FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Have you ever thought why no mainstream media reports on the "Occupy Wall Street" protests, which is in its 6th day ?????

Updated 27 September 2011  

with a link to
http://rt.com/news/wall-street-protest-arrests-331/

which confirms my question

PALESTINE

Telling The UN Six Home Truths
Article by David Singer, Analyst for "International Analyst Network".
Article Republished with the permission of the Author.  ISRAEL’S Prime Minister - BENJAMIN NETANYAHU - has announced his intention to address the UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY in NEW YORK this week in connection with the proposed application by the PLO for recognition of a PALESTINIAN ARAB STATE along the 1949 armistice lines. The terms of the proposed resolution remain a closely guarded secret. There still appears to be disagreement between PALESTINIAN ARAB leaders as to its final terms. However notwithstanding such uncertainty Mr. NETANYAHU announced at a press conference with visiting CZECH Prime Minister PETR NEČAS, that he will at the UNITED NATIONS         "Speak the truth to those who want to hear it" There are at least six basic truths that need to be conveyed to the delegates of the 193 member states present who are charged with voting on any proposed resolution: 1.    Mr. NETANYAHU needs to repeat the following statement he made to the UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY on 11 December 1984 :      “Clearly, in EASTERN and WESTERN PALESTINE, there are only two peoples, the ARABS and the JEWS. Just as clearly, there are only two states in that area, JORDAN and ISRAEL. The ARAB STATE of JORDAN, containing some three million ARABS, does not allow a single JEW to live there. It also contains 4/5 of the territory originally allocated by this body’s predecessor, the League of Nations, for the JEWISH NATIONAL Home. The other State, ISRAEL, has a population of over four million, of which one sixth is ARAB. It contains less than 1/5 of the territory originally allocated to the Jews under the Mandate…. It cannot be said, therefore, that the Arabs of PALESTINE are lacking a state of their own. The demand for a second PALESTINIAN ARAB State in WESTERN PALESTINE, and a 22ND ARAB STATE in the world, is merely the latest attempt to push ISRAEL back into the hopelessly vulnerable armistice lines of 1949.” This still remains the strategy behind the current PLO application to the UN. The PALESTINIAN ARABS could have had their State in more than 90% of the territory situated within the 1949 armistice lines had they accepted either of the offers made by ISRAEL in 2001 or 2008. They want 100% to deny ISRAEL the security it needs - as was  recognized by the UN in Resolution 242 This message needs to be repeated - especially for the 34 member States who were not members of the UN when Mr. NETANYAHU made this speech. 2.    The view often expressed in the UN that JEWISH settlements in the WEST BANK are illegal in international law ignores the fact that close settlement by Jews on West Bank land, including State lands and waste lands not required for public purposes was to be encouraged and is legally sanctioned by the Treaty of Sevres, article 6 of the Mandate for PALESTINE and article 80 of the UN Charter. Denying this vested legal right by unilaterally passing a resolution that seeks to negate the exercise of that right breaches article 80 of the UN Charter and is a denial of natural justice. 3.     Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 are the only legally enforceable resolutions of the UNITED NATIONS binding on all parties to the JEWISH- ARAB conflict. These resolutions call for secure and recognized boundaries to be determined by the parties to the conflict. This can only be done in negotiations and not imposed unilaterally by any decision of either the General Assembly or the Security Council unless both Resolutions are repealed or amended. To do otherwise will bring the UNITED NATIONS into disrepute, cause it to lose its authority and render its future rulings and decisions without force or effect. 4.    The 1947 UN Partition Plan called for the establishment of a JEWISH STATE and an ARAB STATE in the balance of the area of the BRITISH MANDATE still controlled by GREAT BRITAIN in 1947 - after 77% of the Mandated territory had been granted independence by GREAT BRITAIN in 1946 as an exclusively ARAB state and was renamed the HASHEMITE KINGDOM of TRANSJORDAN. The ARAB rejection of the UN partition proposal and the failure by the ARABS to create such a State between 1947-1967 must require the General Assembly to stipulate that recognition of any ARAB state in 2011 is conditional upon recognition of ISRAEL as the JEWISH state in the balance of the land contained in the 1947 Partition Plan. 5.    The PLO Charter - article 2  - declares that PALESTINE within the boundaries it had during the BRITISH MANDATE is one indivisible territorial unit.  Until this clause is unequivocally and irrevocably deleted  from the Charter - the UN should not consider any application for recognition made by the PLO. 6,    The MONTEVIDEO CONVENTION 1933 prevents any consideration of the current application - since the proposed state does not fulfill the requirements of the Convention setting out the conditions for a State to possess before it can make a declaration of statehood and then seek to be recognized.  The UN should be seeking to enforce international law not subvert it. The UN has learned from bitter experience in 1947 what can happen when the General Assembly proposes a solution to the JEWISH-ARAB conflict which one party accepts and  the other party rejects. Hopefully history will not be repeated in 2011. This will depend to a great degree on the final wording of any resolution. If it is not acceptable to both parties then violence and bloodshed is sure to follow. The UN really needs to decide whether international law or the law of the jungle is to prevail. Mr. NETANYAHU said in his press conference that the General Assembly is not "the place where Israel generally gets a reasonable hearing," but it was nonetheless important to present ISRAEL'S position. The real question is - will anyone be listening or have they already made up their minds?

Middle East Energy Wars

NATURAL RESOURCE EXPLORATION, A WELCOME EXCUSE FOR WARMONGERING?

FROM NORTH TO SOUTH, WEST TO EAST…… 

SINO - INDIA

Geo-strategically speaking we are currently facing potential “NATURAL RESOURCE CONFLICT ZONES” in the MIDDLE EAST, the SOUTHERN CONE (ARGENTINA, UNITED KINGDOM) and last but not least, the FAR EAST, SINO- INDIA. 

The later emerged when INDIA decided to push its “LOOK EAST” policy and ventured out into the SOUTH CHINA SEA, a move which has change the SINO – INDIA geostrategic rivalry once and for all. The visit of an INDIAN naval ship in VIETNAM, as part of a good will visit, annoyed CHINA but was kept at low profile. This time around though, the quarrel is far more serious and has to do with exploration projects by INDIAN state – owned OIL AND NATURAL GAS CORPORATION (ONGC VIDESH Ltd) in two offshore blocks that VIETNAM claims. 

CHINA responded by issuing a statement which clearly objected oil and gas exploration in water which CHINA claims as part of its jurisdiction. INDIA on the other hand responded by stating that its cooperation with VIETNAM is in accordance with international laws, norms and conventions. 

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sino-Indian_War

INDIA clearly is eager to engage further with VIETNAM on economic issues and cooperation’s in order to obtain a slice of the booming economic “cake” of the region.

CYPRUS, GREECE, ISRAEL, RUSSIA versus TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA 

On the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN natural resource dispute which involves TURKEY, ISRAEL, GREECE AND CYPRUS, RUSSIA sent two nuclear powered submarines to patrol EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN water around CYPRUS to enforce the islands right to explore oil and gas in its territorial waters.     

Global warmongering surrounding the quest for natural resource seems to gain momentum and comes also as welcome distraction from the current financial crises the USA and EUROPE are facing.

BALKAN NATURAL RESOURCES

Last but not least we should not forget about the vast amount of natural resources available in KOSOVO and BOSNIA, including possible oil and gas reserves. The only reason oil and gas exploration in these parts of the BALKANS have not taken up momentum is the unstable economic and political situation and the worry by the international community of the consequences such findings would trigger in such versatile and ethnic environment.       

See:  http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/09/mission-impossible-quest-for-natural.html

        http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/08/bosnia-cursed-by-european-union-eu.html

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – QUEST FOR NATURAL RESOURCES

THE “ORTHODOX” CONNECTION

Aside of the US, EU eco - financial crises, which is about to reshuffle the geopolitical landscape profoundly in  the not too distant future, there seems to be increase in activities around the globe in search for natural resource, which trigger tension between countries that usually live in peaceful coexistence.  

The current dispute between TURKEY and ISRAEL in reality is about gas and possible oil extraction in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN. What is interesting in this dispute is the constellation of the key players. On the one hand there is CYPRUS and GREECE who have strong ties to RUSSIA, not on only because of their common CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX faith, but also because of economic ties. 

ISRAEL on the other hand has a large number of RUSSIAN immigrants, which subsequently lead to stronger economic ties with RUSSIA. Subsequently ISRAEL and CYPRUS agreed to cooperate in gas and oil exploration activities which angered TURKEY that increasingly strengthens its ties with ARAB countries such as oil giant, SAUDI ARABIA which is facing its own share of problems when it comes to natural resources, namely that of water, or for the  lack of it.   

SAUDI ARABIA’S water needs are eating into oil wealth. See http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/09/us-saudi-water-idUSTRE7885ZX20110909.

WATER, GOLD OF THE FUTURE

Thus growing demand for water in the region could trigger further tension in an already fragile political environment. Not so long ago TURKEY and SYRIA were at the brink of war because of a water dispute over the Tigris and Euphrates River water distribution.  The pending GOLAN HEIGHT (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golan_heights ) dispute between SYRIA and ISRAEL is not only about strategic advantages but to a large extend about water. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Galilee

 

Looking at all these aspects and the current natural resource dispute in the region it becomes imminent that TURKEY wants to increase its stakes in the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN and maybe even provide SAUDI ARABIA with water from the Tigris and Euphrates River http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphrates, which could cause a further rift between SYRIA and TURKEY.   

Oil and Gas findings in the Eastern Mediterranean basin, water shortage in the entire region and  complex geopolitical constellations of TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA,  and other  SUNNI ARAB STATES  on the one side and  GREECE, CYPRUS, ISRAEL and in a supportive role RUSSIA and CHINA, on the other side, with the USA and EUROPE unable to mediate due to their precarious eco - political situation.

POLITICAL CHESS

The significance of the recent gas and oil findings in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin are showcased in the intense political activities between GREECE, ISRAEL, CYPRUS and RUSSIA. For the first time in decades a GREEK Defense Minister visited his Israeli counterpart to sign a Cooperation Memorandum in the security sector between GREECE and ISRAEL.

SOUTHERN CONE

Not only on the northern hemisphere are natural resources disputes looming. The conflict between ARGENTINA and the UNITED KINGDOM regarding the MALVINAS (Falklands) Islands is about to take up momentum after oil exploration along the eastern part of the southern cone indicated the possibility of large oil reserve findings, which prompted the UK to conduct drilling activities in the disputed area. This prompted ARGENTINA to step up its claim over the legitimate sovereignty of the islands.    CHINA, in response to its close economic ties with ARGENTINA immediately reiterated its position in support for ARGENTINES legitimate sovereignty claim over the MALVINAS Islands.

TURKEYS MIDDLE EAST CHESS GAME

THE TRUE REASON BEHIND TURKEYS WARMONGERING AGAINST ISRAEL 

TURKISH DÉJÀ VU , NEO OTTOMANISM

 

TURKEY cleverly utilized the ARAB SPRING for its own political agenda, namely that of expansionism and spreading its political model in order to gain greater geopolitical influence and subsequently obtain a stronger stance on the world stage. 

Under pretence of the GAZA FLOTILLA incident, ERDOGAN used the excuse to distance himself from ISRAEL in order to gain acceptance of MUSLIM countries and the ARAB LEAGUE and promote TURKEY as a model for ARAB STATES. His populist warmongering rhetoric against ISRAEL are well received among Arab states, what he neglects however to mention is the true cause of his rift with Israel, namely that of an ongoing natural resources dispute which involves GREECE, CYPRUS and ISRAEL. 

THE NATURAL RESOURCES CHESS GAME IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN BASIN  

(See CYPRUS conflict http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus)

As mentioned in my previous article posted Friday the 9^th of September on this blog,  ISRAEL and CYPRUS, in a joint venture,   are about to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of CYPRUS’S and ISRAEL’S economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean, which TURKEY claims a share of.

By using warmongering rhetoric’s TURKEY not only drew attention of the ARAB world but also GREECE, its  archenemy and close ally of CYPRUS who responded equally harsh by threatening with war if TURKEY hinders CYPRUS’S gas exploration, a calculated move of GREECE to distract from its looming default, a tactic which has proven a success in recent past under Thatcher’s government in order to distract from the problem the government faced in the UK and subsequently led to the MALVINAS (Falklands) war with ARGENTINA and a political resurrection for Thatcher. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War)

CYPRUS MAIL Newspaper Article

http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/turkey-watchful-oil-rig-moved-position/20110916

DRAWING SYMPATHY FROM ARAB COUNTRIES

 

CYPRUS only recently reiterated that it will not halt exploration activities despite warnings from TURKEY who obviously does not want to miss out on the prospects of huge oil and gas extraction in the EASTER MEDITERRANEAN basin. Due to the geographic position of these fields it becomes imminent that TURKEY needs ARAB countries as allies in order to isolate CYPRUS and ISRAEL. Thus it also becomes evident why ERODGAN emphasized Israel’s so-called increased isolation in the region during his “public relation trip” in ARAB MIDDLE EAST countries and at the same time promoting the upcoming PALESTINE statehood bid, for it plays in TURKEY’S long-term geopolitical strategic favor.  What ERDOGAN neglects though is that ISRAEL has always been isolated in the region, despite its peace treaty with JORDAN and EGYPT. ISRAEL never was naïve to believe that it will have an everlasting peace with those two countries and subsequently has adjusted its politics and policies accordingly.   

What mainstream media also neglect to mention is that CHINA supports ISRAEL in the PALESTINE statehood issue and that Israel has signed a free trade agreement with MERCOSUR, of which BRAZIL is also part of,  (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercosur), a move that could prove to be essential, especially since MERCOSUR countries are gaining economic and political influence on the world stage.

WESTERN ARROGANCE AND IGNORANCE LED TO UNDERESTIMATE TURKEY 

Map of countries by number of active troops

On the other hand EUROPE has always underestimated TURKEY’S political wittiness in expanding its influence in the BALKAN and indeed the political world stage. Over the years TURKEY has become the 2^nd largest NATO army in EUROPE and the 8^th largest army of the world.  Despite its current warmongering tactics, TURKEY is still a close ally of the USA which on the other hand is an ally of ISRAEL.  

TACTICS – TURKEY PERMITS NATO ANTI MISSILE RADAR TO BE INSTALLED ON ITS EASTERN BORDER 

Thus ANKARA’S recent decision to permit the installation of an anti missile radar on its border as part of a defense shield against RUSSIAN and IRANIAN missile threats, indirectly provides additional security for ISRAEL. On the other hand the NATO radar site also showcases the link between the USA, TURKEY and SAUDI ARABIA in the quest to oppose IRAN, RUSSIA and to some extend CHINA.  With TURKEY permitting the NATO radar shield it covers two issues at one stroke.
One is that it maintains the support of the SUNNI ARAB states in the quest against SHIITES and at the same time satisfies the USA and its Western allies, strengthening TURKEY’S reputation among WESTERN as well as EASTERN countries, making it a key player on the political as well as economic world stage.   

Map from Wikipedia Commons
Green:  Sunni
Blue: Shiite

WARMONGERNING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND TURKEY

The prospect that Israel together with Cyprus allegedly are about to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of CYPRUS’S and ISRAEL’S economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean has infuriated Turkey to such extend that it expelled the Israeli ambassador under the pretend of the UN report on the GAZA flotilla incident which cleared Israel of any wrongdoing other then the use of excessive force. 

Israeli Cypriot energy synergies prompted TURKEY to shift its strategic force from the AEGEAN to the EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN in order to secure the freedom of navigation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Protect the territorial waters around CEYHAN, a major natural gas transportation harbor, located northeast of Cyprus by increasing its naval presence in large numbers around Cyprus, the Adriatic and Red Sea.

Thus warmongering between the two nations is increasing in order to establish dominance in the region.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku%E2%80%93Tbilisi%E2%80%93Ceyhan_pipeline

          What is interesting is that main stream media refrain from mentioning the natural resources issue Turkey has with Israel and Cyprus.

CYPRUS MAIL published an article written by Stefanos Evripidou on September 9, 2011 which showcases the true reason behind Turkeys warmongering.

See: http://www.cyprus-mail.com/eu/eu-tells-ankara-back/20110909

EVRIPIDOU wrote:

THE EUROPEAN Commission yesterday issued its strongest rebuke yet to Turkey over its threatening behaviour towards Cyprus’ efforts to drill for hydrocarbon reserves within its own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  

Unfazed, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan continued to raise the stakes in his row with Israel and Cyprus over hydrocarbon explorations in the eastern Mediterranean, vowing yesterday to stop them from exploiting natural resources in the area while also pledging to send warships to escort aid to Gaza………….. 

Argentina

Election Times Equals Crime Time

On Sunday 10 July 2011 I wrote in my article Election Times Equals Crime Time: “Mark my words”, public security debate will increase as Election Day in Argentina is getting closer.

(see:  http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/07/election-time-equals-crime-time-on.html)

And here we are, Argentine political opposition and its supporters, demoralized by their monumental defeat of last month primaries are not missing a chance to utilize the public security debate even if it means to exploit a tragic crime of an 11 year old girl which was brutally murdered under suspicious circumstances after being kidnapped for more than a week. A crime that has shocked the nation and now is being politically exploited by the opposition to question Argentine public security policies. 

As tragic as this homicide is, it has nothing to do with public security as such, and in no other parts of the world would it be politically exploited by political opposition to such extent as is the case in Argentina.

Since the crime became high profile case with large media interest it did not take long for De Social Development Union’s (UDESO) candidate for Buenos Aires province governor, Francisco De Narváez and other opposition politicians and supporters to jump onto the “bandwagon”, and quickly exploit this crime by pointing fingers and stirring the public security debate for purely political reasons and not having real solutions at hand on how to solve the so called “public insecurity”. What they forget is that Argentina is still the 2^nd safest country among 16 Latin American countries and statistically on the same level as the USA regarding public security. 

See:(http://www.buenosairesherald.com/article/77686/public-security-policies-are-a-complete-failure-de-narv%C3%A1ez-)

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate#cite_note-67

Curbing in poverty and providing social security not only to the middle class but also to the lower class is the key to success in fighting crime, something it seems  none of the opposition are willing to admit but which has worked in Europe's favor for last 60 years. 

Only 2 years ago in the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires, usually referred to as the rich neighborhood, Gated Communities with large mansions and numerous “Villas” (Slums) bordered next to each other, displaying the strong contrast between rich and poor and thus steering envy and hate which subsequently leads to crime .  Driving through the same neighborhoods nowadays, most “Villas” have disappeared and Slum inhabitants received social welfare and housing plans which enabled them to live in decency as well as giving them the opportunity to work, thus refraining in most cases from criminal activities. Something most of the political opposition in Argentina simply turn a blind eye on.

In regards to the current high profile homicide case, everything in relation to the 11 year old girl’s murder appears to be premeditated. Furthermore the family surrounding of the victim seems to be not that of a crime free environment (The father of the murdered girl is currently serving a prison sentence and the current partner of the mother has also served jail time), 

thus claiming the government to be responsible seems somewhat farfetched and exploiting such tragic event politically, only displays political immaturity.   

 The only proven way of curbing in crime is to provide economic growth and social security for everyone, something Argentina is currently successful in implementing.

BRICS support SYRIA

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) in support of Syria, as broadcast by Russian TV.

 BRICS nations support Syria one way or the other in order to create a counterbalance to USA and EU political agenda and strategies in the region and thus help the Syrian regime in most likelihood to survive the uprising, something I have mentioned all along in my previous articles on this Blog. 

“SEISMIC SHIFT” IN THE MIDDLE EAST

TURKEY...... EMERGING POWER

Since the GAZA flotilla fiasco last year, relations between TURKEY and ISRAEL have become rather chilly.  Tensions between the two countries deteriorated after TURKEY expelled Israel’s ambassador. 

Triggering the move by TURKEY was the release of the UN report on the GAZA Flotilla incident which stipulated that ISRAEL’S actions were legitimate.   

Looking closer at the current rift between TURKEY and ISRAEL, it becomes clear that TURKEY among the GAZA Flotilla incident more prominent reasons for the current “warmongering” with ISRAEL.

By distancing itself from the Jewish State it has more bargaining power among fellow Muslim countries, which eases its expansionism strategy towards the East. Assertive TURKEY over the past couple of years has been steadily increasing its influence in the BALKANS, thanks to aimless and indifferent EU strategies in the region and focuses intensely towards the East. 

Furthermore TURKEY wittily uses its economic growth to strategically invest in regions which could benefit the country. Thus it becomes imminent that TURKEY is rather annoyed about ISRAEL which has joined forces with TURKEYS arch enemies, CYPRUS and GREECE to extract gas from a 350,000 hectares gas deposits found on the border of CYPRUS’S and ISRAEL’S economic zone in the eastern Mediterranean.

TURKEY claims that hydrocarbon resources also belong to Northern CYPRUS, which has been under TURKISH occupations since 1974. According to TURKEY, CYPRUS has no right to exploit resources belonging to TURKISH CYPRIOTS and therefore threatened to intervene, for clearly the “joint venture” between ISRAEL, GREECE and CYPRUS is a hindering stone in TURKEY’S expansionism ambitions, both economically and politically. As for CYPRUS and GREECE, cooperating with ISRAEL provides a prosperous opportunity to counteract the realignment of regional powers which are currently taking place in the Middle East, with an increasingly assertive TURKEY.

The expelling of ISRAEL’S ambassador also comes precisely in September, the month in which the United Nations referendum on the recognition of a PALESTINE ARAB STATE is due for debate, an issue which is of vital interest to TURKEY and its self-imposed role as moderate Islamic power broker in the region and its stance on IRAN.

Thus a seismic shift in the region is currently underway, where new political cards are currently being reshuffled, leaving TURKEY and SAUDI ARABIA (both Sunni dominated countries) and the USA on the one side, GREECE, ISRAEL, RUSSIA and to some extend CHINA on the other side. 

Map from Wikipedia Commons
Green:  Sunni
Blue: Shiite

See also:  

http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com/2011/06/does-turkey-really-need-eu.html

http://iwpr.net/report-news/syria-becomes-focus-iranian-turkish-rivalry

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-23/turkey-boom-most-since-ataturk-lets-erdogan-take-up-masterpiece.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV92xAd274A&feature=relmfu