News for today's 2018

ISRAELI - AZERBAIJANI ALLIANCE AND IRAN Part 2

2:37 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ5sVlVUAH08xcqTBmg1OKE381omzzANQ5-2IzU3c07zrzhf15jsC4oNX03Yqt7XBA6x1hrk5qjuj4rY9er5FK3gJRsTRK9XGs6dM5gIMRgziyhlkTaEpyZWNAtNA_6NGcMIdNQ-5QTdU/s1600/20123009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZ5sVlVUAH08xcqTBmg1OKE381omzzANQ5-2IzU3c07zrzhf15jsC4oNX03Yqt7XBA6x1hrk5qjuj4rY9er5FK3gJRsTRK9XGs6dM5gIMRgziyhlkTaEpyZWNAtNA_6NGcMIdNQ-5QTdU/s320/20123009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><a href="http://www.gloria-center.org/author/mahir-khalifa-zadeh/" title="Posts by Mahir Khalifa-zadeh"><span style="color: windowtext;"></span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AZERBAIJAN’S APPROACH TOWARD ISRAEL </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the SOVIET UNION’S disintegration, AZERBAIJAN has been under direct pressure from RUSSIA and IRAN. RUSSIA supports ARMENIA politically, militarily, and economically, which helps ARMENIA to occupy Nagorno-Karabakh–which is internationally recognized as AZERBAIJANI land.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn17" title="">[17]</a> IRAN has also provided support to ARMENIA and blames AZERBAIJAN for its close links with the UNITED STATES and ISRAEL.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Mahir Khalifa - Zadeh </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Since the time of its restored national independence in 1991, AZERBAIJAN has strived to become an important regional player and to retake lands occupied by ARMENIA. In line with these goals and as a result of RUSSIAN and IRANIAN pressure, the late AZERBAIJANI President Heydar Aliyev oriented the country’s strategic foreign policy toward the WEST and ISRAEL. In 1997, he met with ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who made a brief stop in Baku. The two discussed the IRANIAN threat as well as ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI intelligence cooperation. The meeting was considered by some to be the starting point for the alliance between the two countries.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn18" title="">[18]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IRAN STRONGLY OPPOSES AZERBAIJAN’S TIES WITH ISRAEL </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As a continuation of Heydar Aliyev’s strategy, AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev welcomed ISRAELI President Shimon Peres in Baku on in June 2009. President Ilham Aliyev said, “I am happy to host you in my country. This is a most important visit for AZERBAIJAN and we are interested in expanding and strengthening the cooperation between AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL in the areas of security, diplomacy and the economy.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn19" title="">[19]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Peres’s visit took place despite strong opposition from IRAN.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn20" title="">[20]</a> President Aliyev’s decision earned him great respect in ISRAEL. “The clear position of AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev on relations with ISRAEL, in particular his refusal to submit to the demands of IRAN to cancel the visit of ISRAELI President Shimon Peres to Baku and his refusal to join any anti-ISRAEL campaigns” have garnered “sincere respect in ISRAEL.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn21" title="">[21]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL IS VITAL FOR AZERBAIJAN FOR SEVERAL STRATEGIC REASONS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, both AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL face regional security threats.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn22" title="">[22]</a> Despite official slogans of friendship and brotherhood between two nations,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn23" title="">[23]</a> AZERBAIJAN very much fears IRANIAN threatens to use force and expand its intelligence network in Baku and in other parts of the country.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn24" title="">[24]</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover, IRAN provides large-scale support to ARMENIA, which seriously damages AZERBAIJANI-IRANIAN relations and creates serious mistrust between the two countries.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn25" title="">[25]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">THE ARMENIAN EQUATION </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI58iYrxze2KsTGl32G0wMsWFTGNQc_td_wvo1CYFzMq6191-oTCjJAQnYhR8jz7ivw1_4SQqLbYYYpeDrn9OUkaWoibfbk7gzokm9Fd4knF4zrlFayst-cbhn_tYfEWBgOgBlXxqY2km/s1600/Caucasus_countries.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCI58iYrxze2KsTGl32G0wMsWFTGNQc_td_wvo1CYFzMq6191-oTCjJAQnYhR8jz7ivw1_4SQqLbYYYpeDrn9OUkaWoibfbk7gzokm9Fd4knF4zrlFayst-cbhn_tYfEWBgOgBlXxqY2km/s400/Caucasus_countries.png" width="400" /></a></b></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AZERBAIJANI political elites consider ISRAELI or Jewish support a key element in countering the ARMENIAN diaspora, particularly in the UNITED STATES and EUROPE. In 1997, during an official visit to the UNITED STATES, President Heydar Aliyev met with representatives of AMERICAN Jewish organizations in New York and openly asked them to help AZERBAIJAN.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn26" title="">[26]</a> AZERBAIJAN is grateful to ISRAEL for lending the pro-ISRAEL lobby’s weight in Washington to improve AZERI-AMERICAN relations.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn27" title="">[27]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another strategic factor was the successful experience of the TURKISH-ISRAELI partnership for over a decade, which inspired AZERBAIJANI decision makers to form strategic ties with ISRAEL. Despite current problems in the TURKISH-ISRAELI relationship, Ankara “understands that its regional aspirations require correct relations with [the] Jewish state.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn28" title="">[28]</a> Former ISRAELI Ambassador to TURKEY Zvi Elpeleg also noted, “I do not think that relations will deteriorate because there are fundamental reasons why TURKEY and ISRAEL have the same interests.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn29" title="">[29]</a> AZERBAIJAN has attempted to play the mediator between the two countries following tensions and disagreements that emerged as a result of the Mavi Marmara incident. Undoubtedly, this type of mediation can expand Baku’s role in MIDDLE EASTERN affairs and strengthen AZERBAIJAN’S international standing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">THE TRUE REASON BEHIND TURKEYS WARMONGERING AGAINST ISRAEL</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2011/09/turkeys-middle-east-chess-game.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAELI EXPORTS TO TURKEY RISE 42% TO EQUAL EXPORTS TO GERMANY</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/01/see-no-evil-hear-no-evil.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">TRIANGULAR SECURITY AND DEFENSE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TURKEY, ISRAEL, AND AZERBAIJAN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baku welcomes the triangular security and defense partnership between TURKEY, ISRAEL, and AZERBAIJAN. This model of cooperation has been successful concerning energy affairs.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn30" title="">[30]</a> The strategic triangular partnership could be an effective tool in strengthening and supporting U.S. diplomacy, as well as counterbalancing the IRAN-RUSSIA axis in the SOUTH CAUCASUS and CENTRAL ASIA.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Modernizing the AZERBAIJANI Army as part of this defense cooperation is clearly the next and most important strategic dimension for Baku in its relations with Jerusalem. From 1992 to 1994, ISRAEL supported AZERBAIJAN in a war with ARMENIA, supplying Stinger missiles and other weapons to AZERBAIJANI troops.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn31" title="">[31]</a> Moreover, the Jews of AZERBAIJAN fought together with AZERIS against the ARMENIANS during this war. Albert Agarunov, an AZERBAIJANI Army officer and a Mountain Jew, became a national hero in AZERBAIJAN following the war.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn32" title="">[32]</a> More recently, in February 2012, as part of this bilateral defense cooperation, AZERBAIJAN signed a deal to purchase $1.6 billion worth of arms from ISRAEL.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn33" title="">[33]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">LOW PROFILE RELATIONSHIP</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Last, AZERBAIJAN views its relations with ISRAEL as part of a long-term strategy to develop close ties with the UNITED STATES, in order to contain IRANIAN and RUSSIAN threats. Though ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI cooperation has expanded to include foreign policy, the military, economy, and intelligence, AZERBAIJAN does not have a diplomatic mission in ISRAEL for fear of jeopardizing its relations with Muslim countries. Moreover, both sides do not want to publicize their relations. AZERBAIJANI President Ilham Aliyev described his country’s relationship with the Jewish state as being like an iceberg: “nine-tenths of it is below the surface.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn34" title="">[34]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL’S PRIORITIES VIS-À-VIS AZERBAIJAN</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">According to Dr. Ariel Cohen of the Washington, D.C.-based Heritage Foundation, “ISRAEL’S strategic priorities include developing good diplomatic and economic relations with CAUCASUS and CENTRAL ASIA countries, preventing IRAN from increasing its influence in the region, and participating in energy projects, including oil and gas imports to ISRAEL.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn35" title="">[35]</a> In April 2012, ISRAELI Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman paid an official visit to Baku. He met with President Ilham Aliyev, with whom he discussed bilateral relations and IRAN. According to ISRAELI analysts, “Lieberman’s visit comes one month after the AMERICAN magazine <i>Foreign Policy</i> reported that AZERBAIJAN has given Israel access to AZERBAIJANI airbases, which is considered an important step towards a possible attack on IRAN.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn36" title="">[36]</a> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">AZERBAIJAN'S ISRAEL DIPLOMACY TESTS IRAN</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/israel-azerbaijan-and-iran.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/israel-azerbaijan-and-iran.html</a>and </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ISRAEL’S IRAN “WARMONGERING RHETORIC’S” ARE DECEIVING TACTICS FOR A GREATER CAUSE</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/israel-azerbaijan-and-kazakhstan_6.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/israel-azerbaijan-and-kazakhstan_6.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Comment by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring: </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As mentioned numerous times on this blog, mainstream media and to some extend even alternative media report that IRAN presents the most serious threat to ISRAEL, and that IRAN’S nuclear threat should be a concern for the entire world is mainly a convenient bargaining tool for both, ISRAEL and IRAN. In most likelihood the behind the scene scenario looks rather different. Like with AZERBAIJAN, ISRAEL may conduct secrete wheeling and dealings with the PERSIAN state, a scenario not at all impossible, since ISRAEL’S new political doctrine fosters geopolitical as well as economic alliances with non Arab Muslim stated. After all the two countries, in the not too distant past, had not always been arch enemies. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">ARE IRAN AND ISRAEL REALLY ARCHENEMIES, OR IS IT JUST A FACADE? </span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-real-archenemies.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-real-archenemies.html</a>and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">IRAN SOFTENS TUNE ON ISRAEL</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-improvement-in.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/05/iran-and-israel-improvement-in.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL CONSIDERS AZERBAIJAN AND THE CASPIAN LITTORAL AS PART OF THE GREATER MIDDLE EAST</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEykz77-5A52EMvdDdWLV01pJsZ78F9u3HxDMJHZtdRxkUFcYFYWoMGohw3J5-e79ggX9CwQ9i4LMYy9GMdxLgpdw9QxKYydRNPn8T5KzTvTUu0cb3JeR0ZuHOmvYtQkQJoPp5G32-dCFQ/s1600/Turkey_to_israel_pipes.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEykz77-5A52EMvdDdWLV01pJsZ78F9u3HxDMJHZtdRxkUFcYFYWoMGohw3J5-e79ggX9CwQ9i4LMYy9GMdxLgpdw9QxKYydRNPn8T5KzTvTUu0cb3JeR0ZuHOmvYtQkQJoPp5G32-dCFQ/s320/Turkey_to_israel_pipes.gif" width="320" /></a></b></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Both AZERBAIJAN and ISRAEL rejected the allegations. In Baku, Lieberman commented, “Such reports are from the sphere of science fiction and do not correspond with the truth.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn37" title="">[37]</a> Undoubtedly, Lieberman’s visit once again confirmed the strategic character of the ISRAELI-AZERBAIJANI relationship. According to ISRAELI news media, “The foreign minister acknowledged that ISRAEL and AZERBAIJAN–which is strategically located on IRAN’S northern border–have good, stable relations, and he described it as an ‘important country which is now a member of the UN Security Council.’”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn38" title="">[38]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAELI policymakers consider AZERBAIJAN and the CASPIAN littoral as part of the GREATER MIDDLE EAST.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn39" title="">[39]</a> ISRAEL, which for decades has had to deal with hostile neighboring ARAB states, has attempted to improve its security as well as its foreign image and international relations. As part of this strategy, ISRAEL has tried to develop relations with non-ARAB Muslim states. “Expanding its influence into an area of the world heavily Muslim but not ARAB has long been a strategic ISRAELI objective.”<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn40" title="">[40]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">ISRAEL SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH NINE NON-ARAB MUSLIM STATES</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This strategy is designed not only to improve relations with the Islamic world, but also to demonstrate that ISRAEL can have peaceful relations with Muslim states. ISRAEL has attempted to prove that there is no ISRAEL-Muslim or Jewish-Muslim confrontation. The collapse of the USSR provided a brilliant opportunity for ISRAEL to develop relations with the newly independent former SOVIET Muslim republics. As of this writing, ISRAEL has successfully established diplomatic relations with nine non-Arab Muslim states.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/Yeru/Documents/Yeru%20GLORIA/MERIA/v17n1/Khalifa-revised-YA-au3.doc#_edn41" title="">[41]</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In this light, AZERBAIJAN’S experience of the peaceful cohabitation of AZERIS and JEWS was attractive for the ISRAELI political elite. This model serves as a foundation upon which to develop a long-term partnership. ISRAELI policymakers enthusiastically responded to AZERBAIJANI attempts to establish close bilateral ties.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Notes: </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[17]</a> “Russia Extends Lease on Military Base in Armenia Through 2044,” <i>RIA Novosti</i>, August 20, 2010, <a href="http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100820/160276128.html">http://en.rian.ru/mlitary_news/20100820/160276128.html</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[18]</a> David Lev, “Iran Warns Azerbaijan: Keep Mossad Out,” <i>Arutz Sheva</i>, February 12, 2012, <u><a href="http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152671">http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152671</a></u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[19]</a> Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “President Shimon Peres in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan for Historic First Visit, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, June 28, 2009, <u><a href="http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/President_Peres_visits_Azerbaijan_and_Kazakhstan_28_Jun_2009.htm">http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/President_Peres_visits_Azerbaijan_and_Kazakhstan_28_Jun_2009.htm</a></u>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[20]</a> “Iran Recalls Azerbaijan Envoy Following Peres Visit,” <i>JTA</i>, June 29, 2009, <u><a href="http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/06/29/1006211/iran-recalls-azerbaijan-envoy-following-peres-visit">http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/06/29/1006211/iran-recalls-azerbaijan-envoy-following-peres-visit</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[21]</a> Ilya Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace,” <i>Middle East Quarterly</i>, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Summer 2006), pp. 47-57, <u><a href="http://www.meforum.org/987/israel-and-azerbaijans-furtive-embrace">http://www.meforum.org/987/israel-and-azerbaijans-furtive-embrace</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[22]</a> Arye Gut, “Azerbaijan, Israel Have Become ‘Strategic Allies’,” <i>News.Az</i>, June 28, 2011, <u><a href="http://news.az/articles/politics/39340">http://news.az/articles/politics/39340</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[23]</a> “Ilham Aliyev and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad Held an Expanded Meeting,” President of Azerbaijan website, News, November 17, 2010, <a href="http://en.president.az/articles/1103">http://en.president.az/articles/1103</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[24]</a> “Iran Threatens Pre-emptive Action amid Nuclear Tensions,” <i>NBC News</i>, February 21, 2012, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46461790/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/iran-threatens-pre-emptive-action-amid-nuclear-tensions/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46461790/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/t/iran-threatens-pre-emptive-action-amid-nuclear-tensions/</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[25]</a> “Iran Provides Every Support to Armenia, Azerbaijani MP,” <i>News.Az</i>, February 14, 2012, <a href="http://www.news.az/articles/politics/54665">http://www.news.az/articles/politics/54665</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[26]</a> Speech of Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev on the official reception in honor of President Heydar Aliyev on behalf of the conference of presidents of major Jewish  organizations–July 28, 1997,” <i>Heydar Aliyev Heritage International Online Library</i>, <a href="http://library.aliyev-heritage.org/en/7423863.html">http://library.aliyev-heritage.org/en/7423863.html</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[27]</a> Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[28]</a> Efraim Inbar, “Israeli-Turkish Tensions and Beyond,”<i>Hurriyet Daily News</i>, March 12, 2010, <a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=israeli-turkish-tensions-and-beyond-2010-03-12">http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/default.aspx?pageid=438&n=israeli-turkish-tensions-and-beyond-2010-03-12</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[29]</a> Serkan Demirtaş, “Amid Sound and Fury, Turkey-Israel Alliance Endures,” <i>Hurriyet Daily News</i>, April 13, 2012, <a href="http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10705597.asp">http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/10705597.asp</a><u>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[30]</a> Alexander Murinson, “Azerbaijan-Turkey-Israel Relations: The Energy Factor,” <i>Middle East Review of International Affairs</i> (MERIA), Vol. 12, No. 3 (September 2008), <a href="http://www.gloria-center.org/2008/09/murinson-2008-09-04/">http://www.gloria-center.org/2008/09/murinson-2008-09-04/</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[31]</a> Soner Cagaptay and Alexander Murinson, “Good Relations Between Azerbaijan and Israel: A Model for Other Muslim States in Eurasia?” The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, March 30, 2005, <a href="http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/good-relations-between-azerbaijan-and-israel-a-model-for-other-muslim-state">http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/good-relations-between-azerbaijan-and-israel-a-model-for-other-muslim-state</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[32]</a> <i>Address of Jewish Diaspora of Azerbaijan</i>, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), June 19, 2003, <a href="http://www.osce.org/secretariat/42078">http://www.osce.org/secretariat/42078</a><u>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[33]</a> “Azerbaijan Rejects Iran Fears over Israel ‘Arms Buy’,” <i>Defense News</i>, February, 29, 2012, <a href="http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG04/302290002/Azerbaijan-Rejects-Iran-Fears-Over-Israel-8216-Arms-Buy-8217">http://www.defensenews.com/article/20120229/DEFREG04/302290002/Azerbaijan-Rejects-Iran-Fears-Over-Israel-8216-Arms-Buy-8217</a><u>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[34]</a> Patrick Brennan, “Israeli-Azerbaijan Deal Leaked, Bolton Blames Obama,” <i>National Review</i>, March 29, 2012, <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/294856/bolton-blames-obama-leaking-israeli-azerbaijan-relationship-patrick-brennan">http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/294856/bolton-blames-obama-leaking-israeli-azerbaijan-relationship-patrick-brennan</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[35]</a> Ariel Cohen and Kevin DeCorla-Souza, “Eurasian Energy and Israel’s Choices,” <i>Mideast Security and Policy Studies</i>, No. 88 (February 2011), <u><a href="http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/MSPS88.pdf">http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/MSPS88.pdf</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[36]</a> Lieberman Denies Israel Has Access to Azerbaijan Air Bases,” <i>JewishJournal.com</i>, April 23, 2012, <u><a href="http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/lieberman_denies_israel_has_access_to_azerbaijan_air_bases_20120423/">http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/lieberman_denies_israel_has_access_to_azerbaijan_air_bases_20120423/</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[37]</a>  “Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman Visits North Azerbaijan on 20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations,” <i>BayBak Azerbaijan</i>, April 24, 2012, <u><a href="http://en.baybak.com/israeli-foreign-minister-avigdor-lieberman-visits-north-azerbaijan-on-20th-anniversary-of-diplomatic-relations.azr">http://en.baybak.com/israeli-foreign-minister-avigdor-lieberman-visits-north-azerbaijan-on-20th-anniversary-of-diplomatic-relations.azr</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[38]</a> Herb Keinon, “Reports Baku Gave Israel Airfields Are Fiction,” <i>The Jerusalem Post</i>, April 4, 2012, <u><a href="http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=267268">http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=267268</a>.</u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[39]</a> Bulent Aras, “Post-Cold War Realities: Israel’s Strategy in Azerbaijan and Central Asia,” <i>Middle East Policy</i>, January 1, 1998, <u><a href="http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20297513.html">http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20297513.html</a></u>, p. 6869.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[40]</a> Bourtman, “Israel and Azerbaijan’s Furtive Embrace.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" title="">[41]</a> U.S. Department of State, “Israel,” <i>Background Notes</i>, <a href="http://www.state.gov/">http://www.state.gov</a>.</span></div>

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1:52 AM Tukiyooo 0

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Monsters University: Endearing school daze

1:00 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><i>Monsters University</i> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>(2013) • <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/disney/monstersuniversity/" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">View trailer</a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b>Four stars. Rating: G, and suitable for all ages</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #5e5e5e; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><b>By <a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/12885694730612878577" style="color: #27a9c5; text-decoration: none;">Derrick Bang</a></b></span></b></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>            <br /><div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Delving into the origins of popular characters can be quite a lark — consider the fun that’s been had with younger versions of Sherlock Holmes, James Bond and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek</i> crew — and Pixar has uncorked a collegiate charmer with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monsters University</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmxTeJfbFt81dbR2OM-vGT7b_9BeEDzuzHVYSFkbEfcF88aw2SLytjCZHhOZRkwzh1WEirk9CC9SNVtP94tTQQSCF50Q0iKJDu5vmaqL-cHa8f62zj0KFeX7STNkBFYvF5batQdlRnj4/s1600/Monsters+University+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmxTeJfbFt81dbR2OM-vGT7b_9BeEDzuzHVYSFkbEfcF88aw2SLytjCZHhOZRkwzh1WEirk9CC9SNVtP94tTQQSCF50Q0iKJDu5vmaqL-cHa8f62zj0KFeX7STNkBFYvF5batQdlRnj4/s400/Monsters+University+blog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">When an extra-curricular field trip goes awry, the members of Oozma Kappa — from<br />left, Art, Don, Squishy, Terri/Terry, Mike and Sulley — find themselves being pursued<br />by Folks In Charge. With few options for escape, our misfits are about to learn an<br />important lesson: Salvation comes when friends work together.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spending more time in the imaginatively conceived “monster universe” is delectable enough, and director/co-scripter Dan Scanlon has sweetened the pot by supplying the inside scoop on how monocular-eyed Mike Wazowski (once again voiced by Billy Crystal) first met bodaciously blue-furred James P. “Sulley” Sullivan (John Goodman).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naturally, it’s competitive loathing at first sight. Isn’t that the way all grand friendships are born?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although this prequel lacks freshness and originality — try as they might, Scanlon and co-scripters Daniel Gerson and Robert L. Baird can’t replicate the giggly, first-time awe generated by 2001’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Monsters, Inc.</i> — it compensates with a warm-hearted story that extols both the virtues of friendship and integrity, and the all-important notion that diversity is valuable for its own sake.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, even a world littered with crazy-quilt critters isn’t immune to social pecking orders that ostracize misfits and timid outcasts. Scanlon & Co. pull off an impressive trick here: Even though we know the future of this realm’s scare industry — thanks to the first film — this sparkling new adventure of Mike and Sulley sets up innovative adversaries and challenges, while keeping a steady (single) eye on the core message of camaraderie and integrity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Resourceful as we might be on our own, we’re always stronger when good buddies have our back ... and we have theirs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We first meet Mike during childhood (voiced with high-pitched, little-kid sincerity, in these early scenes, by Noah Johnston), as a teacher’s pet and correspondingly shunned know-it-all, who nonetheless blossoms during a school field trip to the Monsters Inc. “Scream Floor.” Little Mike is spellbound, as he watches veteran Scarers travel through the magical doors that lead into the bedrooms of unsuspecting Earth children, there to elicit the youthful shrieks and screams that supply the essential power to the Monster Universe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">, young Mike decides, is what he wants to do in life.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><a name='more'></a><br />  <div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Flash-forward to Mike’s first day on the storied, Ivy League-flavored campus of Monsters University, as he eagerly embraces life as a freshman at the School of Scaring. Alas, his book smarts and willingness to study fail to impress the imperious Dean Hardscrabble (Helen Mirren), a scuttling, genuinely frightful creature modeled after an Amazonian giant centipede ... with devil’s wings. In the dean’s eyes, a one-eyed green beach ball couldn’t possibly be scary, and she can’t wait to bounce Mike from this particular field of study.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But the dean is equally unimpressed by Sulley, a slacker who shows up late for class, fully expecting to coast on the value of his family name; the Sullivans have fielded impressive Scarers up until now. As it happens, that reputation <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> good enough for top Scare student Johnny Worthington (Nathan Fillion), the condescending president of the campus’ top fraternity, Roar Omega Roar.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mike isn’t fazed; he’s got enough optimism for himself <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and</i> his dorm mate, the chameleon-like Randy Boggs (Steve Buscemi). Pixar fans will remember this character from the first film, and his introduction here is something of a surprise: He’s insecure, uncertain and — like Mike — just wants to fit in. And become a Scarer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After an unfortunate classroom incident, Mike and Sulley find their university careers hanging by the slimmest of threads. Worse yet, they’re forced to join ranks with the campus’ most embarrassing fraternity, Oozma Kappa, which boasts but four members:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Scott “Squishy” Squibbles (Pete Sohn), a sweet, naïve, gelatinous blob forever humiliated by the fact that their “frat house” actually is the family home run by his single mother (Julia Sweeney);<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Art (Charlie Day), a purple-furred whatzis who resembles a discarded Muppet, and whose weird anatomical abilities are matched by an equally off-kilter, New Age-y manner;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Terri and Terry Perry (Sean Hayes and Dave Foley), a two-headed preppy forever bickering with himself; and <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">• Don Carlton (Joel Murray), a tentacled, downsized Midwestern salesmonster who has returned to college in an effort to re-invent himself and find a new career as a Scarer. (Yes, this is one of several nods toward real-world relevance: a welcome touch that grants this script additional pathos.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This, then, is the rag-tag bunch that Mike and Sulley hope to mold into champions of the annual multi-round Scare Games ... a challenge made more formidable by the fact that Mike and Sulley don’t even like each other. Cooperate? Not likely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best Pixar films always blend their core narrative with plenty of hilarious sidebar events and characters, ranging from short verbal encounters to eyeblink sight gags and other whimsical bits of business at the edges of a given scene. By its very nature, the monster universe is ripe with such material, and you’ll likely go cross-eyed trying to take in all the fun stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goodness, an establishing overview of the MU quad is impressive enough, with literally hundreds of monster students — no two alike — studying, kicking back, playing games or making their way to class ... some faster than others. Point being, this film invites — nay, demands — repeat viewing, in order to better appreciate details large and small.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scanlon and his fellow scribes also replicate the nervous, all-essential college vibe, with its confidence-shattering agitation, while granting it a monstrous spin: everything from the hilariously cramped dorm rooms to the caste system that establishes a gulf between Oozma Kappa and the “cooler” Greeks such as Roar Omega Roar and the deceptively sweet, pink-garbed sisters of Python Nu Kappa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The characters may be inhuman, but the unsettling atmosphere will be familiar to anybody who spent time on a high school or college campus ... and worried about fitting in. That would be most of us, which is precisely the point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crystal once again romps his way through Mike’s motor-mouthed efforts to compensate for his raging case of Little Monster Insecurity. Mike is blind to the possibility that confidence might not be enough to overcome physical, ah, deficiencies, when it comes to being genuinely scary. And because Pixar’s talented animators grant this green gum drop just as much emotional complexity as Crystal’s expressive voice — an impressive trick, when dealing with a character who has only one eye, no nose and no body — we easily accept the notion that he’s no different than any other young adult trying to find his place in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goodman, in turn, is appropriately brash and blustery as the big, handsome guy — everybody’s notion of the ideal monster — who can’t be bothered to better develop his natural abilities. Why bother, when he has the best roar in school? Goodman lends an undertone of menace to his performance, particularly when Sulley (quite unfairly) perceives Mike to be the source of all his troubles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fun here comes with anticipation: our knowledge that, at some point, Sulley must start to become the humble, sweet and mature hero of the 2001 film. This thawing occurs in several phases, although I particularly enjoyed the moment when the worshipful Squishy “ropes” Sulley into joining him during a fraternity dance. It’s a sweet little scene, and one of many.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mirren is suitably chilling as Dean Hardscrabble, who somehow manages to be both terrifying and graceful. Buscemi’s obsequious tones initially make Randy something of a shallow toady, but we know that an edge eventually will appear in his tone.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aubrey Plaza’s fans will recognize her distinctive voice behind Greek Council President Claire Wheeler, the rah-rah who emcees the Scare Games. Tyler Labine and John Krasinski play the Greek Council VP and “Frightening” Frank McCay, respectively. And of course Pixar regular John Ratzenberger pops up, albeit very briefly, as a Yeti-esque blue-collar worker.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As also is custom, this film is preceded by a truly charming short subject, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Blue Umbrella</i>, animated in a style quite unlike all other Pixar shorts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Randy Newman contributes a delightful orchestral score: triumphant as necessary, bittersweet during the story’s frequent emotional setbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One quibble: Although this film was designed to be made in 3-D, those effects add nothing to the finished product. Save your money and go for the standard version.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the considerable disappointment of last summer’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><a href="http://derrickbang.blogspot.com/2012/06/brave-loses-its-way.html">Brave</a></i>, it’s nice to see that Pixar hasn’t lost its magic touch. As company founder John Lasseter always says, nothing is more important than story ... except perhaps credible characters who work their way into our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s certainly the case here.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Monsters University: Endearing school daze

Monsters University (2013) • View trailer Four stars. Rating: G, and suitable for all ages By Derrick Bang Delving into th...

Make Money from Home Being a Freelance Writer

11:56 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking:  I would love to make money from home.  One of the easiest and most lucrative methods around is freelance writing.   Whether you choose to start a blog, develop your own website, or contribute to someone else’s site, writing can have a positive impact on your personal bottom line from month to month.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">What you really need to decide is what kind of content you want to write?  Movie reviews, television critiques, travel notes, a little bit of everything?  Those are just examples, because just about anything is possible on the good old Internet. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">One of the biggest questions I get is where and how to get started writing for money on the Internet, because many sites you will be applying to will want to see examples of what you have already done.  Think of it as a virtual resume.  One site in particular that is near and dear to my heart is Yahoo! Voices, which is formerly known as Associated Content.  The money might not be staggering at first, by Voices gives you the platform you need to get started.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The site is a great launching pad, because it offers upfront payments and royalties based on the number hits an article gets.  Those are strong incentives for any aspiring freelance writer.  Of course, Yahoo! Voices is not the only writing site out there, but it is a great starting point to learn and hone your craft until you are ready to move up to other sites.  It lets you create a library of content with feedback from staff members (alright occasionally feedback), but it also offers a chance to network with other writers.  Here’s a link to get going:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://contributor.yahoo.com/join//?refer=486855"><img alt="Join the Yahoo! Contributor Network" border="0" src="http://l.yimg.com/ck/siteimg/referral_120x90_a.gif"></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Two things you will need for Yahoo! Voices include:  a Yahoo ID and a Paypal account.  Obviously, since this is a Yahoo site, the ID is necessary to join, and the Paypal account is so that you can get paid, which is really the whole point.  So get those two hurdles out of the way and get going.<o:p></o:p></div>

best home business make money from home Make Money from Home Being a Freelance Writer

I know what you’re thinking: I would love to make money from home. One of the easiest and most lucrative methods around is freelance writi...

Google brings Android Nation store to India to spice up its retail market

9:06 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;">In the significant move that will be increase Android penetration in India.Its promoter google is now varying for a piece of the retail market with brick-and-mortar stores called Android Nation.</div><br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMSK035gpk2VEij4PBEC5dk5fzYKNopfUHQ_UI5ue-FpXhca9T1_eF5vhT2CFi7Rlk6dTxxwamD8i-6K0DLP_f-67ERc-0GHJg1TAU8VfJrdoQpEjKqF5ApwZAhYz2La2cTWVftz4Gaw/s1600/google-brings-android-nation-store-to-india-to-spice-up-its-retail-market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMSK035gpk2VEij4PBEC5dk5fzYKNopfUHQ_UI5ue-FpXhca9T1_eF5vhT2CFi7Rlk6dTxxwamD8i-6K0DLP_f-67ERc-0GHJg1TAU8VfJrdoQpEjKqF5ApwZAhYz2La2cTWVftz4Gaw/s1600/google-brings-android-nation-store-to-india-to-spice-up-its-retail-market.jpg" wya="true" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">source: google news</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The US company will partner BK Modi's Spice Global to set up the stores in various Indian cities, starting with New Delhi later this year.<br /><br />Like other such stores in Indonesia, each Android Nation store will promote and sell Android smartphones and tablets across multiple brands like Samsung HTC Sony LG And Asus etc</div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The store will also serve as an Android experience centre where customers can find out more about the latest Android apps, get help from experts, download software updates or check out the latest accessories for their devices.<br /><br />Published by <br /><a href="https://plus.google.com/102418621855646948908" rel="author">Narendra Kumar</a></div></div></div>

Accessories android gadget google news Technology Google brings Android Nation store to India to spice up its retail market

In the significant move that will be increase Android penetration in India.Its promoter google is now varying for a piece of the retail mark...

I Love Summer!!

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Y’know?  Today is the first full day of Summer, and we are gonna have some fun, in fact…<br /><br />The other day, a post that <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/06/mayhem-in-am-shut-down-by-pc-police.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">Jayman wrote</span></i></a> reminded me of a good time summer time dream that I had had some years ago.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdQZZYLqECOoX4AocBaKq1Egm22-CVXVQcOekxJx_7LoLS78L1IdQMwQOBtb4hY_eAT7UwCjvwp3bEU_itzDxZuGVXT4N9oFwukBd9tOXr7U_AYTH6xHcl-JNzUdU0pafmaoijFsxQp0/s1600/Sarah+Palin+Fox+News+People+Love+Her.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdQZZYLqECOoX4AocBaKq1Egm22-CVXVQcOekxJx_7LoLS78L1IdQMwQOBtb4hY_eAT7UwCjvwp3bEU_itzDxZuGVXT4N9oFwukBd9tOXr7U_AYTH6xHcl-JNzUdU0pafmaoijFsxQp0/s400/Sarah+Palin+Fox+News+People+Love+Her.jpg" width="400" /></a>And please…allow me to tell to tell you how it all went down..<br /><br />I was at picnic fundraiser for Sarah Palin. It was a first, kinda summer day, and …<br /><br />True to her folksy, homespun carnival act personality, there were all sorts of activities that one might find at a small town America cookout during the summer.<br /><br />I signed up for the three-legged race. I’ve always kinda dug that. We all threw our names in a hat and Sarah drew names to see who would partner with whom.<br /><br />I was excited because I knew that if I had a decent partner I had a good shot at winning. My excitement soon became despair when Sarah named who would be tied up with me…<br /><br />Stephen Fucking Hawking!!<br /><br /><i>“What a disadvantage that puts me at.”</i> I muttered to myself.<br /><br />While other pairs are running the race with three good legs, I’m going to be draggin’ Hawking down Lane 4 for 50 yards.<br /><br />I was thinking to myself, <i>“Holy Shit…Having Heather Mills as my partner would be a step up.”</i><br /><br />Anyhoo…Hawking comes rolling up to me, and in his creepy McDonald’s Drive-Thru speaker voice, said…<br /><br /><i>“Let’s kick some ass, Matt-Man.”</i><br /><br />So I dump his ass out of his wheelchair, and he’s laying there in all his palsied and Parkinsonian glory flippin’ and a-flappin’ around like a washed up walleye contorting on a hot rock, and I tied him to my right leg with a bungee cord and duct tape.<br /><br />I dragged him and his useless body over to the starting line. There were six teams in the race, but one team in particular was giving me and The Hawk-Man the stink eye.<br /><br />It was the team of Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck.<br /><br />After we stared them down (well, after I stared them down, Hawking’s face was in the dirt, mumbling some incoherent bullshit about supernovas and their effect on the space/time continuum), I turned my eyes to the prize and the finish line that was 50 yards away.<br /><br />Palin with bullhorn in hand, shouted, <i>“Ready, Set…”</i> and then several rounds from her AK-47 set each team into motion.<br /><br />Despite the dead weight attached to me, I was bolting like lightning down the course…<br />Hawking beside me and behind me all the way, his face being bloodied by the ground as he drooled and continuously muttered, for whatever reason, <i>“Deus ex Machina!!”</i><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l13vCxu-tejuunlDUwslLCvZleZwjTKckeZcPE1xaoCf9nDdFbMI3uVTqe6s3U6DVk6SBiQJHQJgPouOLFcgH7DnCNXnNVVYWDs_x4vMcbobAL1SnqTzNfvRmQPpXpMF-zPyc70LBAA/s1600/stephen-hawking+freak+wheelchair+brilliant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9l13vCxu-tejuunlDUwslLCvZleZwjTKckeZcPE1xaoCf9nDdFbMI3uVTqe6s3U6DVk6SBiQJHQJgPouOLFcgH7DnCNXnNVVYWDs_x4vMcbobAL1SnqTzNfvRmQPpXpMF-zPyc70LBAA/s400/stephen-hawking+freak+wheelchair+brilliant.jpg" width="400" /></a>O’Reilly and Beck were leading, but as we neared the finish line lagging behind those two nut jobs, they abruptly stopped in order to deeply kiss and fondle each other’s dick.<br /><br />As they engaged in their ego and cock stroking man love, I sped passed them hauling Hawking’s bouncing, crippled body beside me.<br /><br />As we crossed the finish line in triumphant fashion, I realized the brilliance of Hawking. O’Reilly and Beck’s public display of depravity had been our Deus ex Machina.<br /><br />I cut Hawking loose from me, gave him a bottle of Gatorade, and proceeded to have obligatory winner’s sex with Bristol Palin.<br /><br />Hawking? Unable to put himself into his wheelchair, he lay there calculating exactly how long it would take him to die from over-exposure to the hot summer sun. And you know what?<br /><br />That brilliant bastard predicted his sunstroke induced demise right to the nano-second, and that in itself, is pretty God Damn brilliant…and funny.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><br /><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">My Facebook page</span></a></div>

I Love Summer!!

Y’know? Today is the first full day of Summer, and we are gonna have some fun, in fact… The other day, a post that Jayman wrote reminded m...

Lose Up To 20 Pounds In Three Weeks With An HCG Texas Weight Loss Consultant

8:56 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Liliana Mills</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>The HCG diet is gaining popularity in Texas as people share their success stories. The program combines hormone therapy with a calorie restricted meal plan. It allows dieters to shed weight rapidly without feeling hungry. Losses of 10 to 25 pounds are possible the first three weeks. Under the supervision of an HCG Texas weight loss consultant, the program can be followed successfully with no risk to an individual's health.<br />  <br />  The hormone known as Human Chorionic Gonadotropin or HCG is produced by women during pregnancy. It releases fat stored in deposits on the thighs, hips and abdomen so that it can be utilized as fuel. This fat mobilization ensures that the growing fetus has a constant energy supply.<br />  <br />  The British endocrinologist Dr Albert Simeons conducted experiments in the 1950s to test the use of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin as a weight loss aid. He put clinically obese male and female subjects on a very low calorie diet and gave them daily hormone injections. The results were astounding. The subjects rapidly lost excess fat without losing muscle mass. They experienced no adverse side effects and reported an unexpected absence of hunger.<br />  <br />  Today no one has to endure daily injections in order to benefit from the fat mobilizing and hunger suppressing effects of HCG. Weight loss consultants can supply their patients with the hormone in a new oral formula. Just a few drops under the tongue two or three times a daily can help the body to burn away stubborn fat deposits.<br />  <br />  For the first two days on the diet, people are encouraged to eat all they want. Once the hormone is actively releasing stored fat deposits, dieters are limited to 500 calories a day. Since the energy needed to go about ordinary daily activities is provided by excess body fat, hunger signals are inhibited and only a small amount of food is required for nutrition.<br />  <br />  In the rapid weight loss stage of the diet, lunch and dinner consist of a portion of lean beef, chicken or fish, a fruit, a vegetable and a crisp bread. The choice of foods is limited as are the cooking methods. Dishes can be made more interesting by combining allowable foods and making use of herbs, spices and seasoning. A typical dinner would be chicken salad with spinach, orange slices and croutons sprinkled with vinegar.<br />  <br />  Low calorie intake combined with a high rate of fat burning produces losses of up to thirty pounds in the first month. However, there is no danger of becoming too thin. The diet is self-limiting because HCG only suppresses hunger when the body is carrying excess fat. When the dieter reaches a normal weight, their food cravings return, even if they continue to take the hormone.<br />  <br />  <A href="http://MySlimSolution.com">HCG Texas</A> weight loss consultants guide their clients through the phases of the weight loss and weight maintenance program. After an initial consultation, they supply clients with the hormone and any nutritional supplements they may require for optimum health. They provide support, advice and motivation to ensure that dieters reach their goals.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'><a href="http://MySlimSolution.com">Read more about</a> Lose Up To 20 Pounds In Three Weeks With An HCG Texas Weight Loss Consultant  visiting our website.</div><br />  </div><br />

Lose Up To 20 Pounds In Three Weeks With An HCG Texas Weight Loss Consultant

By Liliana Mills The HCG diet is gaining popularity in Texas as people share their success stories. The program combines hormone therapy...

Mani-Pedi time

7:26 PM Tukiyooo 0

We went for a manicure & pedicure this morning in Maricel Salon (formerly on White Street).  Ciaran also got his eyebrows done.  <div><br></div><div>I got a French manicure on my fingernails and a funky pale blue varnish on my nails.  Very relaxing and chilled out morning!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLR8J3TPyzFvnU9m0M-Fi7eABLQJ_fMsp1sfdhZSFRoad0_BPR_rfbZ2PM-tzPYeLI6M8M3QmPyg2EfQByeBVEhRe2TOlojySK8bJYKSDHBA-DkSEHc68r9xxPB46JfDxGylT9Qqup1OI/s640/blogger-image--1241025785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLR8J3TPyzFvnU9m0M-Fi7eABLQJ_fMsp1sfdhZSFRoad0_BPR_rfbZ2PM-tzPYeLI6M8M3QmPyg2EfQByeBVEhRe2TOlojySK8bJYKSDHBA-DkSEHc68r9xxPB46JfDxGylT9Qqup1OI/s640/blogger-image--1241025785.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8dewwAtvMm7o7ZKADgJxHGtiSclT0ET06eMR2PPBQsUy7i1gR3heg8MdmIWgUZ5w7kw62STY7PjOI4grQymu9ZssCq9YNNfHf7E0bfFMf_1PRQH9kSSYAA6DKCWGddK1tPvPj0eMOiQm/s640/blogger-image--469714260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8dewwAtvMm7o7ZKADgJxHGtiSclT0ET06eMR2PPBQsUy7i1gR3heg8MdmIWgUZ5w7kw62STY7PjOI4grQymu9ZssCq9YNNfHf7E0bfFMf_1PRQH9kSSYAA6DKCWGddK1tPvPj0eMOiQm/s640/blogger-image--469714260.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR039RUh7ZMoBIhPbdvfhUksASo1WdCRqGwxw7lFeQHfrlX_GhhKYPuTtVruGSS6sdzu3Wltzz7eCgBoWMDlOsil9eqdYKgkVajHP3tG3GKI3CS9VkgwlNhPRign926MANgtqjLpNm6JV/s640/blogger-image-1782104883.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPR039RUh7ZMoBIhPbdvfhUksASo1WdCRqGwxw7lFeQHfrlX_GhhKYPuTtVruGSS6sdzu3Wltzz7eCgBoWMDlOsil9eqdYKgkVajHP3tG3GKI3CS9VkgwlNhPRign926MANgtqjLpNm6JV/s640/blogger-image-1782104883.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KOBzagQVdi_Wkn3PQ-0m3IXHxjg0WbmTCZHk1siJ3buq-fhBEPWjQGMzLIPdYRtrE3VMDM00SsVhG1gzqewDWtVoHZBgEvZ8-0ucFR5NyPMxZuHFIL8vqgHXCDtW8jwRFp8h9ny7g3gp/s640/blogger-image--1159002563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KOBzagQVdi_Wkn3PQ-0m3IXHxjg0WbmTCZHk1siJ3buq-fhBEPWjQGMzLIPdYRtrE3VMDM00SsVhG1gzqewDWtVoHZBgEvZ8-0ucFR5NyPMxZuHFIL8vqgHXCDtW8jwRFp8h9ny7g3gp/s640/blogger-image--1159002563.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>

Mani-Pedi time

We went for a manicure & pedicure this morning in Maricel Salon (formerly on White Street). Ciaran also got his eyebrows done. I got ...