[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H46]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TURKEY IS AMERICA'S ALLY

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleague in saying 
that our troops will not be forgotten. I continue to wear a yellow 
ribbon, as we're doing in our community in Houston, in welcoming home 
the troops from Iraq.
  That's why I rise today--to challenge those who are in the midst of 
the Presidential campaign to be cautious about ill-conceived and ill-
spoken words. When one of the candidates, the Governor of Texas, calls 
the leadership of Turkey ``Islamic terrorists'' and says that Turkey is 
run by Islamic terrorists, I can assure you that those words are ill-
conceived and inappropriate and absolutely wrong.
  Turkey is one of the United States' strongest allies. It's a member 
of NATO, and it is seeking at this time membership in the European 
Union. There is constant dialogue between our country and Turkey. We 
are encouraging, of course, Turkey's diplomatic efforts to engage with 
Israel; and frankly, our troops have benefited from some of the needs 
taken care of through efforts by Turkey.
  So I would just encourage that we not pour fuel and fire together and 
that we recognize Turkey and others of our allies live in very 
difficult areas. Therefore, we need to be part of the solution and not 
part of the problem. Check your facts. I don't believe the democratic 
country of Turkey is run by Islamic terrorists. You're wrong and it is 
inappropriate.

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