Solidarity trumps 'Country'

SF-TX · 10-11-2007, 20:53

"The House of Representatives foreign affairs committee has approved a non-binding resolution calling the massacre of Armenians nearly a century ago a genocide. The vote was 27 to 21. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, President Bush and senior officials in his administration strongly oppose the measure, saying it will damage relations with Turkey and set back U.S. efforts in Iraq and elsewhere in the region."

The Foreign Affairs committee chairman, Tom Lantos (D-California) had this to say about the resolution:

'"We have to weigh the desire to express our solidarity with the Armenian people and to condemn this historic nightmare through the use of the word genocide against the risk that it could cause young men and women in the uniform of the U.S. armed services to pay an even heavier price than they are now paying."'

http://voanews.com/english/2007-10-10-voa50.cfm

I am stupefied, but unfortunately, not surprised. So Congressman, is it worth the lives of US servicemen to insult an imperfect ally? For what? Political gain? I suspect it is another shameless tactic by your party to undermine the current administration.

Your party won't admit they want to see the US fail in Iraq, so they will attempt to thwart our efforts in the region by proxy.

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 10-12-2007, 07:55

Man I would hate to be imbedded with a Turkish team right now, not to mention holding a lot of stock in corporations doing business with the Turks. About the only folks that are doing back flips over this is the PPK, especially if the Turks go more than nuts over their view of US-Turk relations. I have read so much about this "genocide" over the years that anyone who wants to can make a good play to fire up either side with enough "truth, half-truth, propaganda" and seem like they are on the right side. Lantos, however, needs to go home to Hungary where he can carry on his own battle against the "scars" left on his ancestors due to Ottoman occupations. I think we need to have a new rule: No one that speaks with a foreign accent, especially when it becomes more pronounced when making a point, should be allowed to serve in Congress.

Ret10Echo · 10-12-2007, 08:47

These delusional elitists have no clue...

Perhaps we can replace Columbus day with a National Denunciation day?

Don't want to be specific that way the clowns in the house with the big hat on it can pass a resolution to accuse or apologize for anything and everything...

Good thing there currently are no important issues INSIDE the U.S. so they have time to be concerned over 90-year-old issues that can't be undone....

Books · 10-12-2007, 22:10

My two pennies. . .

Now, I get that there are political implications for raising this issue (I certainly don't support leveraging history for political rib shots from either party) and that it did happen a long time ago, but. . .

Is there or is there not a statute of limitations on murder? Can't we call a spade a spade here? The Turks say the Armenians were terrorists, so they slaughtered the lot of them. . . or so I understand (please correct me if I'm wrong). It seems the real hitch is that they've never owned up to it. I know they've got PR issues to deal with in regards to joining the EU and being considered butchers doesn't help their cause, but sweeping it under the table doesn't seem to help them either.

It seems to me that if we are to stand for what is right, we must do so consistently. Or, if we do what we want and what is in our interest (as I believe we do), then never mind. The Dem from wherever is exhibiting this perfectly.

Personnally, I call it genocide.

bubba · 10-13-2007, 01:35

Yes, but at some point you have to ask yourself (as a country/government) do we want to play on the field as a player, or umpire. If you want to be an umpire you get crappy pay compared to the players, have to be impartial, and do not get to win, ever. If you want to play, then sometimes you have to play as part of a team. And part of that involves saying to yourself "hey, self, that 250 pound gorilla might be mean and do things you don't like, but hey, he is on your side, so why would you want to poke him?". The reward, you get to win or loose, make a ton of money either way, and if you are winning, you can even change the rules if you like. Seems to me our dim representatives have decided to try to play on the field as an umpire who is rooting for the other team. Just my .02 cents, have a good un'

Books · 10-13-2007, 18:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubba

Yes, but at some point you have to ask yourself (as a country/government) do we want to play on the field as a player, or umpire. If you want to be an umpire you get crappy pay compared to the players, have to be impartial, and do not get to win, ever. If you want to play, then sometimes you have to play as part of a team. And part of that involves saying to yourself "hey, self, that 250 pound gorilla might be mean and do things you don't like, but hey, he is on your side, so why would you want to poke him?". The reward, you get to win or loose, make a ton of money either way, and if you are winning, you can even change the rules if you like. Seems to me our dim representatives have decided to try to play on the field as an umpire who is rooting for the other team. Just my .02 cents, have a good un'

That's a fair assessment I guess. Oscar Wilde said that if you call a spade a spade, you should be forced to use one. I wonder if this is what he meant by that. And, in the end, it is about winning. Reminds me of Kissinger's book on diplomacy and his comments about Cardinal Richelieu working the national interests of surrounding powers against each other for the benefit of France. . . I'll have to reread that book when I get back from Sage. . . See you guys in little under a month!

Books

Max_Tab · 10-14-2007, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Books

That's a fair assessment I guess. Oscar Wilde said that if you call a spade a spade, you should be forced to use one. I wonder if this is what he meant by that. And, in the end, it is about winning. Reminds me of Kissinger's book on diplomacy and his comments about Cardinal Richelieu working the national interests of surrounding powers against each other for the benefit of France. . . I'll have to reread that book when I get back from Sage. . . See you guys in little under a month!

Books

Wow!!!

My head hurts now.

afchic · 10-15-2007, 14:41

In my last assignment, I dealt with this isssue alot. IMHO the only reason this is coming up now is because this is Pelosi's last ditch effort to derail the war effort. She and her partners in crime (and I mean the literally) have been thwarted at every juncture, and this is how they think they are going to be able to deal with the issue.

She has known the implications, she has been briefed. Hell, Gen Schwartz (USTRANSCOM) went on record during his testimony in front of the HASC in April stating what the implications could be. Any member of Congress that says they didn't know are simply lying (what else is new).

Also, didn't see much coverage by the MSM on the letter Ike Skelton (D-MO), Chairman of the HASC, sent to Pelosi last week asking her to table this issue. Gee I woner why????