On Tuesday, Rep. Gary Ackerman (D., NY), chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, sent a letter to the president and director of the Wilson Center, Lee Hamilton, expressing “deep concern and dismay,” and urging Hamilton “to rescind the decision” to present Davutoglu with the Wilson Center’s Public Service Award.
Why? Ackerman put it neatly, noting that “Turkey’s foreign policy under Foreign Minister Davutoglu’s leadership is rife with illegality, irresponsibility and hypocrisy.” In his two-page letter, Ackerman cited, among other things, Turkey’s refusal to recognize the terrorist nature of its new best pal, Hamas; Turkey’s focus on “demonizing the State of Israel,” and Davutoglu’s personal description of the recent flotilla events as Turkey’s 9/11 — a comparison that Ackerman described as so perverse he finds it “sickening.”
Summing up why presenting Davutoglu with an award would be “absolutely inconsistent” with the mission of the Wilson Center, Ackerman wrote: “A foreign leader who represents and defends this kind of foreign policy, one who has championed Turkey’s most odious efforts to deny others the human dignity that Turkey rightly expects for its own people, is not a worthy recipient of the WWC Public Service Award.”
It bears noting that the Woodrow Wilson Center had already made plans for this week’s dinner back in March, when it put out a March 5 press release announcing that Davutoglu, along with a wealthy Turkish businessman, Ferit Sahenk, would receive the Public Service Award on June 17th. That announcement came before the recent open eruption of Turkish foreign-policy perfidies, though in March, under the leadership of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu, Turkish policies were already badly on tilt. For the Wilson Center, it was a piece of horrible judgment, compounded by spectacularly bad timing. If anyone wants to start handing out medals for Washington’s most idiotic foreign policy awards, this one qualifies. If Lee Hamilton has the wisdom to call it off, there is still time before Thursday’s dinner in Turkey. But not much.
Yes, Turkey’s Davutolgu is indeed undeserving of an award from the
Wilson Center, and it is good that the media is finally reporting
this story after so many weeks – so a big thank you to
this website for the above article.
There is more important information out there about this issue:
Donald Wilson Bush, a Wilson descendant, wrote this objection to the
award to Davutoglu:
http://keghart.com/DWBush_Pawn (click, or paste into address box)
And here is a background/investigative piece on the Wilson Center,
its award to Davutoglu, and its questionable corporate donors and
affiliations:
http://www.countercurrents.org/boyajian060510.htm
(click or paste into address box)
Unfortunately the media was too slow to pick up this conspiratorial breech of ethics
by Woodrow Wilson Center’s Lee hamilton. The foreign minister of Turkey Davutoglu should be condemned for the long list of crimes his country has committed and is still committing: the Genocides it committed against the Armenian, Greek, Assyrian Nations; crimes which Turkey denies; furthermore, Turkey continues to befriend with the president of Sudan and openly declares that no genocide is being perpetrated in that country. Davutoglu is a direct accomplice of those crimes, thus his actions betray the values and historical legacies of President Wilson.
Consequently, justice requires that Lee Hamilton be deposed from the directorship of Woodrow Wilson Center by a Congressional Act and Dvutoglu should not be awarded the prize.
I congratulate the website for publishing this article revealing the truth and informing the citizens on such an important subject.
WW Center just hedging their bets on the next Ottoman Empire…
Lee Hamilton: “No, I’m not an armenian nor a jew! Pasha, I SWEAR!”
Nothing to be surprised about. Just another bunch of idiot Leftists promoting the Islamic agenda.
Anyway, you answered your own question – Washington fools. What any normal, relatively informed, sane person with a bit of common sense can easily see & understand, political elites, most journalists, & academics all over the Western world, our ”experts”, miss entirely, they’re clueless, blinded by ideological blinkers, wishful thinking, bizarre theories, screw-ball analyses, anything but seeing what is right in front of them.
What kind of fools? The kind who are hell bent on destroying America and Israel. The kind who view capitalism as the original sin, understanding full well that Turkey, at least since Erdogan’s ascension, has gone over to the Sharia side. The fact that Turkey is now completely aligned with the Iranian Hitler, and the likes of the butcher of Syria-the dictator Assad-is simply a win-win for those hosting and attending this sordid and dangerous meeting of the minds.
Those who used to skulk in the shadows, terrified of revealing their insidous anti-freedom agendas, are now emboldened by the most anti-American POTUS ever to disgrace the White House, AKA the People’s House.
It has now come full circle, those who are feted by Washington elitists-troublemakers for all freedom lovers-are the enemies of America & Israel. In my humble opinion, anyone who seeks to survive with their freedom intact should steer clear of Washington until BHO departs,either through impeachment or when thrown out of office in 2012. And this includes all those who are aligned with their cabal in Washington.
These anti-American Americans are every bit as dangerous as those who seek our submission to Allah – United In Their Hate……
Truly.
By the bye, Woodrow Wilson’s socialist policies are the ‘inspiration’ and underpinnings for the havoc and mischief created by the far left, marxists, socialists, communists currently seeking to destroy the US Republic.
His influence and policies will haunt the American public until either they are exposed for what they truly entail, or the American dream implodes from within.He was the progenitor of ‘progressivism’, an abiding anti-American.
Enough said.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center and George Soros, what a perfect combination of liberalism and appeasment. Why am I not surprised? I’m just wondering why Obama isn’t there serving the drinks.
That is another job he is not qualified for, and his teleprompter is too heavy for him to carry and the cord is too short for him to make the rounds, also the guests would be tripping over the cords as well.
This website has some excellent initial journalism, but does not follow up with the meat; the who, what and why behind the initial article or the event.
Turkish groups with Terrorist ties have been laundering money for US individuals for many years, both GOP and DEMO. it is an open secret in DC and Chicago, and has been going on for over a Decade. Some of that money makes its way back into ME Terror groups, and used in bombings of American targets. Billions of dollars in Heroin and weapons trafficking has been laundered through Chicago with assistance of US Elected Officials.
Why should Turkey fear american opinion, when they have its political leaders in bed with their drug dealers and weapons smugglers..?
They got the location right. Woodrow Wilson was famous for his virulent racism and his failed international vision.
Obama is not a fool. He has a specific agenda. The islamization of America.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704324304575307064254125230.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird
I just sent the Woodrow Wilson center a message expressing my disgust at this decision. Their contact page is at http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=contact.welcome&thanks=yes
I don’t want to be too harsh here, but diplomacy is more than denouncing one’s enemies to the applause of one’s citizens. Diplomacy includes bribery (er, loans), deception, deceit, persuasion…. Though I admit that the State Department and its toadies rarely represent American interests, anywhere, anytime, so the honoring of the minister is worrisome.
Lee Hamilton has been carrying himself as some sort of elder statesman for years while doing his utmost behind the scenes to undermine Israel.
Both the Woodrow Wilson Institute and Turkey have the same Foreign policy, why wouldn’t they celebrate the Turkish Foreign Minster ?
I understand that Iran is up for consideration next year, first Brazil, then Turkey, next Iran. It all makes sense if you are a leftist.
You can blame Obama’s Muslim adviser Dalia Mogahed, but it’s really the fault of our nations electorate that foolishly placed such a dangerous person in office!
Well, you cannot fault the citation for the FM: he is praised, ” for catalyzed the development of Turkey’s foreign relations.”
He and the P.M. have surely done that.
It now remains for a catalyzed NATO to terminate Turkey from the roster of NATO members in good standing.
Both the political figures and the W. Wilson Tank are simply showing their true anti-Western colors.
Too bad this story will never reach the majority of American citizens.
If you want to urge your Congressman to investigate the Wilson Center’s decision to bestow an award to the Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu, you can do it here http://www.capwiz.com/anca/issues/alert/?alertid=15045776
The action alert was written before the Gaza flotilla incident, so it does not include some of Davutoglu’s most outrageous statements, but it’s an easy way to get your point across.
Given that Iraq’s replacement in the axis of evil has openly supported the terrorist organizations IHH and Hamas, not to mention supporting Iran who continues to kill our soldiers in the field, my money shouldn’t be used to feed this guy much less give him an award. In fact isn’t it illegal to give aid to organizations that support terrorists? Am I going to need a lawyer?
More on Lee Hamilton:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/04/lee_hamilton_eminence_grise_of.html
By all means, let the man enjoy his award now, before the Islamic Revolution, like its French predecessor, begins the descent into The Terror, and he is put on the purge list.
Since Woodrow Wilson was a leftist thug and the second worst president in United States history, I think the award makes all kind of sense.
the same fools who roll down the red carpet for some of the dispacable
leaders in world, such as king Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Mubarak
of Egypt, Putin of Russia, and Hu of china as well as
Benjamin Nathenyhu of Israel and the Pope to that matter/
The world does revolve aroung the intrest of Israel.
The sooner you get hip to this
the sooner you are better off..
and please don’t bother to call me anti jew or antisemite
this is getting really old
Miriam, the Pope is the head of the Catholics all over the world and he tries his best to lead a church that is in great difficulties at present. I am a Catholic and protest that you mention the Pope together with various political leaders – some of those you mentioned are very questionable. I would not be a member of a Church who does not have highest standards concerning human rights. Oh, why is the world better off without the Pope? He has not done any harm to anybody and he tries to respect any religion though he probably thinks that the Catholic religion is the best – otherwise he would not be Pope. By the way, he is very concerned about the situation in the ME and he wants that the problems there are solved peacefully. So do I.
Diplomacy is one thing, sucking up and lauding someone who has turned his back on us is another. We may have to deal with Ahmadinejad but we certainly shouldn’t be giving him awards and neither should this clown be given one, at our expense no less.
Marianne: By no means did I have any intention of insulting you.
Besides the Pope, I should have also included , Ayatoallhs, grand
Ayatollaha, rabbis and greand rabbis.
these people have only one mossin in life: that is to make peoples
lives miserable……
Miriam, up to now, I’ve tried to have an even hand with you; but, you’ve crossed a line. Rabbis and grand Rabbis, whom I respect, and other clergy are not what I would target. Either you are ignorant, or uninformed because you attack the very underpinnings of Western Civilization with your broad statement. The way I see it, you are what you are. My gloves come off at this point. From now on you’d better say something coherent now matter what side you pick. I’ll be waiting.
@ Terry, Eilat
you described it spot on!
“What any normal, relatively informed, sane person with a bit of common sense can easily see & understand, political elites, most journalists, & academics all over the Western world, our ”experts”, miss entirely, they’re clueless, blinded by ideological blinkers, wishful thinking, bizarre theories, screw-ball analyses, anything but seeing what is right in front of them.”
my solidarity & thank you
@ miriam rove,
this is getting really old
How far is the Woodrow Wilson Center willing to go in its support of Turkey? Will they disavow the fact of the Armenian Genocide, as does Davutoglu? Will they defend Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus, as does Davutoglu? Will they defend Turkey against Israel? Will they defend Turkey against the West as it has joined the Syrian/Iranian Axis and it re-Islamizing all its institutions?
Re Terry’s second comment: I couldn’t have said it any better.
Why did it take so long for this article to appear? Had it (and those that are now cropping up in mainstream media and blogs) come prior to the Flotilla incident, outraged citizens, journalists and Congress could have used time wisely to see that the award was rescinded.
Even though the award has been presented, Congress must investigate the Center’s use of taxpayer funds for questionable activities AND how corporations and Turkish organizations are wrongfully influencing the Center. The Woodrow Wilson Center must adhere to its congressional mandate. It must also establish a principled program on genocide, and feature lectures and events with NON-denialists regarding the Armenian, Greek and Assyrian genocides, as Woodrow Wilson himself would have wanted !
So, it’s pretty much official now: Anti-Semitism is again permissible in so-called polite company.
That may sem anon-sequitur to the main thrust of this article, but Jew-hatred is always lurking in the background when islamicized countries are honored. We’ve lost Turkey, and the Woodrow Wilson Center celebrates this fact, if obliquely.
Prime Minister Erdogan is a phony and no friend of Arabs.
You really do have to read “Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan Deserves Medal as Fake Friend of Palestinians” here:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=19630
Claudia and others, what do you think? Pretty good, yes?
No sane person valuing their reasoning facilities would base their conclusions on anything over at the cookoo’s nest of globalresearch.ca.
Erdogan is no more a friend of Arabs than Hitler was a friend of Hungarians, or Germans for that matter.
The real anti-American revolution in Washington came about not with the election of Obama, but with the Baker/Hamilton report of Iraq study group in ’07. Then came the forged NIE which let the mullahs off the hook, in late ’07 still.
James “f*ck the Jews” Baker III, and Lee Hamilton. The same and only.
Obama is just the front man. The real takeover was by a pro-appeasement faction inside the Establishment elites. All in the name of “stability”.
What the idiots of Brzezinski’s persvasion do not understand, is that you can’t achieve stability by accomodating an aggressive force. You end up encouraging its aggression, i.e. your actions become _the_ destabilizing force.