Don't offend Turkey: "70 percent of U.S. military cargo bound for Iraq goes through" Turkey

[ProSense]

Time for Congress to put its House back in Order

Posted October 21, 2007 | 08:04 PM (EST)
Breaking News

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In recent days much has been made of Congress' proposed resolution condemning the Armenian genocide in Turkey. It seems, however, that Speaker Pelosi does not have the votes to pass the perennial resolution.

Over the years, the Armenian genocide resolution has taken different forms with similar results. It has been particularly noteworthy this time around because Turkey is one of our few allies in the region.
The 2007 version of the resolution states: "the Armenian genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923." An estimated 1.5 million Armenians died, the resolution states, while 500,000 were expelled, resulting in "the elimination of the over 2,500-year presence of Armenians in their historic homeland." Turkish officials dispute these claims.

Like its predecessors, the Bush administration, opposes the measure, calling it an insult to a key ally. Moreover, strategic reasons also play into the president's thinking, as an estimated 70 percent of U.S. military cargo bound for Iraq goes through Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.

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The president is absolutely right! And since there clearly are not enough votes for the resolution to pass, Congress should indeed get on with more important work.

more

Oct. 21, 2007, 4:09PM

Report: Police surround monks celebrating Dalai Lama honor

Associated Press

BEIJING — Police in the capital of Tibet clashed for four days with Buddhist monks trying to celebrate the awarding of a congressional honor to the Dalai Lama, a Hong Kong newspaper reported today.

The awarding of Congress' highest civilian honor — personally bestowed on the exiled spiritual leader by President Bush on Wednesday — already had led China to warn that Washington had "gravely undermined" relations.

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The decision by Washington to honor the Dalai Lama is a setback to Beijing's efforts to lend legitimacy to its often harsh rule over Tibet and undermine support for the spiritual leader, who remains popular among Tibetans since fleeing into exile 48 years ago after a failed uprising.

Hypocrisy here and here

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[Kagemusha]

2. Let's see, what's wrong with this picture... ah! One's a military ally, and one isn't.

Just thought I'd point that out.

[dragonlady]

3. If we couldn't ship that military cargo anymore

would we have to stop the war? :shrug:

[ProSense]

4. Tibetan monks "clash" with police over Dalai Lama

Tibetan monks "clash" with police over Dalai Lama

Maybe Bush is the one who is trying to start WWIII?