From PetroleumWorld.com

Scott Sullivan :
Bush and Pelosi boost Richardson plan

With their massive escalation in the US confrontation with Turkey, President Bush and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are boosting Bill Richardson’s plan for bringing home the US troops, now.

No one doubts that the US has escalated a confrontation with Turkey. The US has actually been in conflict with Turkey ever since Bush took office. While occupying Iraq, the US has steadily and ever more insistently promoted Kurdish independence from Iraq. Bush tolerance of the recent Kurdish-Hunt Oil agreement is a prime example of US support for Kurdish independence.

Moreover, the US has refused to check grandiose Kurdish territorial ambitions against Turkey. Kurdish militants including Kurdish president Barzani (a.k.a., Che Guevara) claim to one-third of Turkey’s territory as part of a Greater Kurdistan. In the wake of the US occupation of Iraq, the PKK moved its camps to northern Iraq and launched military operations against Turkey.

US forces are now protecting PKK camps in northern Iraq from Turkish reprisals. In effect, the US has declared war on Turkey, which has yet to respond to a more hostile US policy.

Against this backdrop, Speaker Pelosi is moving through Congress the Armenia Genocide resolution. In a tremendous provocation to Turkey, the House of Representatives is soon expected to pass the Armenia Genocide resolution.

In short, Bush and Pelosi constitute a self-appointed wrecking crew to demolish US-Turkey relations. However, as noted at the outset, Bush and Pelosi are actually helping Richardson’s troop withdrawal plan by attacking Turkey.

First, Turkey could retaliate by withdrawing support from US operations in Iraq. As a result, Bush would be compelled to withdraw US troops from Iraq. Turkey provides up to 70% of the logistics support for US forces in Iraq.

Second, the US public does not want war with Turkey. If Bush continues to confront Turkey, popular US support will grow for the Richardson Plan of immediate and total withdrawal of US forces.

Third, Kurdish president Barzani is a Che Guevara type, i.e. an excessively ambitious ultra-leftist who is determined to destabilize the region. The more powerful Barzani becomes, due to Bush support, the more the US public will want to withdraw US forces from Iraq. Richardson wins, again.

From the Concord Monitor: 

Several weeks ago, while visiting family and friends in upstate New York, I was asked about the New Hampshire primary and if I had chosen a candidate. My answers were that the campaigning was as grassroots as ever and, yes, I had chosen to support Bill Richardson. Immediately, they gave me the response I expected: Why Richardson?  The answer is easy. America's prestige around the world has been damaged from five-plus years of cowboy diplomacy, spin and shoot first and learn the truth later. America needs a leader with the experience, insight and skill to restore our standing in the international community, and Gov. Richardson is the only candidate with the credentials to do that.  Bill Richardson has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times. Here are some of the reasons why:  He negotiated the release of American servicemen held prisoner in Iraq and Sudan.  He negotiated the release of a journalist in Sudan.  He negotiated the ceasefire in Darfur.  He arranged with North Korea for the release of the remains of six American soldiers.  And he twice brought North Korea to the negotiating table for six-party discussions that included their efforts to develop nuclear weapons.  Beyond these accomplishments, he has a friendly, smiling and spontaneous personality that will serve him well at the negotiating table.  Wouldn't it be nice to see our president on the news with a smile, rather than a smirk?  JIM LEON  Concord

This week the House will vote on a resolution acknowledging the genocide of Armenians in 1915 in Turkey during WWI.  This resolution has been bouncing around the Congress for at least 20 years and common sense has always prevailed in preventing its passage.  Now, however, Nancy Pelosi wants to put a stick in Bush's eye and score a few points with the powerful Armenian lobby in California.

Let me state from the outset that no one condones, denies or anyway seeks to minimize the suffering of the Armenian people in 1915 at the hands of the Young Turk regime (as opposed to the present day Republic of Turkey).  The point is whether such a resolution now will yield any positive outcomes, either in Turkey or in Armenia, or for the US relationship with either country.

Let me offer a few points as to why this resolution is a bad idea:

1) US moral authority is at an all-time low.  Thus, a scolding from the Congress for crimes committed nearly a century ago is going to seem hollow and vindictive. The US has many crimes to answer for from that same period (native Americans, Phillipine occupation, Jim Crow etc), so we are not exactly in a position to preach to the Turks.

2) It will greatly complicate efforts at rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey, which still have no diplomatic relations and a closed border.  Quietly, the two countries have been trying to find a modus operandi – this resolution will set that process back significantly.  This will primarily harm the people of Armenia, who need to get that border opened for trade and cultural purposes.

3) The resolution, and the likely Turkish backlash, will be used by the French and other EU states opposed to Turkey's membership in the EU.  This, in turn, will only fuel anti-western sentiment among Turkish voters, already bitter over the US invasion of Iraq and EU foot dragging on membership talks. 

4) It could push Turkey to withdraw from NATO – ending the US's single most important alliance with a Muslim democracy.  Yes, Turkey's democracy is far from perfect, but it is lightyears ahead of any other country in the middle east (except Israel) in terms of allowing open and free debate.

5) It could induce the Turkish military to invade northern Iraq in pursuit of Kurdish separatists as a means of punishing the US.  Such a move would complicate ANY efforts for the US to get out of Iraq. 

Other than placating the Armenian diaspora lobby in the US, I really don't see any upsides to this resolution, particularly right now.  It will hurt Armenians living in Armenia and will not bring the Turks to a different position.  Over the last decade, Turkey has been slowly coming to terms with its multi-cultural heritage, but this resolution will set that cathartic process back significantly.