I. NATIONALINTEREST - The Inventors of Chutzpah
Chutzpah is a useful word, which is why it is now common coin in a variety of languges. I used to believe that it was of Yiddish origin. I am now not so sure. Indeed, I tend to think it might be Turkic in provenance. Certainly, if there is any justice in this world, it should be chalked up to the credit of a handful of brazen, chuckling sages in Istanbul. They win the laurels, hands down, no contest. In January 2009, at Davos, Switzerland, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, told fellow panelist Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres: "When it comes to killing, you know well how to kill,” before rushing off the stage in (pretend) anger. He was protesting against what he saw as Israel's unacceptable behavior in that month's brief war with the Hamas in Gaza. A year later, in May 2010, Erdogan charged Israel with violating "international law" and implementing "inhumane state terrorism" over its raid on the Turkish ship "Mavi Marmara," which was trying to run Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. (The Hamas seeks Israel's destruction and Israel refuses to allow free passage of arms to the Hamas-controlled strip.) Nine Turks, who attacked the raiders with guns, iron bars and knives, were killed by the Israeli commandos. Now let's look for a second at Turkish behavior. The Turks no longer dispute the fact that they deported and murdered hundreds of thousands of Armenians (and Greeks) during World War I (they continue to dispute the number "1.5 million" Armenian dead and that the killings were a result of a systematic policy of "genocide,” orchestrated by Istanbul), forcibly converted many thousands of Christians to Islam, and kidnapped, raped and virtually enslaved many thousands of Armenian (and Greek) girls. But this was (mainly) during Ottoman times. Old history, you may say. Let us look at some facts of more recent vintage. The European Commission of Human Rights in its report of 10 July 1976 concluded, after a lengthy investigation, that the Turkish troops invading northern Cyprus in 1974 killed Cypriot Greek civilians en masse. Turkish "troops were responsible for wholesale and repeated rapes of women of all ages from 12 to 71." After the fighting, according to the report, "the aim [of Turkish behavior] was to terrorise, destroy and eradicate the Greek population of the Turkish occupied area"; "the atrocities were deliberate tactics"—and resulted in the flight of hundreds of thousands of Greeks southwards. In the 1980s and 1990s, according to Wikipedia, Turkish security forces levelled "3,000" Kurdish villages in Turkey—3,000!—leading to the displacement of close to 400,000 Kurds. Thousands of Kurdish villagers were killed and tortured as Turkish troops tried to suppress Kurdish demands for a measure of autonomy. And Erdogan pretends fury when nine aggressive Turkish militants, set on provoking Israel, are shot dead by Israeli troops in self-defence. I challenge anyone to match, let alone surpass, this display of chutzpah, and hypocrisy. I wonder whether the Turks actually use the word "chutzpah.” Or do they have an equivalent word? Or don't they—and if not, why not?
II. REUTERS - Turkey says Germany and France threatened by EU bid
Allowing Turkey to join the European Union would make the bloc more relevant, but Germany and France feel threatened by the Muslim-majority nation's bid, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said on Wednesday. Babacan, who is also Turkey's economy minister, told the Foreign Policy Association's World Leadership Forum in New York that it was difficult to say whether Turkey would achieve its goal of EU membership. Turkey's application to join the 27-nation EU has for years met with European resistance because of Turkey's human rights record and frictions with Cyprus, an EU member that Turkey does not recognise. "The relevance of the EU ... is decreasing very fast and especially after this economic and financial crisis," Babacan said. "The weight of the European economy in the world has shrunk and will continue to shrink and only with enlargement the EU will be able to protect its power and influence." Turkey would be the only Muslim-majority country in the EU and one of its largest by population. European officials have long held that Turkey must improve its human rights record to join the EU. But European Union Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso also said on Tuesday that Turkey's ambitions to join the bloc were being thwarted because of a hardening of attitudes in Europe against immigration in a number of EU countries. "When Turkey becomes a member of the EU, Turkey is not going to be in a secondary position and that's one of the reasons why countries like Germany and France are quite nervous about our membership," Babacan said. "From day one were going to be influential as Germany and France. It's not going to be a Germany and France axis EU, it's going to be a Germany, France and Turkey axis EU and we're not sure if they are ready to share that power with us," he said.
III. KATHIMERINI - Papandreou appeals to US investors
Prime Minister George Papandreou yesterday continued his charm offensive in the United States, assuring entrepreneurs in New York that Greece is pushing through reforms to facilitate investments after receiving praise from US Vice President Joe Biden in Washington for the measures his government has pushed through so far. “The Greek government has proved that it means business. We have delivered on our commitments, exceeded targets and even confounded expectations,” Papandreou told an audience at the Economic Club of New York, a respected forum for entrepreneurs and economists. “In a matter of months we have pushed through the most extensive and ambitious reform program in modern Greek history,” he said before providing details of how procedures are being simplified for investments and the creation of businesses. The premier said there were “many encouraging signs that investors are waking up to the opportunities that the new Greece has to offer,” noting that Norway’s state pension fund had recently invested in Greek government bonds. Late on Tuesday, Papandreou had visited Washington for talks at the White House with Biden, which focused on Greece’s ongoing reform efforts as well as matters of concern in the Balkans and Middle East. The US vice president praised Papandreou for the “excellent work he is doing in the handling of the economic crisis,” noting that, “God willing, he will put his country on the right path again.” The Greek premier responded, “We are already on the right path.” Speaking to reporters after meeting Biden, Papandreou said their talks touched on the Cyprus problem, the situation in the Middle East and the ongoing dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) regarding the latter’s official name. According to sources, the US vice president stressed the need for the governments of Athens and Skopje to quickly agree upon a mutually acceptable solution to the name spat. Papandreou, for his part, stressed that Athens has the political will to resolve the dispute and is waiting for the “other side” to reciprocate.
IV. NYDAILYNEWS - Republicans to unveil their "Pledge to America" as midterm election races heat up across the country
Republicans on the campaign trail to retake Congress have a new roadmap. The GOP will unveil its plan to fix the country Thursday, in a document titled "Pledge to America." The 21-page manifesto gathers familiar talking points for Republicans, such as cutting taxes and slashing government spending. The pledge also calls for an end to President Obama's health care and economic stimulus plans. "Regarding the policis of the current government, the governed do not consent," the pledge states. "An arrogant and out-of-touch government of self-appointed elites makes decisions, issues mandates and enacts laws without accepting or requesting the input of the many." The plan comes as voters increasingly grow dissatisfied with Congress and the Democrats' handling of the economy. A recent AP/GfK poll shows that in addition to angry Republican voters, 58% of independents are upset with the current state of politics and eight in 10 describe the economy as poor.
The Iranian defense minister criticized Russia Thursday for banning all sales of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi's comments came a day after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree on the ban, which also prohibited exports of tanks, aircraft and sea vessels to Iran. Vahidi said Russia was at risk of humiliating itself for caving to international pressure by banning the sales of the sophisticated systems that could boost Iran's ability to defend itself against airstrikes. "We think Russia should show it has an independent stance in choosing its relations with other countries as well as on international issues," he said in an interview with Iranian state TV. Tehran is in a tense standoff with the U.S. and other nations over its disputed nuclear program. Russia also has recently shown increasing frustration over Iran's policies. Moscow signed a 2007 contract to sell the systems. Israel and the United States have objected to the deal, and no such missiles have been delivered yet. Russia has said United Nations sanctions would prevent it from delivering the S-300s to Iran. The S-300 is capable of shooting down aircraft and missiles at ranges of over 90 miles (144 kilometers) and at altitudes of about 90,000 feet (27,432 meters). Vahidi insisted the Russians were obliged to implement the 2007 contract. "They have not done it so far," he said. He also played down the importance of the deal, saying it was "not vital" because Iran will build a similar system in the future. "God willing we will have production of long range anti-aircraft missiles on our agenda." In June, Russia joined other members of the U.N Security Council in imposing a fourth set of sanctions on Iran after Tehran refused to halt its uranium enrichment activities. The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes like power generation.
VI. B92 - Kosovo on agenda as leaders meet, UN
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday. They discussed the situation in the Middle East and other international crises and hot spots, including Kosovo-Metohija, the UN website said on Wednesday. “UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the situation in the Middle East and other international crises and hot spots, including Afghanistan, Sudan, Kosovo and Kyrgyzstan,” the statement read. The two men also conferred on the situation in Kosovo as well as the wider Balkan region, it was said. Russia is one of the permanent member states of the UN Security Council, and is among the countries that have not recognized the unilaterally declared independence. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou also discussed Kosovo, in Washington on Wednesday. Greece is another country that has not recognized Kosovo. Biden and Papandreou discussed the recent opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding legality of unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo, the White House announced. The two leaders also talked about “how to move forward so that the people of Serbia and Kosovo are able to become fully a part of a Europe, whole and free and at peace,” said the statement. Biden welcomed the Greek PM’s efforts to advance the integration of the countries of Southeast Europe into Euro-Atlantic structures, and he emphasized the need for leaders in Athens and Skopje to quickly come to an agreement to resolve their differences over the former Yugoslav republic’s name, according to reports.
VII. CATHOLICHERALD - Protester urges the Pope: "Drop the Filioque!"
Amidst the thousands who protested the Pope’s visit to Britain, one protester stood out. Fr John Zuhlsdorf over on What does the Prayer Really Say? found a picture of a young man who was protesting the Pope in a very particular way. Benedict XVI would probably have enjoyed the sight. Armed with a black marker and a pizza box, Toby Guise, a 29 year-old communications consultant from London, wrote: “Drop the Filioque!” The Filioque is a clause added to the Nicene Creed by the Western Church and addresses the way the Trinity is understood. It has been a source of division between the Eastern Churches and the Western Church. Mr Guise said: “There was a serious point behind the banner. Putting the Filioque up for discussion would effectively roll things back to the last Ecumenical Council in 787 – sending out a tacit but momentous appeal for Christian unity, yet without necessarily sacrificing a point upon which many Catholics are very impassioned. The hope would be for other denominations to respond by looking at ways in which they could re-enter into communion with the Catholic Church and with each other, including on thornier issues than the Filioque.” He also added: “I didn’t actually point the banner at the Pope, thinking it was more important to welcome him unconditionally and that he had probably had enough disagreements for one weekend.”