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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Aug-2011
18-Aug-11 World View -- Turkey backs off on threat to Syria

Web Log - August, 2011

18-Aug-11 World View -- Turkey backs off on threat to Syria

Syria threatens family members of Syrian-Americans

This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

2,000 Egyptian troops take on al-Qaeda in the Sinai

Flames rise over gas pipeline targeted by Bedouin militants

Flames rise over gas pipeline targeted by Bedouin militants

When Egypt's pro-democracy protests began in January, they were relatively peaceful in Cairo, but the one area of Egypt that appeared ready to explode into violence was the Sinai, the region adjacent to Israel where major battles were fought in the 1967 Six-Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War between Israel and Arab states. Under the 1979 Camp David peace agreement between Israel and Egypt, Egyptian forces must stay out of the Sinai region. The result is that movements sympathetic to al-Qaeda are forming in the Sinai, especially since January, when Egyptian security forces withdrew in confusion, leaving the region lawless. With an increase in terrorist acts in the Sinai, Egypt sent 2,000 troops back to attempt to police the region, but they're largely unarmed because of the 1979 agreement. Jamestown and Debka

Turkey backs off on threat to Syria

A statement by Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu appears to back off from previous implied military threats to Syria if Syria does not stop the massacre of innocent civilians. In a press conference on Tuesday, he said,

"If the operations continue in Syria and the operations become a regional problem, Turkey can naturally not remain indifferent. We believe that Syria would make a very big contribution to the stability of the region if it goes through a peaceful transformation. However, for this to happen bloodshed must stop and reforms must be enacted. The sufferings in many cities in Ramadan should end. There are many important common efforts that can be exerted by Turkey and Jordan to form a regional sensitivity because they are both immediate neighbors of Syria. Our consultations will continue and intensify, and we will try to make progress on the issue of a regional stance."

Davutoglu was asked about news reports that Turkey's army might enter Syria to create a buffer zone on Syrian soil. He said that there were no such plans: "We're talking about a border that is 900 kilometers long. We cannot talk about such a development right now."

However, there was one breathtaking threat described by the article: Sources say it is still too early to call on Assad to step down, but underline that patience is running out fast, meaning that Ankara may finally call for his departure soon. Whew! Zaman

Hamas deeply embarrassed by Syria's assault on Palestinians

Palestinian girl in Ramallah holds poster depicting Assad with a red 'X' across his face. (Reuters)

Palestinian girl in Ramallah holds poster depicting Assad with a red 'X' across his face. (Reuters)

Ordinary Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been extremely and openly critical of the massacre of innocent civilians in Syria, especially after last weekend's bloody assault on Palestinians in a refugee camp in Latakia. However, Hamas, the governing authority in the Gaza Strip, has its headquarters and numerous backers in Damascus. Thus Hamas' leaders have refused to say anything about the violence against Palestinians, and have moved to prevent public demonstrations against Syria in Gaza. Thus, rumors are growing that Hamas may move its heaquarters to Qatar, Turkey or Sudan. (Egypt has refused to allow the group to open an office in Cairo.) Reuters

Syria threatens family members of Syrian-Americans

U.S. officials are accusing Syrian diplomats in Washington of tracking and photographic anti-regime activists in the United States, and sending the reports back home. Several Syrian-Americans say that as a result of their activities in the U.S., family members have been interrogated, threatened or arrested in Syria. One Syrian scientist visited the U.S., and then was tortured to get the names of anyone he might have met with, and was then killed. Syrian diplomats are pursuing similar activities in countries around the world, blaming activists as being "Zionist conspirators." Wall Street Journal (Access)

Israel firm on not apologizing to Turkey

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday that Israel will not apologize to Turkey for the deaths of nine Turkish citizens last year in May during the confrontation between Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) and the "Freedom Flotilla" that had been dispatched to break Israel's sea blockade on Gaza. Later on Wednesay, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it would be impossible for Turkish-Israeli ties to improve unless Israel apologised and paid compensation for the killing of the nine Turks. Ynet

Widespread disappointment over Sarkozy-Merkel meeting

Tuesday's meeting between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy had been hyped by people claiming that it would solve the European debt crisis. Instead, it produced nothing but vague words, according to most commentators. Der Spiegel

Switzerland continues desperate attempt to inflate the franc

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has been flooding the currency markets with huge amounts of liquidity -- 200 billion Swiss francs ($253 billion) -- in an attempt to deflate the "massively overvalued" currency. However, currency investors aren't cooperating, and they're pouring money into Swiss currency as a "safe haven" against a euro currency beset by the massive debt crisis. The result is that the Swiss franc continues to surge against the euro and the U.S. dollar. However, some people are benefiting. Swiss tourists are flooding across the border into Germany and using their expensive francs to purchase volumes of German good priced in relatively weak euros. Bloomberg and Spiegel

(Comments: For reader comments, questions and discussion, see the 18-Aug-11 World View -- Turkey backs off on threat to Syria thread of the Generational Dynamics forum. Comments may be posted anonymously.) (18-Aug-2011) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Aug-2011 18-Aug-11 World View -- Turkey backs off on threat to Syria

2,000 Egyptian troops take on al-Qaeda in the Sinai

Turkey backs off on threat to Syria

Hamas deeply embarrassed by Syria's assault on Palestinians

Syria threatens family members of Syrian-Americans

Israel firm on not apologizing to Turkey

Widespread disappointment over Sarkozy-Merkel meeting

Switzerland continues desperate attempt to inflate the franc

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Aug-2011
18-Aug-11 World View -- Turkey backs off on threat to Syria