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Rasmussen to head NATO despite protest from Arab world
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Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, left, shakes hands with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer during a media conference at the NATO summit in Strasbourg, France on Saturday April 4, 2009. It was announced on Saturday that Fogh Rasmussen would take on the role as the Alliance's new secretary general beginning in August 2009. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
The tide is changing, everywhere.
There apparently will be no apologies or explanations about the Danish cartoons which caused an emotional tsunami in the Arab world. I am referring to the cartoons which featured caricatures of the prophet Mohammed with an explosive in his turban, and other examples of free expression, back in December of 2005.
Ladies and gentlemen let me introduce you to NATO'S next Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, President of Denmark. Rassmusen declared his feelings of honor at having been nominated.
On March 27th, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan telephoned Rasmussen to 'explain' the annoyance of the public over his nomination, - suggesting he come forth with an apology. Muslim countries had requested that Turkey veto the nomination. Despite the tizzy, Erdogan had indicated at the time of his phone call to the Danish President that he would not block his nomination.
According to an Al Jazeera report, Erdogan approved the overwhelming support of Rassmusen as the choice for Secretary General, but only after President Obama gave answers to his objections. Bravo Obama!!!!
Rasmussen infuriated the Muslim world with his response to the cartoons when he invoked freedom of speech. Unfortunately, this is just one of the freedoms which is sorely lacking in most Muslim societies, where journalists, bloggers, cartoonists are routinely thrown into jail for invoking human rights. To concede to this fury would take Western civilization back to the Middle Ages.
Erdgoan may have also had his own personal bone to pick with Rasmussen, as he is one of several heads of states who oppose Turkey's entry into the European Union. And for that matter, so does Sarkozy, and Angela Merkel.
We might learn more about the dynamics of the election when President Obama and Secretary General Rasmussen visit Turkey on Monday.
For related articles on Turkey:
Turkey is a country in denial about its genocide of the Armenians
Anti-Israel: Is Turkey the next Venezuela?
Turkish President Abdullah Gul makes historic visit to Iraq
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