ISRAEL AND TURKEY JOIN FORCES VS. AL QAEDA

New York Post ^ | 1/10/2003 | URI DAN

[a_Turk]

JERUSALEM - Israel's chief intelligence agency, the Mossad, is now working with Turkey to track down al Qaeda agents in the region.

The extraordinary alliance between security officials in Muslim Turkey and the Jewish state shows how seriously the world's intelligence agencies are taking the continuing threat from Osama bin Laden (news - web sites)'s terror network.

Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, confirmed the ties to Mossad in a recent interview with Israeli TV.

Erdogan admitted Turkey had misread the al Qaeda threat before homicide bombers struck twice in Istanbul last November.

"That's the nature of terrorism," he said. "It is toying with the different intelligence agencies around the world."

The bombers first attacked two synagogues and then, less than a week later, bombed the British consulate and an HSBC bank.

"What hurt me deeply," said Erdogan, a proud Muslim, "is that the attacks on the synagogues took place during the prayers of innocent people."

Turkey quickly launched a massive hunt for the bombers' accomplices.

Sources said one of the arrested suspects admitted: "We wanted to attack American targets in Ankara and Istanbul. But they're so tightly guarded even birds can't fly over them."

So, he said, the terrorists chose the second-best targets. More than 50 people were killed and more than 300 wounded in the bombings. Another man, a major suspect in the attacks, was arrested within two weeks of the bombings when he tried to flee to Iran with false ID.

But still safe and in hiding is the mastermind of the attacks, a Jordanian named Abu Musab al-Zarkawi, according to the Turkish newspaper Huriyet.

[a_Turk]

Hi all..

I've been really busy with life and have therefore been unable to keep in touch. I hope you still keep pinging me with interesting thoughts and articles though, and can forgive my extended periods of quiet :)

[FormerACLUmember]

Turkey faces a crossroads: Medieval IslamoFascism vs Western industrialism.

May they chose wisely.

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[a_Turk]

>> Turkey faces a crossroads: Medieval IslamoFascism vs Western industrialism.

Uh, I'm speachless..

[McGavin999]

a Jordanian named Abu Musab al-Zarkawi

I hope they get this guy, he's a real bad one.

Glad to see the Turks are working with Israel, between the two of them they should be able to track these guys down pretty quick.

[freedom44]

But i thought all Muslims are Evil, and want to destroy Israel.

Don't they all wear burqas live in hut homes and burn Israeli and US flags?

Are there TVS and roads in Turkey?

;)

[Mr. Silverback]

ISRAEL AND TURKEY JOIN FORCES

In other news, Hell is frozen over.

No slam meant against Turkey there, I'm just really shocked! Turkey always belonged in NATO a lot more than the French ever did.

[Valin]

Good to see you back.

In spite of the cost of living, it's still popular.

[Valin]

Turkey always belonged in NATO a lot more than the French ever did.

Could we please set the bar a bit higher?



Thank you

[Cindy]

Good deal a Turk.

[Consort]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks for posting that. The Turks and Israelis have conducted joint manuevers for years, and Israel has trans-shipped US arms the Turks can't directly buy from the US due to US domestic politics (more Greek-Americans than Turkish-Americans).

Has the project to build an undersea freshwater line from Turkey to Cyprus (and possibly other places, such as Israel) been abandoned?

[eleni121]

Turkey faces a crossroads: Medieval IslamoFascism vs Western industrialism

Muslims cannot choose wisely until they abandon their cult

[Dog Gone]

Teaming up with the Mossad is a wise move.

[aristotleman]

Hey a_Turk, good to have you back. I spent some time in the homeland, so I've been out of the loop as well. Had some very interesting discussions with Turkish-Cypriots and ate some really good ekmek kaddaif.

[Mr. Silverback]

Good point.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"But i thought all Muslims are Evil, and want to destroy Israel.

Don't they all wear burqas live in hut homes and burn Israeli and US flags?

Are there TVS and roads in Turkey?

;)"

LOL