Report: Synagogue bombers were Iran-linked Turks

Two Turkish men, including one who traveled several times to Iran for bomb training, have been identified as the drivers of the explosives-laden pickup trucks that exploded outside two synagogues here, a Turkish TV report said Monday.

"The identities of the bodies have not been determined yet," Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

"These investigations cannot be done publicly. They have to be done in great secrecy, otherwise no result will be achieved," he said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said DNA tests on the suspected drivers, which could establish identities or at least nationalities, were expected to be ready on Tuesday.

With the retrieval of a body Monday in one of the synagogues, the death toll in the two attacks Saturday rose to 24, including the two suicide attackers, authorities said.

"DNA tests are continuing. The final report has not reached us yet. I think it will be finalized tomorrow," the prime minister told reporters, adding: "Things will be clearer with test results."

Earlier Turkish news reports said police had been questioning a Turk believed to be the brother of one of the drivers.

The man questioned was brought to Istanbul from southeastern Turkey for questioning because one of the pickups had been purchased using documentation belonging to him.

NTV said DNA testing on the suspected suicide driver's remains and on the brother indicated they were related, helping to identify the driver as a Turk.

NTV, without citing sources, said the driver had traveled six times to Iran for bomb training. He was suspected, along with the other suicide driver, of having links with the al-Qaida terrorist network, NTV said.

Earlier the same TV station had reported that police found pieces of a Turkish passport and a Pakistani passport that were believed to belong to the attackers.

NTV did not explain why it said both drivers were Turks even though one of them purportedly had a Pakistani passport.

Two Arabic-language newspapers received separate statements Sunday claiming Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network was responsible for the synagogue attacks.

Just a "coinkydink"

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November 12, 2003

Iran deemed as leading threat to Turkey
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1020325/posts

Turkey has deemed Iran as a leading military threat and a key element in Ankara's defense procurement policy.

Turkish officials said the classification was determined in a review by the Turkish General Staff and Defense Ministry in planning defense procurement for 2004. The officials said the policy would seek to increase Turkish capabilities in air and missile defense as well as airborne surveillance.

Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul outlined Turkey's defense policy in an address to parliament's Budget Committee. Gonul told the panel on Tuesday that Iran has become a threat to Turkey.

The minister cited Iran's efforts to export what he termed the Islamic revolution to such countries as Armenia and Azerbaijan. Gonul said Iran has tried to undermine Turkey's efforts to improve relations with the two Central Asian states.
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Maybe we need to start a "Caucasus Oil War Ping List." Iran looks like it wants to play the game with its' proxies and dupes.

Iran looks like it wants to play the game with its' proxies and dupes.

Iran had better be careful what she wishes for. We can do proxy war all day long. Half of Iran is Baluchi, half of it is Azeri, half of it is Arab. Subtract all those halves and it doesn't leave much. Oh, and don't forget the Iranian Kurds. I think that leaves Tehran and its suburbs in Persian hands, if they want to push this thing.

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