The kicker? He’s going to do it in Istanbul Constantinople.

I think it is about time to give this city back to the Greeks.

I’ll be expecting the genocide of all muslims by the end of the day, failure to do so will mean they are heretics who insult my religion and deserve to die.

William Amos on April 5, 2009 at 8:24

Of course, it’s called the head of state.

Turkey should not expect any apologies when NATO’s next Secretary-General and former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen makes a speech in Istanbul today.

“Listen. In Denmark we do not apologise for having freedom of speech,” Fogh Rasmussen is quoted by Ritzau as saying.

“You all know that a Danish Prime Minister cannot apologise on behalf of a newspaper,” he continues.

The newly-appointed upcoming secretary-general for NATO is in Turkey to speak at a United Nations conference on intercultural dialogue and understanding.

Turkish media
The Turkish media has widely reported that Fogh Rasmussen will issue an apology during his speech today, and that the apology was one concession offered in order to get Turkey to withdraw its opposition to Fogh Rasmussen’s appointment.

But Fogh Rasmussen rejects the assertion.

“We have nothing in the bag,” he is reported as saying.

http://www.poligazette.com/2009/04/05/rasmussen-to-apologize-to-islamic-world/

HOWEVER, I thought the speech took place. It looks to still be coming, but the story has lost it’s legs for now. We’ll all have to wait and see.

I’ll be thankful proven dead wrong on this one.

And it’ll probably define him as one of the best choices for Nato.

Depending on how much “compensation” Turkey will get to stop feeling “victimized”.

But the sad thing is that it wouldn’t have been the first western leader backtracking on the central part of democracy.

the_nile on April 6, 2009 at 6:57 AM

I’d be more worried about what Obama–in the name of the US –will do, than the Danes capitulating. His weakness is our biggest danger.

You shouldn’t underestimate what some small countries are doing to support USA, proportionally their doing their share.

the_nile on April 6, 2009 at 7:00 AM

I’m not. I’m just saying that the US supplies about half of the troops and almost all of the combat troops.

Like I said, letting France back into full membership, after they stabbed us in the back on this exact point once, already, says more about NATO than anything else. I don’t think that NATO can be depended on for much of anything. But, that’s me.

And NATO doesn’t do all that much in Afghanistan. The US does the work, for the most part. You can call it NATO, but that’s really just an open joke. If the US’ participation were the same as the average NATO member, then there would be nothing going on in Afghanistan.

The West just had its pants pulled down, on the main stage, by North Korea. The whole world saw it. There will be no stopping the enemies of the West, now (which includes the idiot messiah).

progressoverpeace on April 6, 2009 at 6:48 AM

You shouldn’t underestimate what some small countries are doing to support USA, proportionally their doing their share.

And it’ll probably define him as one of the best choices for Nato.

Depending on how much “compensation” Turkey will get to stop feeling “victimized”.

But the sad thing is that it wouldn’t have been the first western leader backtracking on the central part of democracy.

As for your “Huh?”, it’s the part about respecting islam being appeasement is pretty sad and paranoid.

Then tell me one thing about islam that deserves respect. How tough could that be?

You’re not going to get many politicians to criticize it outright

Which is why the West is losing this war.

AFR’s job is to get NATO to work together, not cause further conflict.

Renwaa on April 6, 2009 at 6:36 AM

Letting France back in as full member of NATO signaled NATO’s death.

And NATO doesn’t do all that much in Afghanistan. The US does the work, for the most part. You can call it NATO, but that’s really just an open joke. If the US’ participation were the same as the average NATO member, then there would be nothing going on in Afghanistan.

The West just had its pants pulled down, on the main stage, by North Korea. The whole world saw it. There will be no stopping the enemies of the West, now (which includes the idiot messiah).

Now, why Turkey was allowed to join NATO, IMO, that’s another discussion worthy of criticism…

In addition, no you’re not giving me or anyone insights to Denmark and it’s policies because you’ve not even considered the simple fact that internally, it’d be a political catastrophe for Venstre and at the very least, the Jylland’s Posten would be furious–and could print very damaging articles criticizing the reversal of positions. I meant what I wrote in a way that you seem to prefer to display your moral outrage at the perceived betrayal of an ally instead of giving the benefit of the doubt. That’s why I am so perturbed at this entire thread.

As for your “Huh?”, it’s the part about respecting islam being appeasement is pretty sad and paranoid. You’re not going to get many politicians to criticize it outright (I only know of Geert Wilders and Ayaan Hirsi Ali and neither of them are/were heads of state) and if that’s what you’re hoping AFR should’ve done or do, good luck with that. AFR’s job is to get NATO to work together, not cause further conflict.

{^_^}

You want to hate islam, go for it.

I don’t hate islam. I have no problem with islam, so long as it doesn’t bother me. But islam insists on forcing itself on me and my life.

I pretty much do too–but I’m not in a position of having to work with a NATO ally. For pete’s sake, we WANT AFR to be the NATO chief and not some fluff from France or elsewhere who HASN’T been standing shoulder to shoulder with us since the war(s) began.

Unfortunately, NATO has been gutted. It is a waste of an organization. If we have to depend on NATO for anything, we’re f#cked. NATO is a joke.

The fact you think “Denmark is going down for the count” tells me just how ignorant you are to lump them in with the rest of Europe.

What I said, exactly, was, “This is about whether Denmark is going down for the count, as the rest of Europe seems headed … and the US too,” … which says that I still don’t know if Denmark is going down for the count, but I’m watching to see. I hate to break it to you, but I’m not nearly the only one.

I’m going to be in Denmark in 3 weeks AND my husband will be working with NATO in May.

Uh oh. You probably went postal over what I said about NATO just above.

Anecdotal as it is, it give me MORE insight to Denmark and it’s policies than you have.

Why would I be giving you insights into Denmark and its policies? I’m just expressing my opinion.

Get a freaking grip, will ya? Your paranoia is kinda sad.

Renwaa on April 6, 2009 at 5:55 AM

Huh?

You want to hate islam, go for it. I pretty much do too–but I’m not in a position of having to work with a NATO ally. For pete’s sake, we WANT AFR to be the NATO chief and not some fluff from France or elsewhere who HASN’T been standing shoulder to shoulder with us since the war(s) began. The fact you think “Denmark is going down for the count” tells me just how ignorant you are to lump them in with the rest of Europe. I’m going to be in Denmark in 3 weeks AND my husband will be working with NATO in May. Anecdotal as it is, it give me MORE insight to Denmark and it’s policies than you have.

Get a freaking grip, will ya? Your paranoia is kinda sad.

PM Fogh did not apologize in his speech. The article says he “stopped short of apologizing” but did say that he respected Islam.

Exactly what is there about islam that is worthy of respect? I’m lost on this aspect. islam has big numbers (not as big as Christianity, but big). Other than that, though, I can’t think of a single thing about islam worth respecting.

To say that one respects islam is appeasement. Everyone knows this.

Like it or not, Turkey is an important player in the region.

So? Turkey also screwed the US over right before Iraq. They screwed us big time. And they are sliding back into islamic rule, which they might not be able to fight, now, because the EU made them change their constitution so that the military was no longer the supreme authority, meaning that a normal Turkish military coup to rid itself of islmaists in government is made illegal by the EU, which has been leading to an islamic government in Turkey. Everyone take a bow for this great disaster, brought to us, once again, by Europe.

Can we try to be a better ally to a country who took a beating standing by us during all of Iraq and Afghanistan? Geez, people.

Renwaa on April 6, 2009 at 5:09 AM

THis is not about being a better ally to Denmark. This is about whether Denmark is going down for the count, as the rest of Europe seems headed … and the US too, since we now have an America-hating, revenge-oriented, marxist in the White House.

“You all know a Danish statesminister can’t apologize on behalf of a newspaper.“

“can’t” is a poor choice. I don’t know if that’s just a matter of the translation, but “can’t” is not what someone ought to be saying here, since even if they could, they shouldn’t. Better would have been a positive defense of freedom of the press and free speech (whatever the Danish versions of these are). “can’t” screams weakness and appeasement.

“Hør lige her. Vi undskylder ikke i Danmark, at vi har ytringsfrihed,”

“Now, listen here. We are not going to apologize in Denmark for having freedom of the press.“

and later:

“I ved jo alle sammen, at en dansk statsminister ikke kan undskylde på vegne af en avis”

“You all know a Danish statesminister can’t apologize on behalf of a newspaper.””

http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/politik/article.php/id-21533701.html

That translation cost me the rubbing of lotion on my Danish husband’s feet! He knows how to take advantage of my political outrage, doesn’t he? ;-)

After the seriousness of what went on in Denmark, and the massive wake-up call they got after the cartoon crap, it would have been a political disaster internally for AFR and his Venstre party to have reversed course. Denmark is a strong ally. Tapper was right to have reservation before CONDEMNING Rasmussen to appeasement to get his new NATO position, for crying out loud. Can we try to be a better ally to a country who took a beating standing by us during all of Iraq and Afghanistan? Geez, people.

http://nyhederne.tv2.dk/article.php/id-21535085.html?forside

The cowardice of the West and the primitive savagery of islam could hardly be better displayed. It is a new low for the world, historically. Never before have those so strong and advanced bent in submission to those so weak and primitive …

*already enforced throughout the Muslim world

dmann on April 5, 2009 at 10:34 PM

Does that include Europe?

I’m not so much a fan of banning religions, but if a religion starts to make a lot more trouble than the others… I’m happy to make an exception.

What about THIS?

If this guy isn’t joking, it is much more worthy of your reproval:

Anders Fogh Rasmussen must denounce not only the blasphemes cartoons that hurt the feelings of all good Muslims everywhere, but he must also denounce all disbeliever attacks on the Prophet, Peace be upon Him. He must also throw his full personal support as well as that of all the NATO countries behind the U.N. resolution passed in December prohibiting defamation of Islam including making such defamation a crime under international law and turn over to us any such criminals that are within NATO jurisdiction to us for punishment. He must also call for the expulsion of all Jews from Palestine so that Muslims can once again return to their rightful homeland there. He must also denounce all of the Crusades and demand that reparations be paid to Muslims and all the land in Europe that was stolen from them be returned. He must also agree to meet all of the demands that Muslims may make in the future. Allah willing.

Aleph on April 5, 2009 at 8:55 PM

No I mean her.

Darth Executor on April 5, 2009 at 7:02 PM

She’s OK, for a blonde. But nevertheless, enjoy.