Hillary Clinton Slams Turkey Over Media Freedom

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

ISTANBUL — The United States is concerned about media freedom and free speech in Turkey amid the arrest of dozens of journalists and Internet restrictions, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Saturday.

"If there is an area that I'm concerned about with recent actions in Turkey ... it's the area of freedom of expression and freedom of the media," Clinton, in Istanbul on a two-day visit, said on CNN Turk television.

"I do not think it's necessary or in Turkey's interest to be cracking down on journalists or bloggers and the Internet because Turkey is strong enough ... with enough voices, and if there are differences of opinion, those will be drowned out by others who can debate it in the marketplace of ideas," she said.

"It seems to me inconsistent with all other advances that Turkey has made," she said, adding that, "If I were in the Turkish government I would be standing up for freedom of expression."

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/16/hillary-clinton-slams-turkey-over-media-freedom/

[PoliticAverse]

1. What if they just restricted them to "free speech zones" ? n/t

[dipsydoodle]

2. "If I were in the Turkish government ...

She's not.

'Nuff said.

[juajen]

4. So, from her position of influence, you believe she should remain

silent? I heard accolades for her stand on the rights of women in China? What say you about this opinion?

[joshcryer]

5. Sit down, shut up.

:shrug:

(this is sarcasm btw)

[Faygo Kid]

3. And it WAS genocide.

Against the Armenians, of course, and all the obfuscation in the world doesn't change that.

[dipsydoodle]

6. She remains

conveniently quiet on that subject. I had first hand reports on that subject when I was a teenager back in the '50s. My friend's father was a child at the time of that genocide and he'd been fortunate enough to survive. Yes - am Armenian family.

[joshcryer]

7. Turkey is close to apologizing (and eventually repairing relations) over that.

Possible reparations to any survivors and unification are more important than continual denigration of a country. I know it's the in thing, but thankfully most of the world are grown ups for the most part and do things properly and respectfully, even if they want to punch the other person in the face.

edit: the wikileaks cables only underscore that fact, with the diplomats actually acting like children when the international sphere wasn't watching. Now if only we had sincerity or honesty we'd be getting somewhere, but that's expecting far too much of human beings.

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Purveyor.

[AsahinaKimi]

9. I love the title to this article...

I can imagine what life must be like at the Clinton House around Thanksgiving.. :hide: Kidding!!!!

[Devil_Fish]

10. I couldn't help thinking about the Turkey being killed behind Sara Palin in that interview.NT

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

11. Or turkeys being thrown from a helecopter

"As god is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly"