Turkey dumps Israel from joint air exercises

JERUSALEM - TURKEY'S joint annual aerial exercises, codenamed "Anatolian Eagle" has been postponed after Ankara excluded Israel from taking part, military sources in Israel and Turkey say.
"The exercise Anatolian Eagle which was planned to take place in Turkey from October 12 to 23 has been postponed until further notice," the Israeli military said in a statement.
"The exercise has been postponed as a result of Turkey's decision to change the list of participating countries, thus excluding Israel. This decision came several days before the start of the exercise."
The exercise was to involve Turkish, Israeli and several other NATO air forces.
The United States also pulled out when Turkey excluded Israel. This year's manoeuvres were to include practicing aerial attacks in Turkish airspace near borders with Syria, Iraq and Iran, military sources said.

COMMENT: This development is a new low in relations between Israel and Turkey, which have been sliding since Israel's war in Gaza at the start of the year, despite Israel's attempt to brush it off. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said: "Turkey was and remains a very important strategic anchor in the Middle East and its relations with Israel serve the interests of the entire region."
In early September, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu cancelled a visit to Israel over a refusal to let him visit the Hamas-run Gaza Strip. Turkey has been Israel's principal ally in the region. They have had close economic ties since reaching a military cooperation agreement in 1996. They have regularly participated in joint military exercises.

Americans trust Obama to fix economy

AMERICANS retain confidence that the Obama White House and administration will do what is right for the economy. However, the level confidence has been on a downward trend over the past few months, according to the latest Harris Poll.
COMMENT: More than half of Americans (53 percent) polled in August are confident that the White House will produce policies to help fix the economic crisis, and just under half (47 percent) are not confident. In April, 57 percent of Americans were confident and in May, 55 percent were confident so there is a steady downward movement in this confidence level.
When it comes to trusting political figures to do what is right on the economy, three in five Americans (61 percent) trust President Obama to do what is right and over half (54 percent) trust the president’s economic advisors. Members of Congress do not fare as well as over half (55 percent) do not trust Democrats in Congress to do what is right for the American economy and two-thirds (67 percent) do not trust Republicans in Congress.
When it comes to blame for the country’s economic problems large majorities of Americans place the blame on Republicans in Congress (85 percent), former President George W. Bush (83 percent) and Democrats in Congress (75 percent). In fact, over half of U.S. adults (52 percent) place a great deal of blame on President Bush for the country’s economic problems.

More clashes taking place in Tehran

OMID Habibinia, an Iranian journalist living in Switzerland, reports on his Twitter feed that he is hearing from sources in Tehran that more clashes were taking place on Thursday (June 25), as opposition supporters attempt to rally. Habibinia writes, inter alia:

• Anti-Riot Police get position in Vali Asr Cr and Enghelab St.
• Clashes at Enghalb Sq. 16 minutes ago
• Reports: More than 1000 ppl chanting against regime asking others join then near Taleghani Cr.
• Hezbollah attacking passengers at Enghelab St. Avoiding to gathter in one place…
• Army helicopters flying over protesters at Enghelab Sq.
• Somebody wrote me: "I will be in demo soon, if I shoot dead please pay for “bullets fee” and take my body out!
• Reports: Some people arrested at Vali Aasr Sq.
• Anti-Riot police making blockage at Azadi St, Jamalzadeh Junc.
  

COMMENT: In the days following the election on June 12, millions of Iranian citizens organized and poured into the streets. The regime was intent on showing an iron fist. The Basij, the most loyal anti-riot armed force of the Islamic Republic, opened fire on the protesters. Several hundred high- and middle-ranking political leaders were arrested. Activists' means of communication, including cellphones, instant messaging and many Web sites were shut down. So were election headquarters throughout the country. When resistance continued, the armed Basij started attacking homes and making arrests in the middle of the night. Official prisons quickly filled. In order to detain more people, the regime started to use unofficial prisons, such as the basement of the Interior Ministry.
Iranians haveresponded to all this massive physical and psychological warfare with a determination not seen since the 1979 revolution. Mass demonstrations began spontaneously outside the capital and in other cities and urban centers, forcing some of the deployed Basij to return to their home bases.
Divisions appearing within Revolutionary Guard units are most troubling for the regime. There are reports that the chief of the Tehran unit, Ali Fazli, is now under arrest. Other reports point to a rebellion brewing within Revolutionary Guards forces in Lavizan, northeast of Tehran. At least one report claimed that 16 leading Guard members were arrested for refusing to shoot protesters.
Now, a general strike is brewing. The national mourning for vicxtims will be the focus of the revolutionaries for the next few days. Then, a new countrywide challenge to the regime will take center stage. The revolution's main problem is lack of communication with its leadership. As such, progress is slow and the course will undoubtedly be protracted.
The coming weeks will test the regime's power. Another coup from within may be the shortest and least violent way to end the Islamic Republic. In any case, the revolution will likely go on.

Anti-Israel protestors in clashes near US Embassy

LEBANESE security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at dozens of angry demonstrators who protested near the US embassy over Israel's war on the Gaza Strip.
Lebanese and Palestinian leftists of various political groups broke through barbed wire down the street from the embassy and neared the next barricade to the mission compound in Awkar, just north of Beirut. Several demonstrators, who were calling for the expulsion of the US ambassador, were hurt in the clashes.
Protestors burned dummies of US President George W. Bush, US President-elect Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as well as American and Israeli flags.
COMMENT: Lebanon is generally calm, but fragile. For visitors and foreign residents, we advise against all travel to Palestinian camps and against all but essential travel to Tripoli as well as south of the Litani. The security situation can deteriorate rapidly and anyone travelling to Lebanon should keep themselves well informed and closely monitor political and security developments. There is a high threat from terrorism in Lebanon. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers such as hotels and restaurants.
On Thursday 8 January and Wednesday 14 January, rockets were launched from southern Lebanon into northern Israel; citizens were injured in the first attack. On both occasions Israel responded with artillery fire towards the source in southern Lebanon. We advise anyone travelling to the region to be vigilant and follow local updates and advice.

Terror attacks grip Mumbai, over 100 dead

A WELL planned and executed terrorist attack on Mumbai (formerly Bombay) has virtually locked down the financial and entertainment capital of India. Gunmen began an assault on various locations around 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, armed with AK-47s and grenades, among other weapons. Initial media estimates put the death toll at more than 100, with 250 or more injured.
The terrorists were attempting to track and separate out American and British nationals, security sources said. At least one Briton was killed and seven injured in the attacks. There were no immediate reports of any American casualties.
The terrorists call themselves the Deccan Mujaheddin, a shadowy group that claimed previous terror campaigns in India, and which intelligence sources say are possibly linked to Al-Qaida. The coordinated nature of the attacks suggests a sophisticated group typical of Al-Qaida.
They attacked the following targets - Taj Hotel located near Gate of India; Oberoi Hotel; Trident hotel; CST Railway station; Cama Hospital; Café Leopold restaurant in Colaba; a taxi on Dockyard Road in Mazgaon.
The three hotels were evacuated and surrounded by police. Explosions and gunfire were reported at all three, and video footage has shown wounded being removed from the scene at one of the hotels. The Cama Hospital incident appears to have been gunshots fired, and the taxi incident appears to have been an explosion in a car that killed three people.
Police were reported to have cornered two gunmen armed with AK-47s in the CST railway station. The was a hostage situation involving at least some foreigners at the Trident, Oberoi, and Taj hotels. Gunmen were reported going door-to-door within hotels seeking U.S. and UK passport holders.