Tweet
NOT TIME TO ANGER TURKEY
Ben Zenitsky, [email protected].
OSU - The Lantern, OH
http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/pap er333/news/2007/10/24/Opinion/Not-Time.To.Anger.Tu rkey-3053342.shtml
Oct 24 2007
Ohio State University
During the First World War, the Ottoman Turks might or might not
have committed genocide. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with her
Armenian-American constituents in California, believes they did. And
they want Congress to pass a resolution saying so.
So what's the problem with this? Well I will tell you.
The problem is modern-day Turkey's feelings are now officially hurt.
And while it is the only legitimate Middle-Eastern democracy among
Islamic states, the bastion of freedom and the model American disciple
in the region - the prodigal son or teacher's pet, if you will -
surrounded by potentially hostile monarchies and dictatorships,
the last thing we want to do is hurt its feelings.
Especially when its government is mobilizing troops along the Iraqi
border and threatening to invade in order to quell Kurdish separatists
and retaliate against the PKK, a Kurdish terrorist group that has
been accused of attacking inside Turkey.
Critics of Pelosi's symbolic resolution of century-old history said
bad timing. Others said really bad timing.
But whether you're for or against her entirely nonbinding decree,
one thing is clear: Iraq is well on its way from being a "nightmare
with no end in sight," as Retired U.S. Army Gen. Ricardo Sanchez
recently described it, to whatever comes after that on the s--- scale.
If the Turks were to invade, America would be faced with an interesting
dilemma. Do we intervene? We are nation-building here and we can't
have other countries undermining our efforts. Especially when they're
our allies.
To make matters worse, Turkey is home to Incirlik, a large and
strategically crucial air base used as a staging area for American
and British troops as well as to route supplies into Iraq. Access to
this base would more than likely be in jeopardy should the U.S. be
forced to intervene amid a Turkish invasion.
The Armenians, meanwhile, have been pushing for passage of the genocide
bill for years.
House Resolution 106 was co-authored by a fellow Democrat and statesman
of Pelosi's, Rep. Adam Schiff of California's 29th district, which
is home to the country's largest Armenian community, according to
The Washington Post.
Not surprisingly, the president has been an outspoken critic of the
proclamation and said Congress is merely wasting its time.
"Congress has more important work to do than antagonizing a democratic
ally in the Muslim world, especially one that's providing vital
support for our military every day," George W. Bush said at a recent
press conference.
And for what has to be the first time in seven years, I agree with
the man.
For a group of men and women to actually have lower national approval
ratings than both Bush and Dick Cheney - as our current Congress
incredibly does - one would logically assume Capitol Hill would be
planning ahead rather than looking back 92 years solely to label
events of the past.
Turkish parliament, meanwhile, voted by an overwhelming majority to
authorize troops to enter Iraq late last week. Whether or not they
will remains to be seen.
After being asked by a reporter if the government should ask permission
before invading, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is quoted
as saying, "Without asking or receiving permission, the U.S. traveled
thousands of kilometers to hit Iraq," he said. "No one should give
us any advice."
Ben Zenitsky, [email protected].
OSU - The Lantern, OH
http://media.www.thelantern.com/media/storage/pap er333/news/2007/10/24/Opinion/Not-Time.To.Anger.Tu rkey-3053342.shtml
Oct 24 2007
Ohio State University
During the First World War, the Ottoman Turks might or might not
have committed genocide. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, along with her
Armenian-American constituents in California, believes they did. And
they want Congress to pass a resolution saying so.
So what's the problem with this? Well I will tell you.
The problem is modern-day Turkey's feelings are now officially hurt.
And while it is the only legitimate Middle-Eastern democracy among
Islamic states, the bastion of freedom and the model American disciple
in the region - the prodigal son or teacher's pet, if you will -
surrounded by potentially hostile monarchies and dictatorships,
the last thing we want to do is hurt its feelings.
Especially when its government is mobilizing troops along the Iraqi
border and threatening to invade in order to quell Kurdish separatists
and retaliate against the PKK, a Kurdish terrorist group that has
been accused of attacking inside Turkey.
Critics of Pelosi's symbolic resolution of century-old history said
bad timing. Others said really bad timing.
But whether you're for or against her entirely nonbinding decree,
one thing is clear: Iraq is well on its way from being a "nightmare
with no end in sight," as Retired U.S. Army Gen. Ricardo Sanchez
recently described it, to whatever comes after that on the s--- scale.
If the Turks were to invade, America would be faced with an interesting
dilemma. Do we intervene? We are nation-building here and we can't
have other countries undermining our efforts. Especially when they're
our allies.
To make matters worse, Turkey is home to Incirlik, a large and
strategically crucial air base used as a staging area for American
and British troops as well as to route supplies into Iraq. Access to
this base would more than likely be in jeopardy should the U.S. be
forced to intervene amid a Turkish invasion.
The Armenians, meanwhile, have been pushing for passage of the genocide
bill for years.
House Resolution 106 was co-authored by a fellow Democrat and statesman
of Pelosi's, Rep. Adam Schiff of California's 29th district, which
is home to the country's largest Armenian community, according to
The Washington Post.
Not surprisingly, the president has been an outspoken critic of the
proclamation and said Congress is merely wasting its time.
"Congress has more important work to do than antagonizing a democratic
ally in the Muslim world, especially one that's providing vital
support for our military every day," George W. Bush said at a recent
press conference.
And for what has to be the first time in seven years, I agree with
the man.
For a group of men and women to actually have lower national approval
ratings than both Bush and Dick Cheney - as our current Congress
incredibly does - one would logically assume Capitol Hill would be
planning ahead rather than looking back 92 years solely to label
events of the past.
Turkish parliament, meanwhile, voted by an overwhelming majority to
authorize troops to enter Iraq late last week. Whether or not they
will remains to be seen.
After being asked by a reporter if the government should ask permission
before invading, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is quoted
as saying, "Without asking or receiving permission, the U.S. traveled
thousands of kilometers to hit Iraq," he said. "No one should give
us any advice."