Despite their apparent stamina and
inexhaustible energy, predators of the wild do not squander their energy
needlessly. In fact, if they appear to have all the energy they can use when
they need it, it's because they conserve it when they do not have to use it.
That's what predators do because even when
they decide to hunt, they prefer to scavenge than try to take down a prey. But
if there is nothing on which to scavenge, they look for a lame prey and go
after it rather than chase the one that's fit and able to drain too much of
their energy before succumbing.
Well, those same principles apply in the
politico-diplomatic realm of humans. This being the arena where blood sport is
played, it is filled with players, each of whom plays the dual role of being
both prey and predator at the same time. That's because while seeking to
cannibalize on others, the players know they also constitute prey to someone
else. They live by scavenging on leftovers when they can, or they go after a
lame prey when they have nothing on which to scavenge, or they go after a
rugged prey if they must.
You can study the case of a scavenging
opportunist who believes he spotted a rugged prey that suddenly turned lame.
The opportunist is Benny Avni who called on his gang to assemble and go after
the prey. He believes that Turkey, which used to hunt with the gang, has
suddenly been crippled and so, Avni has suddenly turned hungry. He sent a
message to his gang, which says the following: “Erdogan's Istanbul defeat is a
chance to rebuild bridges with the West,” the title of a column that was
published on June 24, 2019 in the New York Post.
And here is how the rest of Avni's message
reads: “Turkish voters dealt the country's once-invincible president, Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, a sharp slap in the face. America should use the moment to
nudge Ankara, a NATO member and erstwhile stalwart of the Atlantic alliance,
back into the Western fold”.
The problem with Benny Avni and all those
of his ilk, is that if you oppose them on one thing, they'll take it that you
oppose them on everything. If you agree with them on one thing, they'll take it
that you agree with them on everything. But if you show them, you're in
opposition on one thing and in agreement on another, they'll call you
anti-Semitic and seek the help of a higher authority to shut you up.
That frame of mind keeps these people in a
permanent state of confusion –– so much so in fact, that they never understand
each other, let alone understand others. This is why the election of a single
candidate in a municipal Turkish election, has led Benny Avni to conclude that
President Recep Erdogan was suddenly transformed from the invincible tiger that
he was to a lame duck.
Because of that false perception, Benny
Avni has concluded that the entire Turkish population is on the side of NATO,
and that Erdogan alone opposes both his countrymen and the NATO alliance. It is
that the issue separating the two at this time, rests on the matter of Turkey
buying a Russian system of air defense, and America warning Erdogan he will
forfeit Turkey's right to participate in the production of the new American
warplane if he goes ahead with the Russian deal. Erdogan was not deterred by
that warning and so, Avni took the predictable course of switching the discussion
to the Turkish economy, which he conveniently found it to be faltering. Here is
what Avni wrote in that regard:
“The economy is one reason Erdogan lost
Istanbul. Turkey's growth rate has slowed significantly. Foreign investors are
cautious as the lira loses value. American pressure can further weaken the
economy and force Erdogan to relent. Washington could punish officials involved
in the air defense project. When they meet this week, Trump should disabuse
Erdogan of the belief that he can have arms deals with Russia and America at
the same time. As Erdogan's grip on power loosens, America must warn him that
such realignment is neither in Turkey's interest –– nor his”.
Well, this is what Avni's Jewish mob of
pundits has said about Russia, Iran and every country that refused to toe their
line. But nothing happened to Iran, which remains as defiant as ever. As to
Russia, it is now placed at the top of the list of countries that have recovered
stunningly well after experiencing a downturn that some people thought was
indicative of a faltering economy.