Turks Challenge Hughes On Iraq

Washington Post ^ | 09/29/05 | Glenn Kessler

[freedom4me]

ISTANBUL, Sept. 28 -- A group of Turkish women's rights activists confronted Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes on Wednesday with emotional and heated complaints about the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, turning a session designed to highlight the empowering of women into a raw display of the anger at U.S. policy in the region.

[freedom4me]

You don't supppose Karen was set up, now do you? I can smell Dems all over this. Carville was in Israel working with Barak to defeat Benjamin Netanyahu. Do you think he or others are stirring up trouble for Karen? If it's not the Dems, then perhaps groups like ANSWER and the other who rallied in DC this weekend are seeking to stymie Karen's effectiveness.

[bnelson44]

More likely it was a setup by the Turkish government.

[Rennes Templar]

I don't know but contrary to the Post this is not Hughes.

[bahblahbah]

Ugh, I'm tired of Bush officials who can't defend themselves. Hughes should have shot back and said that part of our problems in Iraq was Turkey not allowing us to come in from the north because Turkey was trying to win favor with the old Europe for EU membership.

[Williams]

I don't doubt this reaction was sincere, at least by these participants. What perplexes me is that Iraq is now fighting the worst terrorist scum that would relegate women to the status of slaves. Plus the murdering of Sadaam has been ended. Keep in mind he killed millions by launching wars of aggression against his neighbors.

Yet these women show up with the simplistic notion that "war" is bad for women and children. Shouldn't they be mad at Al Queda? There would be no fighting in Iraq without the terrorists.

[Jeff Chandler]

I'm tired of Bush officials who can't defend themselves.

The overriding instinct of Republicans upon being challenged is to assume the fetal position.

[freedom4me]

"The overriding instinct of Republicans upon being challenged is to assume the fetal position."

Agreed.

[beauzo]

One must keep in mind that most Muslims in Turkey are Sunni. Additionally, the government is quite unhappy about a Kurdish state and the possible assistance it will bring to the PKK.

[woofie]

Did you bother to read the article ...Karen Hughes is quoted as having defended the US quite well

[freedom4me]

Yes, I read the article. But I don't think that the activists "just happened" to be in the crowd. Nor were their accusations "spontaneous". How ironic for women in the Middle East complaining that the USA is hindering the freedom and progress of women in the region. Sorry, I think those ladies in the audience were plants.

[paul51]

I'm tired of Bush officials who can't defend themselves. Hughes should have shot back and said that part of our problems in Iraq was Turkey not allowing us to come in from the north because Turkey was trying to win favor with the old Europe for EU membership

She shouldn't have been sent to turkey to begin with. Turkey showed it's true colors at the start of the iraq war. Secondly, to meet with a group of people that are the turkish equivalent of moveon in the states was just plain stupid.

[Mo1]

"War makes the rights of women completely erased, and poverty comes after war -- and women pay the price," said Fatma Nevin Vargun, a Kurdish women's rights activist. Vargun denounced the arrest of Cindy Sheehan, the mother of an American soldier killed in Iraq, in front of the White House this week

They mentioned Cindy Sheehan???

Oh please

[Mo1]

Sorry, I think those ladies in the audience were plants

The fact they brought up Mother Sheehan??

I'd say that is a safe bet

[Hexenhammer]

Maybe women's rights in the middle east means the right for a woman to get stoned to death for minor legal infractions.