Max Blumenthal writes:
The “Periphery Doctrine” has been a cornerstone of Israel’s strategic approach to the Middle East since the state’s foundation. Devised by David Ben Gurion and Eliahu Sassoon, an Israeli Middle East expert who became Israel’s first diplomatic representative in Turkey, the doctrine was based on maintaining alliances with non-Arab states and ethnic minorities in the region as a counterweight to pan-Arabism. Though three countries — Iran, Ethiopia, and Turkey — became key regional allies of Israel, Ben Gurion was keenly aware that the relationships were temporary, and could not substitute for peace with Israel’s Arab neighbors (something Ben Gurion ironically tried to manufacture through his “activist” foreign policy of unilateral military strikes and disproportionate force). From Turkey’s perspective, the relationship with Israel was never a proper strategic alliance, but rather a means of establishing leverage against nationalistic Arab governments.
This week’s events delivered the death knell to the terminally ill Periphery Doctrine. Following the Palmer/Uribe report’s factually flawed claims about the legality of Israel’s siege on the Gaza Strip and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to apologize for Israel’s execution-style massacre of 9 activists on the deck of the Mavi Marmara — “We need not apologize!” the Prime Minister boomed three times during a recent press conference — the Turkish government significantly downgraded its relations with Israel. Turkey not only expelled Israel’s ambassador from Ankara, it suspended all military relations between the two states. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has suggested further sanctions will follow, exposing Netanyahu’s bravado as empty and self-destructive.
Though Netanyahu claimed today in a speech that “we sincerely want improved relations” with Turkey, he reiterated his refusal to apologize. The optics of the speech, which featured Netanyahu addressing a crowd of naval officers and hailing the bravery of the commandos who stormed the Mavi Marmara, were calculated to project an image of defiance. Meanwhile, elements in the Israeli political arena, security establishment and media are cultivating public opinion for an open conflict with Turkey, and with no apparent shortage of enthusiasm.
So, let Israel go for it, but without U.S. backing. It seems that Israeli leaders are hell bent to drag the U.S. further through the mud for their own short comings. I really wonder if the U.S. Military leaders will condone this? Now, a true Military coup in the U.S. may just be what this country needs. One has to wonder what all the past & present Military personnel think of the present as well as the past elected political members who have and are doing their collective damnedest to destroy what they took an oath the protect? Food for thought.