Alignment of Forces in the Eastern Mediterranean

As if we had not enough problems with internal politics, now we are sliding into a regional confrontation initiated by Erdogan. Turkey will send troops to Libya at the request of the UN-backed government in Tripoli as soon as next month, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today.

Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) has been struggling to repel a months-long offensive by General Khalifa Haftar's eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA), which has been supported by Egypt, Jordan, Russia, the United Arab Emirates and France.

Last month, Turkey and the Tripoli-based GNA leader Fayez al-Serraj signed a defense cooperation deal and a separate one on maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean, where Turkey is locked in dispute with regional rivals Greece, Cyprus, Egypt and Israel over access to waters rich in natural gas.

All this "plonter" was caused by Hillary Clinton and Obama, who destabilized the comic-opera dictator of Lybia, Colonel Khaddafi and caused his bloody decapitation. Why did she do that? Khaddafi had dismantled his nuclear project and was doggishly obedient of his masters. Even the stupidest Neocon could have predicted the chaos that followed his exit. Americans do not learn: Jimmy Carter ordered out elected "dictator" Tachito Somoza, not a bad man and slavishly "our", causing twenty years of Sandinista chaos and civil war. 

The Van Lake Migrant Trail

This night seven people drawned and 64 were rescued when a boat carrying migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan sank in Turkey’s Lake Van. The winter weather is harsh in those parts, they must have been desperate to intend to reach Germany by that route. Europe will have to build a wall too. 

Star Wars Over Israel

"Red alert" air raid sirens sounded Wednesday night in Gaza border towns, interrupting a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

The alerts sounded while Netanyahu gave a speech at a Likud primaries conference in Ashkelon. The Prime Minister was escorted off the stage and taken immediately to a bomb shelter.

"The person who fired at us last time is not with us," Netanyahu said afterwards, adding that, "the one who fired now should start packing his belongings."

Halil Battanney (pic) appears to be the person in reference. It may be fake news, who knows why his pic appears on the internet? I do not know. We shall have to wait only a few days to know.

Kever Benjamin City (Kfar Saba, where I live) has been ranked number two among Israel wealthiest cities (Tel Aviv is number one). Apparently, we are well off. This morning I drove to Kalansuwa, a large Arab city 30 km north of Kfar Saba, and was shocked to see that the industrial area has no sewage system and the workshops have large plastic reservoirs for water, because there is no pressure in the pipes. The city is ruled by the largest and best armed clan. Elected by democratic vote, of course. Most people pay no municipal taxes (the arnona) nor water bills.  The Arabs I work with are very competent, buy as a collective they are unable to organize themselves effectively.  

Simmering Confrontation with Turkey

Turkey and Turkey dominated Lybia signed a maritime accord declaring the East Mediterranean their property (Map left below). We condemned the declaration as “illegal”, but  that doesn’t mean we are sending battleships to confront Turkey. Greece, which is a close ally of Israel and is at odds with Turkey over a host of issues, called the accord absurd because it ignored the presence of the Greek island of Crete between the coasts of Turkey and Libya. Greece's claims in the map right. Many countries are dividing the seas among themselves. China did it with the South Sea. Without an hegemonic power, as was the US, the world is sliding towards a catch-as-you-can-catch situation. Bad. 

People Wants to Stop Development

Because of mass protests against the new gas development ten kilometers away from the coast, the Ministry of Environment stopped the launch of production at Israel’s Leviathan natural gas field. Phantom fears of unknown contamination and global catastrophe have paralyzed a very important project. It could not happen in China. 

醉翁谈录

Let's Have Another Cup Of Coffee

Just around the corner

There's a rainbow in the sky

So let's have another cup o' coffee

And let's have another piece o' pie!

Trouble's just a bubble

And the clouds will soon roll by

So let's have another cup o' coffee

And let's have another piece o' pie

Let a smile be your umbrella

For it's just an April show'r

Even John D. Rockefeller

Is looking for the silver lining

Mister Herbert Hoover

Says that now's the time to buy

So let's have another cup o' coffee

And let's have another piece o' pie!