Posted on 11/15/2003 11:12:14 AM PST by Destro
15 Nov 2003 12:18:33 GMT
Turkey sees "international links" in blasts
(Combines SECURITY-TURKEY-GUL and SECURITY-TURKEY-SUICIDE, adds Erdogan, Sezer)
ISTANBUL, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said he believed there were "international links" in two bomb attacks which ripped through two synagogues in Istanbul on Saturday killing at least 16 people.
Gul also said in televised remarks he believed that suicide attackers were behind the blasts, which struck as worshippers were celebrating the Jewish sabbath.
"It is clear that this is a terrorist event with international links," Gul said.
"These attacks will have no effect on our policies. We will continue our struggle with strong determination against terror."
Predominantly Muslim Turkey is a key NATO ally of the United States and offered to send troops to help secure neighbouring Iraq, though it later abandoned the plan due to strong opposition from Iraq's U.S.-appointed Governing Council.
Turkey also has warm diplomatic and military relations with Israel. The Jewish state swiftly condemned the "criminal terror attacks" in Istanbul.
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, speaking to reporters during a visit to the Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, vowed to avenge the attacks.
"I condemn this act as an act of terror against humanity," Erdogan told reporters on an official visit to northern Cyprus.
"Whatever necessary steps need to be taken...will be taken."
Erdogan said he would fly direct to Istanbul later on Saturday rather than returning to the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer issued a statement in Ankara condemning the bomb blasts.
"In a period when we most need peace and tranquillity I strongly condemn these ugly attacks targeting innocent people," Sezer said.
Wall Street Journal Europe: Al Qaeda's Balkan Links
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, speaking to reporters during a visit to the Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus
The Italian newspaper "Repubblica": Newspaper links Al Qaeda to occupied territory in Cyprus "The kingdom of 'Al Qaeda' is in Cyprus"
Sources please.
. 'Bin Laden is a product of the U.S. spy agencies, according to an article in the Tribune de Genève by Richard Labévière, writer of the book Les dollars de la terreur, les États Unis et les islamistes.
The first contact with Bin Laden was in 1979, when the new graduate from the Univ. of Jedah got in touch with the U.S. embassy in Ankara, Turkey. With the help of the CIA and the U.S. Armed Forces intelligence services he began to organize in the early 1980s and network to raise money and to recruit fighters for the Afghan mujahidins that were fighting the Soviets. He did this from the city of Peshawar in Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan.
Part of these activities were financed with the production and sale of morphine, the base of heroin. This was the beginning of today Al Qaida (the base) network led by Bin Laden. Indeed the chickens are coming home to roost for the CIA and U.S. bosses.
What struggle? You people don't lift a finger to help any one fight terrorism. The majority of your population supports terrorism.
They're already lighting off bombs and you done nothing. They love your type.
Thanks for the help Signed the USA
I'll take a look. In the meantime. . .
Turkey also has warm diplomatic and military relations with Israel. The Jewish state swiftly condemned the "criminal terror attacks" in Istanbul.
Does anyone believe that Israel will play any BS games?
According to the Jerusalem Post,
"Israel tied the deadly attacks to anti-Semitic incitement in the Arab world and the recent anti-Semitic and virulently anti-Israeli statements heard in Europe."
The Post quotes Israelis,
"Prime Minister Ariel Sharon expressed 'shock and outrage' at the attacks and sent Israel's condolences to the Turkish people, and said he had full confidence in the ability of the Turkish authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
"'The government has unreserved faith that the organs of security and justice in Turkey will know how the apprehend those responsible for this despicable act,' he said in a statement.
"Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom issued a statement saying the attacks 'must be seen within the context of the recent spate of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish incitement in the Arab world, as well as in light of the recent anti Israel and anti-Semitic remarks heard in certain European cities in recent months.'" [end excerpt]
Speaking of anti-Semitic rantings the Jerusalem Post reported a few days ago, Nov. 11, 2003, "Greek composer adds voice to anti-Semitic chorus," by Herb Keinon
"Greek composer and cultural icon Mikis Theodorakis added his contribution to the anti-Semitic miasma rising in parts of the world by characterizing the Jews as the root of the world's evils. . . . "
So OBL made contact with the U.S. Embassy while in Ankara. What's that got to do with the secular government of the Republic of Turkey? Lee Harvey Oswald contacted foreign embassies while in Mexico City. It would never occur to me to say that Mexico was behind the assassination of JFK. But thanks for the links!
By the way-number of al-Qaeda linked attacks in Greece on Jews? ZERO. Was there not an Muslim bomb attack in Turkey in 1986? Killed a score of people then too.
Turkey may be secular but has no problem in making alliances with those that it thinks will further objectives. Thus the result of letting Turkey serve as a gateway into the Caucuses and into the Balkans and into the Middle East for al-Qaeda comes boomeranging back.
Turkey is know for selling her services to the highest bidder.
Monday, 22-Sep-2003 7:29AM PDT
ISTANBUL, Sept 22 (AFP) - A Turkish court on Monday acquitted 11 defendants suspected of having links with the al-Qaeda terror network and Afghanistan's former Taliban regime, under provisions of newly adopted EU-linked reforms, the Anatolia news agency reported.
The suspects, who were charged with terrorist offences, were said to be senior members in Turkey of the Beyiat el-Imam (Union of Imams), an organization set up to fight the monarchy in Jordan in 1993, according to the indictment.
But the Istanbul court acquitted them under a legal amendment approved by parliament in July that specifies that terrorist acts involve force or violence.
The court ruled that the defendants had not carried out any acts or activities in Turkey, let alone any that involved force and violence.
According to the indictment, the Beyiat el-Imam group has close links with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Its members allegedly received military and political training in Taliban-run camps in Afghanistan.
The indictment also alleged that other group members had used Turkey as a transit route on their way to Israel to carry out suicide bombing attacks.
han/fc/ns
Turkey-trial-alQaeda
If you hate Turkey just say so. You may have good reasons for you hatred. I am not particularly fond of Russia.
Re: " Turkey is know for selling her services to the highest bidder."
Only within its own borders and among themselves are there bribes. You don't know anything about modern Turkey's pride in its Republic if you think otherwise.
Again, thanks for the links. I am interested in the take on Chechen rebels today now that their connections are known by all.
I will continue to rely upon my time spent in Ankara and the many Turks I worked with here and in Ankara to judge them. They are first class people and are NOT radical Islamists. Of course, some in the country are but I bet we have more radical Islamists than they do.
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