Author: Kanayan Tamar

ONE MORE REASON TO WIN – LET SIBEL EDMONDS SPEAK
by W. David Jenkins III
OpEdNews, PA
Oct 29 2006
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to
do nothing.”
– Edmund Burke
Sibel Edmonds once told me to “put aside 9/11” and instead concentrate
on the workings of the Defense Department, amongst other government
establishments, because what she had been trying to warn people about
was considered by those involved as nothing more than “business as
usual.” That was the real danger. What she had discovered during
her short time with the FBI was so threatening to those doing such
“business” that former Attorney General, John Ashcroft, couldn’t
slap a gag order on her (and Congress) fast enough. But a lot of us
already know that.
Truth be known, Dennis Hastert has a hell of a lot more to worry about
than the Mark Foley scandal. In fact, he may be seeing the writing
on the wall regarding his soon departure from Congress as a welcome
relief. However, that result is not only contingent upon a Democratic
win in November, but a Democratic majority willing to dig through
the tangled mess that is Turkish and American “business relations.”
Now, one must understand why Turkey is a big player, albeit a
clandestine one, on the world stage; that would be the desperate
need for security and acceptance. Turkey shares with Israel common
enemies such as Syria, Iran and Iraq and maintains relations in the
U.S. in order to secure financial aid and military technology. These
relations are enhanced by corporations, lobbyists and conservative
think tanks who share a mutual interest in geo-political advantage
in the Middle East as well as making some big money.
These relations are connected between former and present Defense
Dept. members, The Project for a New American Century members, AIPAC,
MIC Inc., Jack Abramoff, The Livingston Group and others. In other
words, the more you dig the bigger the headache you may succumb to,
yet you’ll get an idea of how intertwined all the players are. Would
you like to go for a little ride? Let’s start with Hastert.
The House Speaker has received contributions from Turkish sources
to the tune of at least $500,000 and Edmonds knows that there are
tapes from wiretaps that will back up this claim. One of the groups
who bragged on those tapes about these illegal contributions was the
American Turkish Council (ATC) but Hastert denies any ties to this or
other Turkish groups. Yet between 1996 and 2002, Hastert made multiple
trips to Turkey and would return home with so many “gifts” that his
support staff was surprised that the “plane even got off the ground.”
In turn, Hastert has been very helpful to Turkey by using his authority
to pull Congressional backing for a resolution recognizing the Armenian
genocide. Hastert, of course has denied this.
On June 3, 2003, Hastert’s political action committee held a $1500
a plate fundraiser at Jack Abramoff’s restaurant where he received
large donations from, among others, one Duane R. Gibson. Gibson is a
consultant with the Livingston Group who has been lobbying on behalf of
Turkey for about six years at the cost of $1.2 million a year. The only
problem is that the money is not coming from the Turkish government
and of course the FBI wants to know exactly who is shelling out all
the dough. This is what Edmonds refers to as “business as usual” and
what is behind the facade in all of this is obviously so threatening,
that the government felt it necessary to implement an extraordinary
gag order on Sibel and threaten members of her family.
Admittedly, the American – Turkish “connection” doesn’t make for
glamorous news when put up against Iraq, Iran or North Korea but many
of the players in those headlines are also involved with Turkey. And if
there was an active, inquisitive and motivated Congress in DeeCeeVille
right now then people might recognize the threat that so far remains
under the radar.
Sibel stated many times that when certain intelligence regarding
illegal activities (drug or illegal arms trafficking etc.) which
benefited alleged terrorist sponsors and that same intelligence
also implicated “certain allies or business interests” then that
intelligence was not passed on to counter-terrorism agents in the
field. Turkish front groups under surveillance by the FBI (ATC
and ATAA) were making large payments to officials high up in the
government as well as lobbyists with connections to some of these same
officials. These same groups were also nuzzling up to groups like
AIPAC who had a mutual desire to embrace certain business interests
that could enhance their pursuit of intelligence, influence and aid
against common enemies.
With the rise to power of the neo-conservatives years ago and their
drive to secure dominance in the Middle East, these front groups found
new opportunities now that the American government was infiltrated
with many of their “business partners.” Douglass Feith and Richard
Perle (PNAC), infamous for their push into Iraq, were also recipients
of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Turkish interests prior to
joining the Bush Gang.
Other groups with long ties to Turkey as well as upper offices in the
government consist of the aforementioned Livingston Group, Solarz &
Associates, and The Cohen Group. All three are top members of the
American Turkish Council with Vice Chairman of The Cohen Group,
Joseph Ralston, sitting on their board of advisors. Getting pretty
tangled up, huh?
One other firm I want to point out is the neo-con group, M.I.C.
Industries Inc. who boast of some “Ultimate Building Machine” on their
web site (it was worth a $60 million contract with Russia back in
’97). Their board consists of amongst others, William Cohen (Cohen
Group/ATC) and Richard Armitage (PNAC/Valerie Plame outing) and is
headed up by one Michael Ansari who once teamed up with Alexander Haig
in a corporation called US-CIS Venture Inc. which was established to
assist in “developments” in Central Asia as well as establishing oil
and gas pipeline projects through the region. M.I.C.
Inc. is also one of the Livingston Group’s top clients.
These are some of the “business interests” I believe Edmonds’ was
speaking of and here’s why.
Enormous amounts of money are being funneled to top government
officials and certain businesses whose members consist of former
Defense Dept. officials, State Dept. officials and conservative think
tanks that have a common interest in Turkey and Israel (in this case)
and other countries that play a strategic part in a geo-political
“business” plan. However, this money is not coming from those
particular governments in question.
Currently, according to former CIA agent Philip Giraldi, there is an
investigation into Israel’s illegal sale of U.S. military technology
to countries like China and India. The companies mentioned in this
article also have ties to the defense industry through their members’
history in government service – who also share close ties with Turkish
front groups (as well as an alliance with AIPAC and JINSA) currently
under investigation by the FBI. That these Turkish groups would be
involved in the same illegal sales with the aid of the aforementioned
businesses is not that difficult of a dot to connect as it definitely
reflects the “can of worms” that Edmonds’ superiors at the FBI did
not want opened. It’s also worth mentioning that Turkey is a large
hub in the drugs coming out of Afghanistan and Edmonds has alluded
to the drug trade in her past statements.
Yet, fellow FBI translator Malek Can Dickerson, who had encouraged
Sibel to join the ATC, was suppressing intelligence Edmonds was
uncovering regarding these front groups and their relationship to
“certain allies and American business interests” in deference to the
very organizations that the FBI had under investigation.
One can look back at the names mentioned in this criminal activity and
notice that many of the players were involved in the more glamorous
stories in the news over the past years. Armitage (MIC Inc./PNAC)
leaking the name of a CIA operative who was investigating arms
trafficking to Iran and Feith and Perle (IA Inc./PNAC) who were
instrumental in the invasion of Iraq and who are pushing for an attack
on Iran are just three of the most notorious examples.
One other thing I want to point out is the sorry state of affairs
when it comes to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) Unit
database which is maintained by the Dept. of Justice. This database
contains the “who and how much” when it comes to “foreign investment”
in exchange for representation in DeeCeeVille.
Luke Ryland (wotisitgood4.blogspot.com), who has done some remarkable
and detailed work on the Edmonds story, pointed out on his blog
that the “huge database that serves as the public’s lone window on
lobbying activities by foreign governments has been allowed to decay
to a point they cannot even make a copy of its contents” according
to a report by the Center for Public Integrity in June of ’04. Even
worse, as far as we know, that system is still operating on Windows
95. So much for investing in technology to fight the “war on terror.”
Sibel stated in an interview back in late ’05 that “You can start
from the AIPAC angle. You can start from the Plame case. You can
start from my case. They all end up going to the same place, and they
revolve around the same nucleus of people. There may be a lot of them,
but it is one group. And they are very dangerous for all of us.”
I can’t think of a better reason to take back the Congress.
W.David Jenkins III is a writer/activist living in upstate N.Y. His
work has appeared in “Big Bush Lies” (Riverwood Books) and “The Girl
with Yellow Flowers in Her Hair” (Pitchfork Publishers). He also has
a regular column at oldamericancentury.org.
rticles/opedne_w__david_061028_one_more_reason_to_ w.htm

Philadelphia Daily News, PA
Oct 26 2006
Here’s the book on the Opera Company production
By TOM DI NARDO
For the Daily News
MIMI DIES, AND everyone cries.
Since its debut in Turin, Italy, 110 years ago, Giacomo Puccini’s “La
Boheme” has gripped audiences emotionally like no other opera.
Everyone can relate to youthful friendships, first love and
heartbreak. And the music stirs our imaginations and our heartstrings
every time.
Using stories from Henri Murger’s four-volume work, “Scenes from the
Bohemian Life,” published in the mid-1800s, librettists Luigi Illica
and Giuseppe Giacosa fashioned the tale of four poor friends who
share a shabby Parisian apartment, and the contrasting loves of the
writer and painter.
The Opera Company of Philadelphia is staging this masterpiece, one of
the most performed operas in the repertoire, for the first time since
1998. It opens tonight at the Academy of Music. The Academy of Vocal
Arts did it last year, too.
In 1996, inspired by the opera and by the deaths of some close
friends, Jonathan Larson created the rock musical “Rent,” resetting
the moving story from Paris to the AIDS-infected world of New York’s
Alphabet City.
Mimi survives in “Rent,” but Larson did not. In a tragedy worthy of a
Puccini opera, he died of an aortic aneurysm immediately after the
show’s first full staging and never saw it become a hit, moving to
Broadway and film.
“La Boheme” also was a smash on Broadway in Baz Luhrmann’s updated,
2002 staging.
As long as there are operatic stages, “La Boheme” will draw audiences
into the lives of these beloved and universal characters, and few
eyes will be dry as the curtain falls.
The story
Act I: Rodolfo the writer and Marcello the painter are bemoaning the
bitter cold in their Parisian apartment, when Colline and Schaunard
finally arrive with supplies.
After Benoit the landlord is tricked and sent away without the rent
he has come to collect, the friends decide to celebrate Christmas Eve
at the Cafe Momus. Rodolfo stays alone to finish his work. Answering
a knock on the door, he meets a young woman named Mimi, whose candle
has gone out.
They sing about their lives in ravishing arias and a duet and swiftly
fall in love. Mimi insists they join the friends at the cafe.
Act II: At the Cafe Momus, Musetta arrives with a rich patron,
Alcindoro, exciting her old flame, Marcello. She flirts and sings her
famous aria, finally sending Alcindoro on a phony errand so she can
reunite with Marcello, and they all leave together. Alcindoro returns
and is presented with the tab.
Act III: Months later, Mimi arrives at the outskirts of Paris to see
Marcello, who consoles her about her breakup with Rodolfo. Mimi hides
when Rodolfo appears. He first tells Marcello that Mimi was
unfaithful but finally admits that he left because she is sick and
may be dying.
He realizes Mimi has heard the truth, and they pledge to reunite
until the spring. Meanwhile, Marcello and Musetta fight in the
background.
Act IV: The four friends clown, dance and pretend to duel in their
apartment until Musetta suddenly breaks in with Mimi, who is very
ill. Musetta leaves to hock her jewelry, and Colline sings an aria to
his beloved coat before leaving to sell it – all for money to pay a
doctor.
Rodolfo and Mimi recall their meeting in a reprise of their first
music. Mimi’s life ebbs away without Rodolfo realizing it,
heightening the opera’s heartwrenching finale.
About this production
The company’s music director, Corrado Rovaris, conducts, with its
general director, Robert Driver, handling the directing chores.
Lighting is by Ruth Hutson, still finding new effects in her sixth
“Boheme.” Costumes were designed by the always imaginative Richard
St. Clair.
Opera Company production center director Boyd Ostroff designed and
built the sets for the 1998 staging. They’ve been loaned out to other
companies six times since then. (The company’s sets for “Die
Fledermaus” hold the record – 19 loans.)
The cast
The stunning Armenian soprano Ermonela Jaho (who sang magnificently
at rehearsal) makes her company debut as the consumptive Mimi. Tenor
Roger Honeywell, who had a role in last year’s “Margaret Garner,”
sings his first Rodolfo, and baritone Troy Cook makes his company
debut as the painter Marcello.
Soprano Sari Gruber returns after scoring here in “Don Pasquale” two
seasons ago to sing the flirty Musetta. The other bohemians are
portrayed by company favorite baritone Richard Bernstein (Colline),
who played Figaro in the Mozart classic last season, and
Curtis-trained baritone Alex Tall as Schaunard.
Kevin Glavin, a master of the comic repertoire, plays both the
landlord Benoit and Musetta’s sugar daddy, Alcindoro.

A1+
ARMENIAN KHACHKARS TO BE EXHIBITED IN THE LOUVRE
[08:40 pm] 26 October, 2006
Armenian khachkars will be exhibited in the Louvre
within the framework of the year of Armenia in France.
Today, the RA Government decided to transport over 27
Armenian khachkars to France, provided they are taken
back after the exhibition. The Armenian khachkars will
be exhibited in the 2007 exhibition in the Louvre.
The marzpets of Aragatsotni, Ararat, Armavir,
Ghekharquniq, Kotayk, Syunik and Vayots Dzor were
assigned to render assistance in connection with the
transportation of the khachkars.
The RA Government ensures the safe transportation of
the khachkars.

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Oct 26 2006
RA DM: KARABAKH CONFLICT MUST BE SETTLED IN PEACEFUL WAY BASED ON
MUTUAL COMPROMISES
The Karabakh conflict must be settled in a peaceful way based on the
mutual compromises. As the “Svoboda” Radio station informs, the RA
Defense Minister, Serzh Sarkissyan, said in a interview to “James ”
Research Center, which carries out investigations for strategic and
security issues.
However, in S. Sarkissyan’s opinion, the policy, followed by
Azerbaijan, does not contribute to this. “The officials (of
Azerbaijan) talk today of war resumption. Their war expenses have
doubled during the last year”, the Minister said.
S. Sarkissyan stated that Azerbaijan, according to estimations of
independent experts, cannot yet resolve the issue in a military way.
“If military operations recommence, Armenia will reach an advantage
again. Irrespective of the war result, it will be a strike for both
sides”. As for Azerbaijan’s oil incomes, which it wants to use to
resolve the Karabakh conflict, S. Sarkissyan reminded that Azerbaijan
had also an advantage in 90th, concerning the number of Armed Forces
and a quantity of ammunition, inherited from the USSR.
“They had encircled Karabakh in 1992 and a few believed that we can
achieve success. Despite all the expectations from oil incomes, they
will not achieve the advantage now they had 14-15 years ago. The
Azerbaijan version of the conflict’s military settlement had failed
at that time and it will fail again. I hope Azerbaijan will refuse
this approach sooner or later”, Sarkissyan said.
As for the Armenia-NATO relations, the RA DM has touched upon the
Turkey’s issue. According to him, the policy of Turkey had been
causing damage to the NATO authority in Armenia for a long time.
“The Russian military base in Armenia is created under conditions of
external threat for the Republic. Unfortunately, this threat did not
disappear unit now, since there is no noticeable improvement of the
Armenian-Turkish relations. Turkey keeps on blocking Armenia which is
a hostile action towards us. Turkey also supports Azerbaijan in the
Karabakh issue and improvement of our relations is stipulated for
Azerbaijan’s whim”, S. Sarkissyan said.

RUSSIANS TO GET ENTRY VISAS TO GEORGIA AT GROUND CHECKPOINTS
ITAR-TASS, Russia
Oct 26 2006
TBILISI, October 26 (Itar-Tass) – In accordance with a decision made
by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili, Russian citizens will now
be able to get entry visas to Georgia not only at airports of Tbilisi,
Batumi and Kutaisi, seaports of Poti and Batumi and ground-based border
checkpoint Daryali (North Ossetian section of the Georgian-Russian
border), but also at other ground-based checkpoints on the Georgian
border, Georgian border police officials told Itar-Tass on Thursday.
>From now on Russian citizens wishing to visit Georgia will be able to
receive visas at the ground checkpoints Sadakhlo (Georgian-Armenian
border), Krasny Most checkpoint (Georgian-Azerbaijani border), Sarpi
(Batumi section of the Georgian-Turkish border), Vale (Akhaltsikh
section of the Georgian-Turkish border).
“This decision has been made in connection with the situation
developed recently,” it is said in an official statement of the
Georgian border police department. After transport connection between
Georgia and Russia was closed on October 3 many Russian citizens have
been travelling to Georgia via third countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan
and Turkey. Some Russian citizens obtain entry visas to Georgia in
advance and some – on arrival in the country.
In the summer of 2004, Georgia unilaterally made a decision on the
simplification of the visa regime with the Russian Federation and since
then Russian citizens could get entry visas to Georgia at its airports
and the Daryali border checkpoint. The visa regime between the two
countries was introduced on the Russian initiative in December 2000.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR’S STATEMENT CRITICIZED IN TURKEY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 25 2006
“Ambassador of France to Armenia Henri Cuny’s remarks on the issue
of Turkish borders are not wise,” Dr. Sedat Lachiner, Director of
Ankara-based International Strategic Research Organization, stated,
APA ‘s Turkey reports.
He said all countries have their own control on their own borders.
This kind of claims badly affects Turkish public opinion and undermine
the credibility of the EU and France in Turkey.
“Most of the people now in Turkey consider France as hostile country
and see the French support for the Armenians as the religious
solidarity” Dr. Laciner added. Similarly Dr. Mehmet Ozcan, another
Turkish expert, said that Turkey sincerely seeks to develop good
relations with Armenia and air borders have been open between Turkey
and Armenia. But no improvement was seen in relations because of
Armenia. According to Mr. Ozcan, Armenia does not want to develop
relations with Turkey.
“Armenia aims to increase the tension to get the Western support
against Turkey. They do not recognize Turkey’s national borders and
they do expect open borders. If Turkey does not recognize France’s
national borders and occupies an EU member state, will France keep
its borders with Turkey open?” he said.
Henri Cuny, Ambassador of France to Armenia, said when meeting with
Armenian students in Armenia that once Turkey joins the EU, the issue
of its borders will be decided not by itself but by the central EU
headquarters in Brussels.
“This is the order. And entering the EU suggests open borders. The
question is, when this is to happen”, said Cuny.

RESOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN LEGALIZED YET, POUDADE
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – The resolution on so-called Armenian genocide has not been
legalized yet, French Ambassador to Turkey Paul Poudade said today.
In an interview with the private NTV channel, Poudade said that the
French parliament adopted the resolution, and therefore, bilateral
relations will be negatively affected for a few weeks. “But, I will
do my best to make them better,” he stated.
Recalling that Senate’s approval is obligatory for legalization of
the resolution, Poudade said, “not only the governments but also
parliamentarians, businessmen and intellectuals should continue
dialogue.”
Noting that history should be left to historians, Poudade noted that
this matter is not a new criterion before Turkey’s EU membership.
“Turkey has been disappointed, but we have deep-rooted relations,”
he added.
-NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE-
On prominent Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who won the 2006 Nobel
Prize for literature, Poudade said that he only read Pamuk’s book named
“Benim Adim Kirmizi” (My Name is Red).
Stating that Pamuk narrated friendship with France and Italy in this
book, Poudade said, “I hope this friendship will not change with a
parliament decision.”

WHAT WILL ROBERT KOCHARYAN AND VLADIMIR PUTIN DISCUSS?
Lragir.am, Armenia
Oct 25 2006
While the media reported that if the Russian embassy first informs
about the upcoming visit of Robert Kocharyan to Moscow, it means
Russia does not respect Armenia and the Armenian government, the
leader of the Nor Zhamanakner Party Aram Karapetyan outlined October
25 the framework of the talk of Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin.
The two presidents will first speak about the question of Nagorno
Karabakh. “When the Israeli prime minister arrived in Moscow and it
became clear that the Iranian problem, unfortunately, is proceeding
towards a military settlement, it is clear that in this context it
becomes a vital problem for the United States to control the liberated
territories. The Americans will need to control the Armenian political
sphere in the geopolitical context. It is clear that in this relation
the Russian geopolitical interests presuppose certain actions in
reply,” states Aram Karapetyan.
Afterwards, Robert Kocharyan and Vladimir Putin will speak about gas.
“Perhaps, the Russians want definite information on when the
Iran-Armenia pipeline will be operated, because soon there will be a
problem of gas with Georgia. The price of the gas supplied to Georgia
will go up. Iran will supply us,” thinks Aram Karapetyan.
The presidents of Armenia and Russia will not forget about the
problems of Javakheti and Georgia. “For Russia, the passive stance
of the Armenian government is not clear.”
Besides, Vladimir Putin will inquire about all the developments that
are underway in Armenia, “As a country, which possesses considerable
property in Armenia, Russia is interested in the future developments.”

ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE PROBLEMS WITH RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES, NOR ZHAMANAKNER PARTY LEADER DECLARES
Noyan Tapan
Oct 25 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. “The goal of the Armenian ruling
clique is to retain power at any price and this idee fixe dominates
over everything.
However, this circumstance can lead to complication of both home
and foreign situation for Armenia.” Aram Karapetian, Chairman of
the Nor Zhamanakner (New Times) Party, declared at the October 25
press conference. Dwelling upon characteristics of Armenian-Russian
relations, he expressed disagreement to the opinion of some media
that the statement of RF State Duma Deputy Konstantin Zatulin
about necessity of Armenia’s choosing between Russia and Georgia
was sanctioned by the Kremlin. In A.Karapetian’s words, the Armenian
authorities have problems with the Russian authorities. In his opinion,
Robert Kocharian’s visit to Moscow can be explained by Nagorno Karabakh
problem’s topicality.
Besides, A.Karapetian did not exclude that the course of Iran-Armenia
gas pipeline construction can be discussed in Moscow. “Redistribution
of power does not mean strategic partnership and striking of this
or that bargain is the basis of Armenian-Russian relations today,”
A.Karapetian declared. He said that Armenia should not intervene in
complicated relations between RF and Georgia.
A.Karapetian considers that Armenia should do everything possible for
preserving normal relations with these two countries. A.Karapetian said
that public hearings organized by the Nor Zhamanakner Party are to take
place on October 26. The hearings will be dedicated to the reasons of
the A-320 plane’s accident. In his words, the reasons of this tragedy
are surrounded by various rumors due to lack of information. The
Nor Zhamanakner Party is going to apply to the country’s President,
Prosecutor General, RA National Security Service and National Security
Council for explanations.

OPPOSITION LEADER SAYS ECONOMIC GROWTH IS A BALLOON
Panorama.am
13:00 24/10/06
Speaking about the recent incident with Hakob Hakobyan, sanctioned
to be arrested by the parliament, Gagik Melikyan, secretary of the
Armenian Republican Party (HHK), said they did not know about the
dealings of Hakobyan. Otherwise they would not accept him in their
party, he said. The deputy thinks that Hakobyan’s behavior discredits
the state structures, as he is a public official. He said HHK voted for
the sanction of arrest on the logic that “he may prove his innocence
if he can.”
Grigor Harutunyan, secretary of Justice block, an opposition fraction,
said many HHK members asked them to participate in the voting so that
they could claim that the opposition voted against Hakobyan’s arrest.
Harutunyan said later Robert Kocharyan could claim that the
anticriminal balloon exploded also saying the balloon is the economic
growth claimed by power authorities.