NEW NATO CHIEF - AT 7:18 P.M. ET:  A piece of good news, for a change.  NATO has chosen, as its new secretary-general, Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who had the courage to stand up for the right of Danish cartoonists to publish depictions of the prophet Muhammad that so angered the Muslim world.

As reported here earlier, only Turkey, NATO's single Muslim country, objected to Rasmussen.  Since unanimity is required, Turkey could have vetoed the choice.  However, according to AP there was some last-minute negotiating, and Turkey withdrew its objection.  Please note:

Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told reporters that his government's requests had included the closure of a Kurdish satellite television broadcaster based in Denmark; the establishment of contacts between NATO and Islamic countries; appointment of a Turk as an aide to Fogh Rasmussen and senior NATO command positions for Turkish generals.

He said Obama had been heavily involved in the negotiations.

"Our president gave his approval after receiving information that our reservations have been addressed under the guarantorship of Obama," Erdogan said. "We hope our concerns will be met."

COMMENT:  We have no details on this.  We're delighted that Rasmussen is the choice, but I want to know just what was promised to Turkey.  Obama has spent a good part of the week making concessions and delivering apologies.  Precisely how did he get Turkey on board?  I wonder if any MSM journalists will ask.

April 4, 2009