I wonder how long it would take until we hear screeches of “Bush’s illegal, racist war for oil in Turkey.” Either that, or screeches about how it’s a “civil war” and there’s no reason for our involvement in it.

Oh, right. I’m the nutjob here, because I actually want to do something that might actually stop the genocide. I really need to do a better job of remembering that sternly worded diplomatic notes of concern are considered to be “action.” It would make life so much easier.

I recently read that Robert Gates and Condi Rice are warning Nancy Pelosi against a Congressional vote to classify the killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government early in the 20th century as genocide.

The reason?

“Turkey remains an indispensable partner to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping our troops accomplish their mission to combat terrorism and build security in both of these young democracies…When the French National Assembly in October 2006 voted in favor of a bill that would criminalize denial of the events of 1915, the Turkish military cut all contacts with the French military and terminated defense contracts under negotiation. A similar reaction by the elected government of Turkey to a House resolution could harm American troops in the field, constrain our ability to supply our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan…”

Who cares what’s happening in England when we’ve these wankers here at home?

Not to belabor the point, but the French law criminalizing denial of the Armenian genocide is just as stupid as the Turkish law criminalizing any “insult to Turkishness” that might occur by talking openly about the genocide.

That said, let Pelosi’s bill sail through Congress and be signed by the President.

And while we’re at it, tell Gates (and Rice) to sit down and “SYFP.” Even if France and Turkey haven’t heard of the First Amendment, we can’t afford to ignore it here at home…

….otherwise the terrorists really will have won, you know?