The Washington post published an article headlined ‘No chance Iran will take a chance against Israel’. According to its author, the “act now or act later” theme of Mr. Cohen’s remarks was too Israel-focused. He made it seem as if Israel must attack Iran to stop its nuclear progress. As much as I enjoy reading Mr. Cohen’s insightful comments about issues de jour, I was disappointed that he did not consider the Iranian perspective.
According to the associated Press, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says that the United States and NATO should come up with an alternative missile defense plans that will not jeopardize nuclear parity with Moscow. Washington says the NATO missile defense plan is aimed at potential missile threats from nations such as Iran. But Moscow fears it will eventually grow powerful enough to intercept Russian missiles, thus undermining its nuclear deterrent. Medvedev said Friday that “we are ready to discuss alternative ideas,” but complained that the West offered “none.”
The Guardian informs its readers that he UK Home Office has confirmed that a British citizen subject to a EU travel ban - eg Asma al-Assad - could not be refused entry into the country. However, a British lawyer has suggested to AP that the travel ban imposed today means will effectively bar her from the country.
The same agency published an article headlined “Adventure holidays in Turkey” describing various places of interest as well as possible activities one might enjoy on his vacation in Turkey.
According to the Hurriyet Daily News, An Istanbul court ruled to suspend the trial of an intelligence official yesterday, in order to request permission from the prime minister’s office, in accordance with a recent bill rushed through Parliament to shield Turkey’s top intelligence chief from prosecution. Specially authorized IstanbulProsecutor Murat Alkuş issued the request to suspend the proceedings against Ö.Y., a high – ranking member of the National Intelligence Organization (MİT), due to the new law that requires the permission of the prime minister’s office to press charges against MİT officials. The court delegation then decided to separate the suspect’s file from the case regarding the “Action Plan to Combat Reactionism,” indicating that the suspect was the MİT’sIstanbul Deputy Regional Director at the time of the alleged offense.
