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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tenchusatsu who wrote (335615)	4/27/2007 2:45:45 PM
From: Alighieri	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 1578299

I don't believe he deserves such "immunity" unless he is truly willing to come clean with his part in the "criminal incompetence." So whaaaat? You can argue that he could have fought back more, but he didn't make the decision to go to war, nor did he have anything to do with the conduct of that war. cheney, bush, rumsfeld did. Wax on tench... Al

To: Tenchusatsu who wrote (335615)	4/28/2007 12:59:20 PM
From: tejek	Respond to of 1578299

Turkish army and government clash over election Saturday, April 28, 2007 Turkey's Islamic-rooted government criticised the powerful military today, saying a statement by the armed forces that expressed concern over disputed presidential elections was not acceptable in a democracy. The military said late last night that it was monitoring the elections and indicated it was willing to become more openly involved in the process, a statement that startled many analysts who described it as an ultimatum to the government to rein in officials who promote Islamic initiatives. Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, the government spokesman, said the military warning to the government was "not acceptable in a democratic order". "It is unthinkable for an institution like the military, which is attached to the prime minister, to make any statement against the government on any issue in a democratic state," Cicek said. "According to our Constitution, the military chief of staff is responsible to the prime minister." The heightened tension between the government and the pro-secular establishment, which includes the military, contributed to a sense of polarisation in a nation that seeks entry into the European Union and has enjoyed relative economic and political stability in recent years. Hours before the military statement, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's presidential candidate - Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul - failed to win enough votes in a first round of voting in Parliament that was boycotted by the opposition. The opposition lawmakers appealed to the Constitutional Court for cancellation of the voting on the grounds that there were not enough legislators present for a quorum, and called for early general elections as the only way out of the impasse. Cicek said the military statement appeared to be an attempt to influence the court. He said the government was loyal to secular traditions, saying it was "unthinkable for the government to be insensitive on the issue of practices that contradict our state's basic values". However, Cicek said Erdogan had a "useful and fruitful" telephone conversation with General Yasar Buyukanit, the chief of military staff. The military has staged several coups in past decades, and in 1997 led a campaign that pressured an Islamic party - of which Erdogan and Gul were both members - out of government. At the time, the military warned the government to curb Islamic influences, while people took to the streets in protest over government policies. The European Union is pressuring Turkey to reduce military influence as part of its membership bid and said today that the election of a new president was a "test case" for the Turkish military's respect for democracy. "This is a clear test case whether the Turkish armed forces respect democratic secularisation and democratic values," said Olli Rehn, the EU expansion affairs commissioner. The military commands widespread respect in Turkey but has been chafing at what it views as the increasing influence of Islam on state institutions. "It should not be forgotten that the Turkish armed forces is one of the sides in this debate and the absolute defender of secularism," the military statement said. "When necessary, they will display their attitudes and actions very clearly. No one should doubt that." Oktay Eksi, a commentator for Hurriyet newspaper, said the military statement was a "straightforward ultimatum". "It expresses concern over the fact that if Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is elected, the presidential palace, which is considered the last bastion of secularism, will be handed over to a person who is anti-secular," Eksi said. The president can veto legislation, and the prospect of electing a leading member of the pro-Islamic government has unnerved Turkey's secular establishment. Hundreds of thousands of people recently demonstrated for secular ideals in the capital, Ankara, and another large rally was planned in Istanbul on Sunday. belfasttelegraph.co.uk