Erdogan wants Obama to declare that Hamas and Hizballah are not terrorist groups. That would be fine with me, in fact. The State Department should designate them and others to be jihadist groups, and declare that we are fighting a defensive war against Islamic jihadists.
But of course, that is about as likely to happen as Obama naming Tom Tancredo his immigration and borders czar.
“Turkey urges Obama to redefine Mideast terrorism,” from Associated Press, January 29 (thanks to all who sent this in):
Turkey’s prime minister had a message Thursday for US President Barack Obama: redefine terror and terrorism in the Middle East and use it as the basis for a new American policy.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has played a key role in trying to mediate among Israel and Syria and the Palestinians, said Obama’s new Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, will be in Turkey for talks Sunday.
“President Obama must redefine terror and terrorist organizations in the Middle East, and based on this new definition, a new American policy must be deployed in the Middle East,” Erdogan told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The Turkish leader appeared to be referring to the US Position toward Hamas and Hizbullah, which the United States considers terrorist organizations. While both have military wings, Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007 and remains in charge following the recent Israeli invasion. Hizbullah is a major political force in Lebanon….