I'm not sure I buy the thesis completely. Yes, there's a considerable overlap between the crazy likudniks and the crazy neocons, but to claim that neoconservatism is just likudniks in a cheap tuxedo strikes me as somewhat overblown.

A central tenet of neoconservative ideology is belligerent, jingoistic nationalism. Anybody who does not toe the US line 110 % is viewed as an enemy. So of course they're going to go after anybody who doesn't back Israel the likudnik occupation policy. But they also go after Latin American reformers, German anti-Iraq-war politicians and France (on general principle).

Apparently TPTB have decided that Israel is a more valuable client than Turkey. I'm not entirely sure I agree with that assessment, but I'm not entirely sure I disagree either - Israel is vital for the Suez game, which is a lot more interesting than the Bosphorus/Aegean game. Also, I think Turkey buys a lot more of their war toys from European death merchants.

- Jake

Friends come and go. Enemies accumulate.