PROVOKE CHINA, NOT TURKEY

Memphis Commercial Appeal
March 8 2010

Why is Congress even considering a resolution regarding actions of
the Ottoman Empire in the second decade of the past century (March 3
article, "Cohen warns of provoking Turkey/Opposes resolution condemning
1915-23 killings")?

In no way do I mean to condone the actions of the now nonexistent
Ottoman Empire or to minimize the suffering of Armenians, but what
basis is there for Congress to concern itself with such matters?

If Congress is responsible for punishing or shaming foreign regimes
for evil acts, why are we not condemning China for its current actions
toward the government and people of Tibet? Why are we not passing
resolutions condemning the daily cyber attacks against U.S. commercial
and governmental computer systems conducted by the Chinese? Why is
there no bipartisan condemnation of the numerous shell corporations
that have been formed in the U.S. with the fact concealed that these
corporations are operatives of the Chinese military? (Now these
corporations can contribute as they see fit to U.S. political races
thanks to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision.) No resolutions are
in the works about China’s manipulation of the value of its currency
to the immediate detriment of the U.S. and other countries.

Oh, I forgot that China is our banker. It allows us to continue down
the road to our own economic ruin. Without China, our politicians
would have to deal with our debt albatross without the option of
pushing the pain onto future generations.

This may explain the resolution against the Ottoman Empire. It no
longer exists. Congress can cloak itself with the halo of moral outrage
without risking its catnip of borrowed money or campaign contributions.