RYviewpoint

From a BBC report:

The Obama administration has said it will seek to block a controversial bill describing as genocide the World War I killing of Armenians by Turks.

A congressional panel on Thursday approved the resolution, paving the way for a possible vote by the House.

But US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the administration would "work very hard" to prevent this.

Turkey voiced strong protests after the vote and recalled its ambassador from Washington for consultations.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country had been accused of a crime it did not commit, adding the resolution would harm Turkish-US relations.

What bothers me about this is the fact that politicians view facts as pliable, subject to the latest political whim. The Turks killed millions of Armenians. Was it genocide? Well, if success is the measure, no. Some Armenians survived. But the intent was clear.

Obama argued that he was "different" and that his administration would be more honest, more transparent, more accountable. But it is politics as usual. The US wants Turkey as an ally, so the administration is willing to re-interpret the past to keep the Turks happy.

Obama said he would close Guantanamo in a year. Let's see, it has been 13 months. I guess this admininstration has redefined a "year" to be maybe 18 months, maybe 24, maybe more. Who knows. I guess at some point Obama will deign to tell us what the new definition of "a year" is. But then again, once you play fast with the truth, why bother informing the public of anything. They elected you, but so what. Maybe Obama will decide he doesn't need the public and come the next election he will re-define votes so that "none of the above" means "another vote for Obama".

I really feared that Bush would impose a police state and rule by decree. He had already played fast and loose with the law by using his buddies on the Supreme Court to stop counting votes in Florida to get "elected".

I'm complaining about Obama on the issue of Turkey. But Obama is a real improvement over Bush. I don't fear Obama like I feared Bush. But it really bothers me that Obama, the guy who promised "change you can believe in", has ended up being "just another politician.