Posted on 03/05/2010 11:27:35 AM PST by pissant
Yes. Turkey, the second largest force in NATO, has recalled their ambassador.
In the name of Constantine, can we please just conquer the damn Turks.
The Japanese do not still attack or persecute anyone, unlike the Turks do to Christians.
But if the japs actually argued that the rape of Nanking was well-deserved and the fault of the Chinese then the US certainly should take a stand against them. So really it isn’t remotely the same thing. One nation denies atrocities and another *defends* the atrocities as the right thing to do...
In any event the US is more important to the Turks than Turkey is to the US. Why shouldn’t the Turks worry about upsetting the US rather than the other way around? Consider this payback for their lack of support recently.
We're still busy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Taking on the Turks our ally, with the second largest ground forces in NATO, might be a little beyond our capabilities at the moment.
Here are a few that occurred in the US:
. January 27, 1973 - Santa Barbara, California, United States: Gourgen Yanikian, an elderly U.S. citizen of Armenian origin, assassinates Los Angeles Turkish Consul General, Mehmet Baydar, and Vice Consul, Bahadir Demir, after inviting the Turkish diplomats to his hotel suite to present the Turkish Government with a "gift." Soon after killing the diplomats, Yanikian surrenders to police, is tried in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Barbara, is convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Ten years later, California Governor George Deukmejian, who is of Armenian descent, orders the release of Yanikian, who dies of natural causes soon thereafter. The Armenian Reporter, commemorates Yanikian, declaring that he had "opened [a] new era of political struggle" and "changed the course of Armenian history."
January 28, 1982 - Los Angeles, California, United States: Two Armenian gunmen assassinate Turkish Consul General, Kemal Arikan, in his automobile while waiting at an intersection. Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) claims responsibility. One of the assassins, Hampig Sassounian, a 19-year-old Armenian American member of the Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG), is arrested shortly thereafter. Sassounian's father states on public television, "I am glad that a Turk was killed, but my son did not do it." Sassounian's accomplice, believed to be Krikor Saliba, escapes to Beirut. Los Angeles police search Sassounian's automobile, seizing a .357 caliber bullet and a one-way airline ticket from Los Angeles to Beirut. Police also search Sassounian's home, where they seize a gun receipt, pistol targets, and a manifesto of "The Armenian Youth Federation." Although Sassounian pleads not guilty, the Court convicts him of first-degree murder and sentences to life imprisonment. Sassounian's sentence is later changed to 25 years-life in an appeal agreement in which he finally confesses to the killing. On October 6, 1980 a first attempt was made on Arikan's life, when his home was firebombed.
October 12, 1980 - New York, New York, United States: A bomb planted under a stolen automobile parked in front of the United Nations Plaza and Turkish Center, which houses the offices of the Turkish Ambassador to the U.N. and the Turkish Consul General in New York, explodes at 4:50 p.m., minutes before hundreds of employees and tourists exit the United Nations building. The bomb, with the force of nine sticks of dynamite, demolishes the automobile. Hurled metal, glass, and flames injure five Americans. The explosion destroys a vehicle parked across the street, and causes significant damage to the 11-story Turkish Center, and blows out the windows of nearby buildings, including B'nai B'rith, Chase Manhattan Bank, the African American Center, a travel agency and numerous apartment complexes. Assistant New York City Police Chief, Milton Schwartz, expressed "It is absolutely lucky that more people weren't injured." U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Donald McHenry, condemned the attacks as "savage and calculated terrorism." New York City Mayor Edward Koch expressed that the incident "demonstrates forcefully that all terrorism, no matter what form it takes, and no matter against whom it is directed, must be condemned and punished." Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) claims responsibility. This incident was directed by ANCA Chairman Mourad Topalian who, 20 years later, was convicted of related weapons and explosives charges. He served 37 months in federal prison and is now on supervised release.
May 4, 1982 - Somerville, Massachusetts, United States: An Armenian gunman assassinates Turkish Honorary Consul Orhan Gunduz while he waits in his automobile in rush-hour traffic. The gunman escapes. Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) claims responsibility. The assassination occurs six weeks after Mr. Gunduz was wounded in a bomb attack at his gift shop, Topkapi Imports, on March 22, before which Justice Commandos against Armenian Genocide (JCAG) threatened that Mr. Gunduz either resign as a Honorary Consul or be executed. Salespersons at Topkapi Imports comment that neither the store nor Mr. Gunduz had been given police protection despite the fact that the store had been the site of the prior bombing. To help solve the murder of Orhan Gunduz, local television and newspapers utilized a composite drawing based on information provided by a witness in order to apprehend the assassin. When the witness was subsequently gunned-down, all community efforts to help apprehend the assassin came to a halt. The Somerville Police Department and FBI were never able to apprehend the assassin.
Do you wish to elaborate on that?
Yes indeed. How dare those Armenians speak out against their persecutors. People still got to jail in Turkey for mentioning this genocide. Armenians are still being *attacked* by the Turks as seen throughout Europe just last year.
It wasn’t an ‘abomination’. It was a genocide, pure and simple! Pick up a book and read about it. It is as well documented as the holocaust it inspired.
Once upon a time Americans used to pride themselves on being on the side of good against evil. Nowadays far too many endorse expediency which gain them nothing except to weaken their position in the long run.
I didn’t think we had ties with Turkey anymore after they $%^&ed us on the Iraqi invasion staging ground and threatened to destroy an Kurdish that might arise from it.
The comment was in jest, though I am a Byzantine fan and think it is a travesty that Christendom does not fight to get their land back, especially such a strategic piece as Constantinople (I refuse to call it anything else).
What good is Iraq and Afghanistan if we aren’t even getting their natural resources? I thought the war was supposed to get us some oil. Why am I not paying 50 cents for gas? Problem is, we don’t conquer anymore, we simply occupy. It is simply unsustainable. These are complete bullshit wars. If are hands weren’t tied by rules of engagement and lawyers, we would have conquered Iraq and Afghanistan and had all their resources 6 years ago and it would have paid for itself and then some. At this point, the wars are a waste of money.
The Turks have done more than murder a million Armenians, their sordid history is paved with blood and the should man up if they want to part of the modern world.
So they recall their ambassador because their feelings were hurt? F**k’em
Good point, the Turks are trying to appease their Islamic base while trying lobby for EU acceptance. They are not a NATO partner.
The reality behind this resolution has more to do with domestic politics and the Armenian-American vote, primarily in CA and in Howard Berman's district than it does with any stand on principle. The Dems tried this in 2007 to embarrass Bush who stopped it from coming to the House for a full floor vote. Obama will do the same this time.
Why waste a perfectly good (if not fictional) reset button?
Why not shoot for November 2, 2008?
Those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it.
39TH AIR BASE WING MISSION
Fact Sheet
Incirlik Air Base is located seven miles from Adana, Turkey. About 1,500 military members are assigned here.
The mission of the 39th Air Base Wing is to support and protect U.S. and NATO assets and people throughout Turkey while providing a full spectrum of capabilities to the warfighter. The 39 ABW also supports three geographically separated units.
Winning teamwork, strategic location and robust infrastructure combine to ensure the success of Team Incirlik.
Close to many of the world’s potential trouble spots, Incirlik is an important base in NATO’s Southern Region.
The 39 ABW helps protect U.S. and NATO interests in the Southern Region by providing a responsive staging and operational air base ready to project integrated, forward-based air power.
Although the wing has no permanently assigned aircraft, it provides excellent facilities and supports the following areas:
— Training deployments and regional exercises — besides its real-world operational support, Incirlik offers many training facilities. These facilities complement the area’s cooperative weather, sparsely populated terrain and uncongested airspace. Pilots fly training sorties, including air-to-air, air-to-ground and low-altitude operations.
— Communications for National Command Authority taskings — Incirlik is a key communications link in the southern region.
— Hub support for various units — Incirlik provides vital support for numerous tenant and three geographically separated units located throughout Turkey. Key support includes medical services, supply, security and force protection, base infrastructure maintenance, communications support, transportation services, airlift, services and personnel support.
An Air Mobility Command tenant unit at Incirlik, the 728th Air Mobility Squadron, provides air transport of passengers and cargo. It moves 70 percent of all air sustainment cargo going into Iraq.
The Turks receive a great deal of technology and other aid from the US. The US receive nothing from the Turks apart from an occasional assurance of friendship before the Turks refuse to let you use their territory as a staging ground for invasion.
Trade? If the US was to cut ties with Turkey you would hardly notice it. The Turks on the other hand... The US is still the dominant power on the planet (at least for a little while). There is no need to act like a third rate power that has to beg for support and accede to any terms offered by potential ‘allies’. The US would actually strengthen its position if it were to start demanding something in return for its friendship rather than constantly worrying about whether or not others will like it. *Nobody* respects a pushover.
I believe the Turks started WWII on the Axis side. The changed when they saw the tide turn. They were on our side during hte Cold War for their own interest. They didn't let thye US attack Iraq from their territory. I wouldn't exactly see them as all that helpful. They are trending to an Islamic from a secular one.
“...where something that happened is NOT, I repeat...NOT Bush’s fault...”
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Let’s see if great-grandpa Bush had something to do with it. Ya never know.
Really. I guess you haven't heard about Turkey's dam projects on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. They can (or will be able to) shut off Syria and Iraq with a flip of the switch. The world's bigger than your living room.
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