History Forum / General / General Topics / September 2007

AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE MAGAZINE
Philip Giraldi
Sibel Edmonds, the FBI Turkish translator turned whistleblower who has been
subjected to a gag order, could provide a major insight into how
neoconservatives distort U.S. foreign policy and enrich themselves at the
same time. On one level, her story appears straightforward: several Turkish
lobbying groups allegedly bribed congressmen to support policies favourable
to Ankara. But beyond that, the Edmonds revelations become more serpentine
and appear to involved AIPAC, Israel and a number of leading
neoconservatives who have profited from the Turkish connection. Israel has
long cultivated a close relationship with Turkey since Ankara's neighbours
and historic enemies - Iran, Syria, and Iraq - are also hostile to Tel Aviv.
Islamic Turkey has also had considerable symbolic value for Israel,
demonstrating that hostility toward Muslim neighbours is not a sine qua non
for the Jewish State.