Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

NBC’s “Meet the Press”
Presidential historian Doris Kearns GoodwinKate O’BeirneJudy WoodruffAuthor Sally Bedell Smith (“For Love of Politics — Bill and
Hillary Clinton: The White….

First off, it’s sad to report that Hillary Clinton may have sabotaged the bill for recognizing the Armenian Holocaust. But with that told, this brings me to a most astounding revelation this week: that some conservatives were against the bill…becau….

“Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damage morale,
and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, exiled or hanged.”

~ President Abraham Lincoln

Dems thought they could pull off this sabotage without much public awareness. If they could alienate Turkey, our defeat in Iraq would be almost certain.

Then, when the word got out what they were up to, and the backlash began to mushroom, they got cold feet.

petefrt on October 17, 2007 at 5:28 PM

Probably the best analysis of the situation yet.

Then, when the word got out what they were up to, and the backlash began to mushroom, they got cold feet.

Imagine the sabotage that Pelosi could do to the war effort with that ammunition…obviously, with Turkey, she was just thinking small.

Blaise on October 17, 2007 at 4:12 PM

Well you know, she had to run something small up the flag pole first to see which way the wind was blowing.

Why not antagonize your closest ally in Iraq…the British. You could nail them for attempted genocide against the Irish, something similar to the Scots after Culloden and imperialism in their conquest of the Malvinas.

Imagine the sabotage that Pelosi could do to the war effort with that ammunition…obviously, with Turkey, she was just thinking small.

Precisely. If you want US policy to be determined by polls conducted among our enemies worldwide, just elect Dems!

I sure hope you are right! :-) Otherwise, the Dems win without even firing a shot.

lan astaslem on October 17, 2007 at 2:06 PM

All Bush really has to do to turn this situation around is send a special envoy to Turkey and reassure Turkey that he recognizes that their problem with the PKK is very real and very serious and that Washington in spite of congress’s empty rhetoric is willing to help Turkey find a solution to their PKK problem. A solution I might add that does in fact include military action where and when warranted.

doriangrey on October 17, 2007 at 1:51 PM

I sure hope you are right! :-) Otherwise, the Dems win without even firing a shot.

All very valid points. But what about the fact that we may lose what little cooperation we get from Turkey for base operations/supply lines/routes for our troops? I think that’s where the worst fallout will be.

lan astaslem on October 17, 2007 at 1:46 PM

I don’t think we will, mostly I expect saber rattling from Turkey. I don’t think Turkey wants a confrontation with our military, what I think they want is our help with their very real PKK problem. The democrats in congress are very much intentionally trying to cause problems between us and Turkey, but I think Turkey knows that in this particular matter congress is actually pretty toothless.

doriangrey on October 17, 2007 at 1:20 PM

All very valid points. But what about the fact that we may lose what little cooperation we get from Turkey for base operations/supply lines/routes for our troops? I think that’s where the worst fallout will be.

I am afraid the damage is done. Granted the PKK is not the good guys in this but notice how Turkey doesn’t let things like borders stop them in pursuit of who they view as their enemies.

LakeRuins on October 17, 2007 at 12:54 PM

I wouldn’t read to much into this, it is after all the exact same thing we told Pakistan. My guess is that the US and Iraq will work out a compromise with Turkey, where if Turkey feels the need to enter Iraqi territory they will be allowed to only as a joint venture with US or Iraqi troops for the express purpose of hunting down fleeing PKK members.

Or that any Turkish ventures will likely resemble US excursions into Pakistani territory. Very short, very quick precision strikes with the Turkish personal retreating back across the border before practically anyone knows that they were there.

Turkey has a pretty modern and effective military and I have little doubt that they could pull such light/small raids off, nor do I doubt that so long as Turkey did not attempt a major long term incursion that both Washington and Baghdad would be inclined to complain but otherwise ignore any actions taken by Turkey that could clearly be demonstrated by Turkey to be valid and justifiable acts of self-defense against the PKK.

Romeo13 on October 17, 2007 at 11:57 AM

I have to agree with you on the point that they probably finally realized the political ramifications of this entire thing. I bet Shrillary tries to use it to her advantage somehow anyway.

I also agree with LakeRuins that the damage is already done. Protests in Turkey against the US Congress… We’ve already pissed them off completely. It doesn’t matter if this passes. Maybe that was the whole point. Make Turkey mad, sacrifice our efforts in Iraq (slow bleed), then back off and say “Oh, well we didn’t really mean it!” Who wants to bet that this never even hits the floor for a vote?

If only we would insist Mexico not invade OUR borders like we’re asking Turkey to respect Iraq’s borders. *sigh*

SouthernGent on October 17, 2007 at 12:56 PM

Not while el primer Mexicano el Presidente Senor Jorge Arbusto is in la Casa Blanca.

Or the Bataan Death March….

However Syrian President Bashar Assad, visiting Turkey, said he supported the country’s right to take the action “against terrorism and terrorist activities”.

I am afraid the damage is done. Granted the PKK is not the good guys in this but notice how Turkey doesn’t let things like borders stop them in pursuit of who they view as their enemies.

SouthernGent on October 17, 2007 at 12:31 PM

Good point, but she will definitely keep this little jewel in her quiver and use it in the general.