Turki al-Faisal and US performance. - Kiracofe

 "a catastrophic political failure (for the U.S.A.)" Anna Missed, 1. This is what those of us opposed to the Bush policy were saying in 2002. But Washington wants to listen to "pro-Israel" advice and conduct "pro-Israel" foreign policy. My own view is that it will have to get considerably more catastrophic around the world to get a minimal debate going in the US on the real problem of pro-Israel influence in the US. And it is, perhaps, too late for that anyways. 2. Prince Turki's speech to diplomats in Riyadh seems to be almost screened out of US media. Here is a report in extenso from Agence France Presse: "RIYADH (AFP) – An "inept" United States cannot fix Afghanistan's problems and should simply focus on "chasing the terrorists" there, former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal said on Saturday. The ex-ambassador to the United States also challenged Washington to produce results in just-started Middle East peace talks, and accused US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of undermining efforts to make the region nuclear-free. In a speech in Riyadh before diplomats, Turki said US-led NATO troops had irrevocably alienated the Afghan people and had no hope of rebuilding the country. "What Afghanistan needs now is a shift from nation-building to effectively countering terrorists," Turki told the Arab News conference. US President Barack Obama "should not be misdirected into believing that he can fix Afghanistan's ills by military means."

 "Hunt down the terrorists on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border, arrest them or kill them, and get out, and let the Afghan people deal with their problems. "As long as GI boots remain on Afghan soil, they remain targets of resistance for the Afghan people and ideological mercenaries." Turki, who has long served a central role in Saudi-Afghan relations, scolded Washington's handling of relations with Kabul. "The inept way in which this administration has dealt with President (Hamid) Karzai beggars disbelief and amazement. "Both sides are now filled with resentment and a sour taste in their mouths," he said. "How can they both get out of that situation? I don't know." The chairman of the King Faisal Center For Research and Islamic Studies, Turki has no official position but is believed to often reflect high level thinking in the Saudi government. He is the brother of Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, and analysts speculate he could become foreign minister when Saud retires. Turki said Arab states have given Washington four months to show progress in US-guided Palestinian-Israeli peace talks. "The Arab world has given Obama until September to get things done," said Turki. "It is not enough to talk the talk. He has to walk the walk. "If he does not succeed... then I (will) ask President Obama to do the morally decent gesture and recognise the Palestinian state that he so ardently wishes to exist. "He can then pack up and leave us in peace and let the Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese negotiate directly with the Israelis. No more platitudes and good wishes and visions, please." Turki also faulted the US and European approach in trying to halt Iran's alleged efforts to build a nuclear weapon. "The discussions on Iran's nuclear ambitions started off on the wrong foot. The carrot and stick approach does not work," he said. For one, he said, the US and Europe have had double-standards in dealing with Iran on the one hand, and other nuclear countries on the other. "You cannot ask Iran to play on one level while you allow Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea to play on other levels." Turki said a successful strategy toward Iran requires even-handedness, a "universal nuclear security umbrella" for the countries in the area, and "a good military option" against any regional country which does not cooperate. He said Clinton had undermined efforts to move toward a regional nuclear-free zone, after the UN Security Council's five permanent members recently expressed support for the idea. "Alas... Clinton then voided the issue of its value by stating that the conditions do not yet exist for establishing the zone," he said. "Why, then, did she join the other members of the P5 in issuing their statement?" Turki said he hoped Obama "will find the way to correct his secretary of state's nullification of making our area free of weapons of mass destruction." Turki also warned of rising violence in Iraq after the pullout of US troops next year, warning both internal and external groups seek to carve up the country. "Imagine what will happen once internal strife and fighting escalates" following the US pullout, he said. Without a UN Security Council effort to protect Iraq's current borders, the consequence could be "regional conflict on a scale not seen since the Ottoman-Safavid wars of the 17th and 18th centuries," he warned.

http://www.kfcris.com/index_en.php?page=e-home

 3. Anyone notice the Russian leader's visit to Syria?...or Turkey's new Hawk missile installations said to be readied against Israeli or other violations of its airspace???  Clifford Kiracofe

Comments

[n m salamon]

Opec has spoken:
1., The USA Notion to sidetrack the NPT review into Iran bashing is DOA!

2., The notion that Israel's A Weapopns can be forever "hidden" by USA/satrap indukgences is DOA!

3., The USA notion that P/I the peace process can go on forever without results is DOA!

4., The USA is fast running out of "moderates" in ME land.

5., the Likud leadership has been just awarded another headache!

The language of Prince Turki this time is far more strident than it was last time while pondering the USA position vis-a-vis Israel/Palestine.

I wonder if Mr Obama has Ear to Hear, else he is completely enslaved by AIPAC!

[Lysander]

Turki has always been a dove WRT Iran. I don't know to what degree he represents the whole royal family. In my understanding, Bandar is much more willing to challenge Iran and accommodate Israel. Is the intra-family debate over, or still ongoing? Is there a succession power struggle of some sort? Is the US backing Bandar? Does Iran have any reach in KSA to back Turki? Any insight Col Lang has on this that he can share would be much appreciated.

Any kind of Saudi-Iranian detent (I'm not saying there will be one) would change the Mideast equation dramatically.

[JMH]

If Israel violates Turkish airspace the other NATO countries have a clause five responsibility to support Turkey in its defense. No?

[n m salamon]

interview at: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100516-700200.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAsia

[WILL]

Arnold Evans makes the point that the Irak surge was accompanied by a tandem detente with Iran. This factor facilitated the surge's success.

Now BHO seems to want our military to swim against the current by roiling Iran. A surge in AfPak while escalating tensions w/ Iran via tighter sanctions. The rationale for increased sanctions being "[t]he US is trying to carve out a separate group of NPT non-weapons states that, because they are not politically cooperative with the US, must accept greater limits on their access to technology."

At the same time the U.S. has killed the Arab states MidEast Nuke Free Zone saying the "time is not ripe." (Israel does not approve of it.)

Iran could have made life hell during the Irak surge. It surely will do so in Afghanistan in retaliation for sanctions. BHO and Clinton, the woman, are such fools.

[Brian Hart]

First does Israel need to fly into Turkish airspace to get to Iran if they can fly through Iraq in the late Fall?

Second when he refers to a "universal nuclear umbrella" what does he mean?

Third a clever and conniving man like him certainly knows that the US would never get Israel to give up its nukes even if we were willing to ask. So what is he setting the stage for? Is Saudi Arabia going to take delivery on the nukes they financed from Pakistan as the logical counter to a nuclear Iran and Israel?

[n m salamon]

Brian:

Is it possible that Prince Turki's comment is an attempt to side-track any and all war-type issues. After qall any shooting war might have extremely detrimental effect on Saudi Arabia and any US satraps in the Gulf.

Appears that President Lula and Turkey have managed to get the Iranian chess game going again, leaving President Obama between the rock and the hard place.

The international community of 130+ [excluding USA and satraps] are already on Iran's side.

[ServingPatriot]

@Brian Hart,

I think you are much closer to the real score than any politician "strategist" in Washington DC is willing to admit. The day Iran is clearly a nuclear weapon state is the day the Kingdom unveils its own arsenal.

But I think Iran is heading towards a policy of deliberate ambiguity like their former Israeli allies. Much easier for them that way.

SP