So, I've decided to skip the obligatory melancholy entry in favor of a massive political conspiracy theory post. Just drink the kool-aid and come along with me for a moment.

So, the Congress passed a non-binding resolution about the genocide/mass killings that took place in Turkey. Leaving aside for a moment the rather troubling question of where you draw the line between the two designations, what is the point of the passage of this resolution at this particular point in time? I've heard commentators say that the sponsor of the bill has a large Armenian-American community in his home district, and that the Speaker has a similarly substantial Armenian-American community in HER home district, both of which are true. But here's the question to muddle through in your mind, again, after you've had the kool-aid.

Democrats (and some Republicans) want us to be out of Iraq, and out of Iraq yesterday. There have been attempts to pass bills with set dates for pulling out. Those attempts weren't successful. Now, all of sudden there is a pressing need to call this genocide a genocide. I'm fine with the terminology, just curious about the timing.

This non-binding resolution has Turkey in a tizzy. Remember, this is a country where denouncing "Turkishness" is a prosecutable offense, and saying that there was a genocide when the government doesn't want it called a genocide isn't the best way to keep a friendship alive. Again, let me make it clear that I'm fine with them saying that it's a genocide. No problem at all with that. I just am not convinced that they are being genuine about their motivation.

What happens if you tick off a very, very important ally in a war? Turkey's willingness to let us pass through their airspace and use a military base there is, after all, a pretty essential part of our operations in the Middle East. They've already pulled back their ambassador. What happens if they pull back their permission for us to use their space? Suddenly, the war becomes a much more difficult thing to wage. Wouldn't that be convenient?

Just a few thoughts. I'm going to go have some caffeine now. Be well, and we will return to regularly scheduled programming of cuteness later.