real strategic prize of this territory for the SDF,” he concluded.

Aaron Stein, a resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, told ARA News that the Syrian Kurds have reached their current autonomous status due to navigating its relations with greater powers.

“The Syrian Kurds are where they are because they manage great power relations. The YPG [Kurdish People’s Protection Units] are nakedly self interested, and have proved quite deft in playing off more powerful actors to their ultimate benefit,” he said. Read the full story here.

'Sometimes NATO Ally' Turkey - ISIL opened its own school in Ankara.

'Sometimes NATO Ally' Turkey - ISIL opened its own school in Ankara. (HD).


The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has been using an office block in the Turkish capital to train young militants under cover of a masjid, according to an indictment by an Ankara prosecutor.

The group has been using the third, fourth and fifth floors of the block in the Ulucanlar neighborhood of Ankara, the indictment states.

“They are trying to provide school education in places such as mosques, study or training centers built by themselves. They do not accept the laws or schools of the Republic of Turkey and do not send their children to public schools,” it says.

Prosecutor Ender Coşkun filed claims against suspects including a man identified as Ahmet D., ISIL’s alleged Ankara leader who uses the codename Abu Eslem, and 19 other suspects for “being a member of an armed terror organization.”

The prosecutor also said the group has been carrying out activities at a number of masjids in Ankara’s Çubuk, Sincan and Altındağ districts.

In searches of the houses of suspects, police found a number of school “report cards” prepared for the children at the school, as well as wedding invitations in Arabic.

The fifth floor of the office block included in the indictment has been used as a residence by a suspect identified as Mustafa S., while the fourth floor has been used as a “masjid for women” where 22 children aged between 10 and 18 are trained. Read the full story here.

Turkish religious foundation head: Religion of ISIS is religion taught in our theology schools. ISIS are trying to put Islam into practice.

— Ankaralı Jan (@06JAnk) June 23, 2016

Turkey’s Erdogan undermines NATO and it's allies.

Turkey’s Erdogan undermines NATO and it's allies. HT : abdullahbozkurtblog

The other lawmaker, Çakmak, recalled his private conversation he had recently had with Erdoğan who said “when I get a chance, I know what to do with NATO, Europe and Israel. I’m going to f..k their mothers. NATO and the US are as terrorists as Israel.”

The deepening confidence crisis between Turkey and the NATO allies that has now reached to a breaking point after the staged coup bid of July 15 of last year that effectively purged most, if not all, pro-NATO officers from Turkish military has its roots tracing back to diverging interests of Turkey’s Islamist rulers who harbor a political vision that is in clear contradiction of the values and principles of the military alliance that was enshrined in its charter.

Turkey, led by an authoritarian leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has time and again surprised NATO allies in several cases which tested the spirit of solidarity in the military alliance’s collective security.

In May 2010, Turkish diplomat at the United Nations Security Council was instructed to cast a no vote to fresh sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program in the last-minute order from then Prime Minister and now president of Turkey, Erdoğan. The original order was to abstain from the vote in the UN Security Council where Turkey was serving as non-permanent member but that was changed at the 11th hour, making Turkey one of the two countries that voted no to the sanction resolution.

The corruption investigations of Dec.2013 that exposed how Erdoğan was in bed with Iranian sanction-busters in moving billions of dollars of Iran’s state funds in exchange for bribes and commissions explained the real reason why Erdoğan personally intervened to support Iran at the expense of Turkey’s allies at the UN. It has nothing to do with mediation efforts along with Brazil. But rather, a young Iranian businessman, Reza Zarrab, was able to buy his access to the power structure of Turkey’s leadership including Erdoğan and his wife.

The meeting held on Oct.19, 2010 in Istanbul’s Çamlıca hill that overlooks Bosporus and attended by Seracettin Karayağız, a deputy from Muş province, and Hayrettin Çakmak, a deputy from Bursa province.

The conversation was about the NATO early radar warning system to be deployed in Malatya’s Kürecik district as part of NATO’s missile defense system. Lawmaker Karayağız said that Erdoğan is no longer allowing the Iranian border to be used as a garrison for the US, Israel and Europe and resisted efforts to that end by Turkey’s allies. He said Erdoğan was really strengthening political, economic and military ties with Iran and saw the radar system as a trap to derail that process. The other lawmaker, Çakmak, recalled his private conversation he had recently had with Erdoğan who said “when I get a chance, I know what to do with NATO, Europe and Israel. I’m going to f..k their mothers. NATO and the US are as terrorists as Israel.” Read the full story here.

Can NATO Survive 'Islamist' Turkey?

Can NATO Survive 'Islamist' Turkey? (AINA).

It has become a staple of diplomatic rhetoric that, whatever problems the United States has with the current government in Turkey, diplomats must ameliorate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan because Turkey is too important to NATO and also a staging ground in any operations against the Islamic State.

Certainly, that is the position of the new administration. Vice President Mike Pence has said he foresees a "new day" in U.S.-Turkey relations. Trump himself stressed the close U.S.-Turkey relationship during his first phone call with the Turkish leader. Ted Malloch, a businessman and Trump ally who is a leading candidate to become US ambassador to the European Union, argued that the United States should bite the bullet and give into Erdogan's political demands in order to reset U.S.-Turkish relations.

Alas, what the Trump team appears not to realize is that Erdogan's problem with the United States and the West more generally is ideological and not based on grievance. In particular, Erdogan hates NATO. 

That may sound counterintuitive given that Turkey contributes the second-largest troop component to NATO and participates with NATO countries in Afghanistan. But Erdogan's upbringing was against the backdrop of Cold War diplomacy blessing Turkish dictatorships. So why doesn't Erdogan just pull Turkey out of NATO? Here, the sad truth is that Erdogan can do far more damage from inside NATO because the defensive alliance is governed by consensus. By remaining inside NATO, Erdogan can paralyze the organization with a de facto veto.

But, Erdogan's game is deeper. His party is now demonizing NATO as a terror organization. Here is what AKP Gaziantep parliamentarian Şamil Tayyar had to say:

Turkey has been subjected to coups since it joined NATO. NATO has always been in charge of the dirty and bloody deeds in the country. The 1960 military coup was staged by the British, the 1971 coup was staged by the CIA, and the 1980 coup was staged by NATO. In NATO's new plan, a Turkey with [President Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan should not exist... NATO has become a threat and is spreading terror organizations across the region. You can designate NATO along with DEASH [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant -- ISIL], the PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party] and FETÖ [Fethullahist Terror Organization].

In a country where saying or thinking the wrong thing can lead years in prison--even for members of parliamentary--it simply isn't possible that Tayyar was speaking absent Erdogan's approval.

Turkish state media, meanwhile, has sent reporters to Ramstein Air Base in Germany to broadcast programs accusing NATO of involvement in terrorism.

So what is Erdogan's game here? He believes he is engaged in a win-win strategy. If the United States and European officials refuse his demands, his incitement will transform NATO into an enemy in the eyes of most Turks. Such actions would also feed Russian propaganda and anti-American forces worldwide. It will also allow him to play the nationalist card against the NATO bogey in the run-up to the April 2017 referendum on a new constitution which would formalize Erdogan's dictatorial powers.

On the other hand, if Trump caves into Erdogan's demands, he will justify his purge of officers and civil servants whose only crime was having been posted to NATO offices and legitimize his broader crackdown. This, too, would play into Erdogan's hands ahead of the April referendum.

So what is NATO to do? Turkey poses a problem the defensive alliance hasn't experienced in its nearly seven decade existence: What to do when the enemy is internal rather than external.

Appeasing Erdogan only kicks the can down the road, but it is not a sustainable strategy. It is time for NATO to get serious about the Trojan horse which Turkey has become.

136 Turkish diplomats, relatives seek asylum in Germany, More and more are applying for asylum.

136 Turkish diplomats, relatives seek asylum in Germany, More and more are applying for asylum. (Fr24).

"The government is aware of 136 asylum applications filed by diplomatic passport holders from Turkey. They also include family members," said the interior ministry in a written reply to a query from a lawmaker.

The ministry said however that it did not have data on how many among the applicants are diplomats and how many are soldiers stationed at NATO bases.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has accused US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen of having orchestrated the putsch, and launched a sweeping crackdown against his followers.

Some 43,000 people in Turkey have been arrested over their suspected links to Gulen's movement, and 100,000 fired or suspended. Many of them are teachers, police, magistrates and journalists.

The scale of the crackdown has raised international concern, with Germany among the most vocal in raising questions over the mass arrests.

That and a string of other spats have contributed to fraying ties between Ankara and Berlin.

Last month, news magazine "Der Spiegel" and public broadcaster ARD reported that dozens of Turkish officers applied for asylum for fear of being arrested upon returning home.

In a subsequent meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Merkel to extradite the soldiers. Foreign soldiers stationed in NATO-bases are also entitled to a diplomatic passport. Read the full story here.

'Islamist' Turkey not making enough 'progress' to merit visa-free EU travel.

'Islamist' Turkey not making enough 'progress' to merit visa-free EU travel. (DS).

BRUSSELS: Turkey is not delivering sufficiently on reforms to meet the terms of a migration deal that would allow Turks visa-free travel into the European Union, a senior EU official told Reuters on Thursday, citing an EU Commission report.

Under the agreement reached in March last year at the peak of Europe's biggest migration crisis since World War Two, Turkey committed to preventing Middle Eastern and Asian refugees moving from its territory into the EU, in exchange for financial support and visa-free access for its citizens.

Turkey was doing well on border control but a regular report that the EU executive plans to publish next week will say it is still delaying reforms on "anti-terrorism legislation, party financing, judicial cooperation", the source said.

Complications around negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus also bode badly for Turkey, the official said.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Wednesday that Ankara expected the European Union to take steps on visa-free travel as soon as possible.

That was dismissed in Brussels as "nonsense" because Turkey was not fulfilling the conditions, the EU official said, noting: "They need to keep up the fiction for their own population."

The official acknowledged that border management and Turkish support for refugees were "working well" but no progress on visas was expected any time soon because no changes to anti-terror legislation were expected before and in the immediate aftermath of Turkey's constitutional referendum on April 16.

The referendum - set to give more powers to the president - "poses problems in itself" as "the draft constitution has very serious flaws", the EU official said.

The EU will not formally comment on Turkey's constitutional reforms to avoid being seen as meddling with the electoral process, but the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, a panel of law experts, will issue "quite salty" remarks in mid-March, the EU official said.

The official firmly ruled out an EU-Turkey summit being held before the referendum, despite Erdogan's wish to do so.

At a news conference in Brussels on Thursday, a Commission spokesman gave the bloc's official line: "Work continues and both the European Union and Turkey remain committed to the March agreement and to the respective obligations."

U.S. to extradite Gulen to 'Islamist Dictatorship' Turkey?

U.S. to extradite Gulen to 'Islamist Dictatorship' Turkey? (DailyStar).

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence told Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim that Washington was keen for a new start in relations between the two countries, sources in Yildirim's office said, after ties soured during the Obama administration.

Pence and Yildirim met on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, Germany, and discussed improving ties, boosting cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the need to work together to find a permanent solution in Syria.

Yildirim told Pence that moves by the United States to meet Turkey's demands over Fethullah Gulen, a U.S.-based cleric blamed by Ankara for masterminding and orchestrating a failed coup last July, would pave the way for a fresh start in relations.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and the government want Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, extradited. Gulen denies involvement in the coup attempt.

Ankara has also been angered by U.S. support for a Kurdish militia group fighting ISIS in Syria. Turkey sees the group as an extension of the outlawed PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in southeastern Turkey and has been behind a spate of recent bombings.

Erdogan believes ties will improve under U.S. President Donald Trump. A phone call between the two earlier this month was very positive, sources in Erdogan's office have said. Hmmmm.....While many believe Erdogan orchestrated the coup to take out all opposition, Pres Trump aiding an Islamist Dictator? 

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Is ‘Gülenist coup’ a hoax?.. ‘Turkey has become a country that’s devouring itself’ 

  ‘The dominant assessment in NATO is clear: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan staged the coup against himself’

Ankara’s readout on Pence-Turkish PM B.Yıldırım mentions about ‘FETO’ i.e. Gulen extradition.
White House readout has no mention#Diplomacy pic.twitter.com/EAk6myPzZ1

— ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) February 18, 2017

Turkish intelligence service MIT has allegedly built up an extensive spy network in Germany (EU) with thousands of informants.

The Turkish intelligence service MIT has allegedly built up an extensive spy network in #Germany with thousands of informants. pic.twitter.com/wbQ8rSa2DA

— dwnews (@dwnews) February 4, 2017

Turkish NATO Officers Seek Asylum in Germany: 'was responsible for surveillance and defense of NATO air space along the border to Russia'

Turkish NATO Officers Seek Asylum in Germany: 'was responsible for surveillance and defense of NATO air space along the border to Russia' (Spiegel).

In the wake of purges ordered by President Erdogan following last summer's coup attempt, a number of Turkish NATO officers have applied for asylum in Germany. The issue is a highly sensitive one -- also for Chancellor Merkel, who is visiting Turkey yesterday.

Murat Karasu still has a very clear memory of the day that he rejected an order for the first time. The Turkish army officer had studied in the United States and flew fighter jets. His superior had already assigned him several times to highly desired NATO posts -- most recently in Germany. Following orders and obedience had been as important to Karasu as his love of his country.

 After parts of the military conducted a coup attempt against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in July, Karasu continued serving in the military until, at the beginning of September, his superior suddenly placed a letter in his hand. The order stated that Karasu must leave the military and return to Turkey.
"My termination came out of the blue," Karasu, a purposeful man in his mid-40s, says four months later. "No reason was given." Karasu is sitting in a pastry shop in a small town in western Germany. "I want to stay in Germany," he says. The former officer, who had, until recently, been responsible for the surveillance and defense of NATO air space along the border to Russia, has applied for political asylum in Germany. Hmmm........Late June reconciliation with Russia starts.....July 15 Coup in Turkey, next NATO officers are getting purged all over Turkish army....

Read the full story here.  

Video - Assad interview: 'Without Erdogan's support ISIS and al-Nusra they cannot survive'.

Assad interview: 'Without Erdogan's support ISIS and al-Nusra they cannot survive'.  (SP).

Question 5: In the course of the fight against the so-called Islamic State, would you seek coordination with players like Turkey, Kurds, and the United States?

Erdogan supports ISIS and al-Nusra on daily basis.

President Assad: First of all, if you want to be very transparent, ISIS was created under the supervision of the United States, whether in Iraq in 2006; before it was ISIS, it was IS, Islamic State, it was in Iraq only, restricted to Iraq. Then when the conflict started in Syria, it became ISIS, of Syria and Iraq, and later Turkey sponsored this State, because they used to use the Syrian oil fields in order to export and to get money and to recruit more fighters, and Turkey was directly involved in the smuggling of oil, with the involvement and complicity of Erdogan himself with ISIS.

So, we cannot expect to have genuine fight against ISIS by Turkey or the United States, and the recent, more stark example is the attack on Palmyra a few weeks ago, when they could retake Palmyra under the supervision of the Americans, under the surveillance of the American drones; they came through the desert and they occupied Palmyra.

Today, we are talking, and ISIS has been attacking Deir Ezzor in the eastern part of Syria, and the Americans did nothing to stop ISIS.

This is where the so-called international alliance against terrorism has been working for more than one year and a half now, and they achieved nothing, because they are not serious.

For Turkey, Erdogan is Muslim Brotherhood, he’s instinctively and innately sympathetic and linked and close and adhered to the ISIS and to Al Qaeda because they have the same ideology, he cannot be away from them.

He tries to do some maneuvers, to show that he’s against those terrorists, ISIS and al-Nusra, but actually on daily basis he supports those organizations, and without his support, they cannot survive. Read the full transcript here.

'Islamist Dictator' Erdogan is terrorizing Turkey to become caliph.

'Islamist Dictator' Erdogan is terrorizing Turkey to become caliph. (TurkishMinute) By Abdullah Bozkurt.

In his latest push to secure an imperial presidency that will lead to a self-declared caliphate, Turkey’s top Islamist ruler, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is intent on fomenting chaos by staging high-profile assassinations and terror plots to mobilize Turks into supporting him in his relentless drive to transform a secular parliamentary democracy into an Islamist dictatorship.

Abdurrahman Dilipak, an Islamist writer who is in fact a deep operative used by Turkey’s notorious National Intelligence Organization (MİT), revealed Erdoğan’s real ambitions in a speech he gave in Toronto when he was dispatched to fire up Erdoğan’s supporters among the expat community there.

He said the caliphate was not abolished after World War I but in fact its authority was bequeathed to the Turkish Parliament. He added that by switching to an executive presidency from a parliamentary democracy, Erdoğan would assume the title of caliph. 

He even said Erdoğan’s newly built, multibillion-dollar lavish palace which has over 1,000 rooms will have designated rooms for every Muslim nation and community in the world.

The emails of Berat Albayrak, Erdoğan’s son-in-law, revealed Erdoğan’s daily itinerary, which shows this Islamist operative meeting with the president in private, suggesting he has Erdoğan’s ear. Dilipak is Erdoğan’s special envoy who has been paraded not only in Turkey but abroad to deliver speeches on his behalf. Hmmm......Good luck NATO ...you'll need it with A Turkish - Russian enemy at the gates. Read the full story here.

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Planned purges triggered Turkish military coup & ‘unlikely that Gülen himself played a role’: EU intelligence paperhttps://t.co/7oUrS9csWB pic.twitter.com/YiMFQwxe8D

— Bruno Waterfield (@BrunoBrussels) January 17, 2017