http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/turkey/ en-us Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:07:25 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419463/posts ... [M]eet Umar Abdulmutallab’s lawyer, Miriam Siefer, whose salary you are paying. [...] During the Detroit terror cell case, she represented Karim Koubriti, an Islamic terrorist in a cell, which plotted to blow up the U.S. Air Force Base in Turkey, where U.S. AWACS and Israeli F-16s are based and from where they took off. They also plotted to blow up hotels and casinos in Las Vegas and planned to detonate in Disneyland. During the course of her “representation” of terrorist Koubriti, Siefer and her fellow public defender, Richard Helfrick a/k/a Rick Helfrick (who will probably also assist her in... DebbieSchlussel.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419463/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 14:07:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419374/posts There's good news and bad news for 2010. The good news is that there is a real hero of freedom in Iraq: a member of the Iraqi parliament named Mithal al-Alusi. In the Iraq war, one thing most Americans have wondered about is who really stands for the people and who, if anybody, still harbors those glowing embers of freedom that ultimately overthrew Soviet totalitarianism. (That's the one our kids don't learn about in school anymore because it might make America look good.) Is it really true that Iraqis wanted their freedom after three decades of Saddam Hussein's brutal fascism?... American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419374/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 07:01:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419305/posts A Swedish citizen was sentenced to 10 month’s prison by a Turkish court on New Year’s Eve on charges of spreading Kurdish propaganda on behalf of a prohibited political party. Ramazan Kizil was tried by a Turkish court on Christmas Eve for spreading propaganda in Kurdish on behalf of a prohibited political party at a political rally in Turkey. The court found Kizil guilty and sentenced to 10 month’s prison in ruling issued on New Year’s Eve. Kizil, who returned to Sweden after last week's court proceedings, will be arrested if he enters Turkey again, news agency TT reports. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419305/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 02:42:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418684/posts Top officials in Turkey say the country is considering requesting the return of St Nicholas's remains from Italy so they may be placed at a museum to be built at his birthplace. St Nicholas, from whom the story of Santa Claus emerged, was born and served as a bishop of what is now the Turkish Mediterranean town of Demre, in the 4th century AD. He was buried there, but his bones were later taken to the southern Italian town of Bari. Turkish Culture Minister Ertugrul Gunay told the Anatolia news agency that Turkey was planning to build a museum in... Daily Express (U.K.) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418684/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:57:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413613/posts ROME, DEC. 20, 2009 (Zenit.org).- It’s been another difficult year for Christians in Turkey and it is finishing just as it began, with problems. Early in December, three Muslims entered the Meryem Ana Church, a Syriac Orthodox church in Diyarbakir, and confronted the Reverend Yusuf Akbulut, according to a Dec. 15 report by Compass Direct News, an agency specializing in reporting on religious persecution. They told the priest that that unless the bell tower was destroyed in one week, they would kill him. The Muslims were apparently acting in reaction to the recent referendum in Switzerland, which banned the... Zenit http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2413613/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:58:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411034/posts Iran has helped Hizbullah form an operational network for attacks on Western targets, officials said. The officials said the Hizbullah priority was to strike Israeli and U.S. interests in Turkey. "Hizbullah established an operational cell in Istanbul that included members of Iran's IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]," an official said. Officials said Hizbullah organized a safe house and formed a front company in Istanbul. They said IRGC helped Hizbullah set up a tourist agency that would enable Iranian agents to easily enter Turkey. In mid-2009, officials said, Turkey foiled a Hizbullah strike on an Israeli target. Officials said the attack,... Geostrategy-Direct http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2411034/posts#comment Sat, 19 Dec 2009 10:13:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361724/posts PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL---Our news partners at the Sun Sentinel report: U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, who represents Broward and Palm Beach counties, plans to resign from Congress. He plans to announce his plans at a news conference Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Boca Raton. A Democratic source with knowledge of Wexler's plans said he is likely to take a public policy job that deals with the Middle East. Wexler, a senior member of the House Foreign Relations Committee, has long been involved in issues involving Israel and Turkey. Reported by: Sun-Sentinel http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2361724/posts#comment Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:48:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410055/posts A woman who fled Iran after alleging that she had been raped in detention during its post-election upheaval has reported being physically attacked by Iranian agents while seeking refuge in Turkey. Maryam Sabri, 21, says she was knocked to the ground, then kicked and punched by two men who approached her from behind. She suffered bruising to her legs and back and was robbed of her mobile phone. ... Sabri has reported the assault to the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) and requested she be moved to another location. She fears she was targeted in revenge for her allegations... The Guardian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2410055/posts#comment Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:41:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408365/posts The newly re-elected president of Abkhazia, an unrecognized breakaway region of Georgia, Sergei Bagapsh will pay a visit to Turkey soon, citing the need to reach out to members of the Abkhaz diaspora currently living in the country. At a press conference following his landslide victory in the Abkhaz presidential elections, which Georgia labeled an “immoral comedy,” Bagapsh said he plans to make an informal trip to Turkey very soon. “I will have informal meetings with Turkish officials,” Bagapsh said. Abkhazia has been a battleground for Russia since the August 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over the disputed region... zaman.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2408365/posts#comment Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:38:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407243/posts TurkeyÂ’s political elite is obsessed with joining the European Union. But senior players in the EU – in a rare moment of clarity amid their delusional fantasies of a federal Europe – are reluctant to let in a country which is increasingly hard to distinguish from the rest of the Islamic world. HereÂ’s a tip for Turkish campaigners for EU membership: if you want to win over Herman Van Rompuy, best not set up your headquarters in a building confiscated from your countryÂ’s oppressed Orthodox Christian minority. This how the Un:dhimmi website reports the controversy: Unbelievable but true: the headquarters... telegraph.co.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2407243/posts#comment Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:01:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406036/posts Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that Turkey would by no means let Israel misuse Turkish airspace to carry out intelligence and surveillance missions of a neighboring country, in strongly worded remarks this week. If Israel were to misuse Turkish airspace to conduct reconnaissance operations on Iran, Ankara's reaction would resemble an "earthquake," Erdogan recently said in an interview when asked about claims that Israel had used Turkey's airspace for purposes of espionage. "[Israel] will receive a response equal to that of an earthquake," Erdogan was quoted as saying by the English-language Jerusalem Post. Urging Israel's leaders to refrain... Today's Zaman http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2406036/posts#comment Sat, 12 Dec 2009 13:10:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405218/posts Iran is already a nuclear weapons power, with externally-acquired nuclear weapons. Iran's present geo-strategic position is also transformed in importance by the end of the Great Game (or at least the component of it which began with the Russo-Persian Treaty of 1813, transformed with the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907, and arguably concluded with the new Russo-Iranian understandings of the past few years). ShareThis Effective 2010, Iran is part of the Russian-dominated Central Asian energy and strategic framework, as is Turkey. In a parallel, and overlapping, dynamic, the China-Iran historical link has returned to the fore, especially given the PRC's position... Worldtribune.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2405218/posts#comment Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:35:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404866/posts Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday warned Israel not to use its airspace to attack Iran. “If Israel were to violate Turkish airspace in order to conduct reconnaissance operations on Iran, Ankara's reaction would resemble an 'earthquake',” he said during an iterview with an Egyptian newspaper. Erdogan noted that Israel has never entered Turkey’s airspace, "if it happened, the consequence would be terrible." The Turkish leader advised Israeli authorities not to use relations with Turkey “as a card to wage aggression on a third party.” According to him, Israel could not cherish hopes to participate in future joint... Al Bawaba http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404866/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:23:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404404/posts What is an Islamist foreign policy, exactly? Is it identifying with Muslims and their suffering, or is it identifying with anti-Western regimes even at the cost of Muslims' best interests? Turkey's foreign policy under the Justice and Development Party, or AKP, government demonstrates that far from protecting Muslims and their interests, it is the promotion of à la carte morals – bashing the West and supporting anti-Western regimes, even when the latter hurts Muslims. Since coming to power in 2002, the AKP has dramatically changed Turkey's foreign policy. The party has let Ankara's ties with pro-Western Azerbaijan, Georgia and Israel... Hurriyet http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2404404/posts#comment Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:58:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401808/posts Quote: NO VISA REQUIREMENT FOR TRAVEL FROM TURKEY TO JORDAN I'm pretty sure the brothers think they can use this to their advantage... Posted on 06 December 2009 @ 13:17 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2401808/posts#comment Mon, 7 Dec 2009 03:09:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2401456/posts CNA STAFF, Dec 6, 2009 / 04:47 am (CNA).- Today, December 6, the faithful commemorate a Turkish bishop in the early church who was known for generosity and love of children. Born in Lycia in Asia Minor around the late third or fourth century,  St. Nicholas of Myra is more than just the inspiration for the modern day Santa. As a young man he is said to have made a pilgrimage to Palestine and Egypt in order to study in the school of the Desert Fathers. On returning some years later he was almost immediately ordained Bishop of Myra, which... cna http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2401456/posts#comment Sun, 6 Dec 2009 13:48:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2399099/posts ANKARA: Muslims should consider withdrawing their money from Swiss bank accounts in response to the country's ban on construction of minarets, a Turkish minister said. "I am certain this (vote) will prompt our brothers from Muslim countries who keep their money and investments in Swiss banks to review their decision," said Egemen Bagis, cited by Turkish daily Zaman. Bagis is the chief negotiator for Turkey's European Union accession as well as minister for European affairs. "In 2008, when banks around the world were falling, no bank was affected in Turkey, and the door of Turkey's banking system is open to... The Economic Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2399099/posts#comment Thu, 3 Dec 2009 07:14:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398118/posts Senior Turkish military officers had made extensive plans to terrorize non-Muslims in Turkey. In the large Ergenekon[1] scandal recently a well-planned terrorist operation was revealed. The operation which is called "Kafes Operasyonu Eylem Planı", in English meaning "the execution of the cage - operation" was to eliminate the remaining small group of Christians living in Turkey today. The plan was revealed when police arrested Levent Bektas, a major in the Turkish army. The evidence seized reveals more than 27 officers and senior military officers involved in the conspiracy against Christians. In order to identify key persons among the Christians and... Assyria Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2398118/posts#comment Wed, 2 Dec 2009 02:33:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396539/posts Sgt. 1st Class David A. Holder, the non-commissioned officer in charge with the 561st Movement Control Team Detachment out of Springfield, Mo., watches a truck driver open his vehicle at the validation yard at Habur Gate on the Iraq/Turkey border, recently. Holder, a Waco, Texas, native, inspected the truck for items not on the transportation movement request before the driver could process his paperwork and wait for a convoy south into Iraq. Photo by Sgt. Ryan Twist, 13th Sustainment Command. HABUR GATE — Iraqi Security Forces, U.S. Soldiers and civilian contractors here are manning the Iraq/Turkey border to ensure the... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396539/posts#comment Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:46:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396042/posts YEREVAN -- Two leaders of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation party (Dashnaktsutyun) have criticized Russian policy toward Turkey and Azerbaijan, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports. Vahan Hovannisian, a senior Dashnaktsutyun lawyer, said that Russian policy toward the South Caucasus is "dangerous" for Armenia. Hovannisian did not elaborate on his statement. Another Dashnaktsutyun leader, Hrayr Karapetian, who heads the parliament's defense and security committee, said Russia's deepening military cooperation with Turkey and Azerbaijan runs counter to its military alliance with Armenia. Karapetian said a 2010 plan for joint military exercises signed by Azerbaijani and Russian defense ministers is "at the least, strange and... rferl.org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2396042/posts#comment Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:49:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395790/posts Elizabeth Smith says she cooked the ham the night before and asked her father-in-law to wake her up on Thanksgiving morning so she could cook the rest. But when she woke up at 7 a.m., she said, Donald "Junior" Smith was already stuffing the turkey. With celery. Elizabeth's husband, Tristan Smith, is allergic to celery. "It makes him sick," she said. She started crying. Junior yelled. Elizabeth's husband shouted at his dad for yelling at his wife. "You're not going to step in my wife's face," Tristan hollered, according to Elizabeth. St. Petersburg Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2395790/posts#comment Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:41:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2395327/posts If you're looking for something more creative than a sandwich to make with your leftover Thanksgiving turkey, this is an easy recipe that's sure to please. You can also substitute with chicken. TheCypressTimes.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2395327/posts#comment Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:15:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2395013/posts http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2395013/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:52:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394967/posts Handmade chocolates, artisanal cheeses, vintage Champagne — consumers are thinking twice about splurging on such luxurious goods during the tough economic times. But sales of at least one fancy food item have held up: gourmet turkeys that easily cost $100 or more. “It’s a hot item,” said Bill Niman, a prominent advocate for sustainable agriculture who this year jumped into the so-called heritage turkey market — older breeds of birds that had all but disappeared until championed by preservationists and foodies. He raised 2,500 birds for Thanksgiving and “sold every bird.” Mr. Niman’s turkeys were priced at $6.99 a pound.... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394967/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:35:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394838/posts If it's a turkey it belongs here. Have at it! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving. :0) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2394838/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:35:05 GMT