[MER - While the misnomered "peace process" continues to dominate the news, arms continue to flood into the Middle East region and possible war preparations are underway. The Israeli military, with ever-increasing U.S. help, has actually increased its military budget since the "peace process" began. And the Americans have recently agreed to provide additional hundreds of millions of dollars for anti-missile defenses, "anti-terrorism", and the prepositioning of military stockpiles in the U.S. for immediate war-time transfer to Israel. One of the most important regional military and political developments in the past few years is the still-growing Israeli- Turkish/U.S. military alliance. The Israelis are further badgering and challenging the weak Arab regimes, now with Turkey added to their arsenal. And the Turkish military is strengthening itself should it circumvent Turkish "democracy" with a military government to prevent the Islamic movement from gaining any further power and should civil war result, as has been the case in Algeria. Both the U.S. and Israel have been courting Turkish military leaders urging them to severely pressure the Turkish government away from its new "Islamic" orientation, and if not successful to instigate a coup.

REMARKABLE MILITARY COOPERATION - TURKEY AND ISRAEL

"OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, TURKEY AND ISRAEL HAVE QUIETLY FORGED A REMARKABLE PROGRAM OF MILITARY COOPERATION. IN THE PROCESS, THEY HAVE CREATED WHAT IS NOW THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARY FRIENDSHIP IN THE MIDDLE EAST... THE RELATIONSHIP CAN ONLY MAKE ISRAELI LEADERS MORE CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN TAKE TOUGH POSITIONS IN DEALING WITH THEIR ARAB NEIGHBORS. AN ALLIANCE WITH TURKEY COULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARD NEUTRALIZING SYRIA IN ANY MAJOR CRISIS. IT COULD ALSO MAKE SYRIA THINK TWICE ABOUT STIRRING UP TROUBLE TO ISRAEL'S NORTH, HOWEVER PREOCCUPIED ISRAEL MAY BE WITH QUELLING UNREST AMONG THE PALESTINIANS."

Stephen Nizer
NYTimes, 4/13/97

Mid-East Realities

www.middleeast.org

Source: http://www.middleeast.org/articles/2001/4/171.htm