I am in a
bind. I cannot make up my mind who I wish would win in this confrontation. Ex KGB vs Islamist, what a choice!
In reality,
Putin’s explicit support for Iran’s nuclear program and sale of A-300 defense
systems to Iran should make this a no-brainer.
For Israel and the world Putin’s actions are much more dangerous than Erdogan’s.
Any yet, when you look at the stupidity of the Obama administration and all
other co signatories of the Iran Deal, they all share the blame. Then there is Ukraine. But here again
Putin’s policies are very much the consequence of the vacuum Obama left. Then
years ago Putin had no
intention of conquering Crimea.
Erdogan is an
Islamist who despises Israel and the West. Already at the World Economic Forum at
Davos in 2009 Erdogan showed what he stood for when he accused Israel of killings in Gaza and stormed out of the meeting after Peres quoted to Erdogan from the Hamas Charter “The day of judgement will
not come about until the Moslems kill the Jews, when the Jews will hide behind
stones” (42:07 into the video). Only two days ago Erdogan praised the
Palestinian stabbing wave against Israel. Turkey continues to support ISIS openly.
In his support for Iran Putin is making the same mistake the USSR did with the Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact of 1939. Erdogan
richly deserves to be taught a lesson, but would it not be nicer if it were to
come from a leader in the West with guts and principle? Alas, there is no such
leader. Even Israel came up with the absurd
apology to Turkey two years ago.
Or should I look at this as the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988
when the West had no desire in seeing any side win? But Russia is much stronger and the inroads Putin
has made in Syria will create real problems very soon. On the other hand, in contrast to Erdogan, Putin
has had a balanced policy towards Israel and the Jews, except in the question
of Iran going nuclear.
What a mess!
