The Armenian Genocide Resolution — The Discussion Continues
As U.S. President George W. Bush reiterates his determination to prevent last week’s House Resolution 106 affirming the Armenian Genocide from being passed by Congress, RFE/RL reports that illegal Armenian immigrants are being deported from Turkey. Meanwhile, the discussion in the blogosphere continues and once again, the main issue seems to be not based on whether the Armenian Genocide occured, but rather one of why the Democrats, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, introduced the resolution now.
This question is specifically raised by a number of American bloggers, especially when the logistics of supplying U.S. troops in Iraq might be affected by the Armenian Genocide resolution. David Aikman at Implications sets the scene.
There seems little historical doubt that the Armenian massacre was indeed genocide. The eye-witness accounts of the time are overwhelming, and Ottoman government documents talking openly about eliminating the Armenians as a people group are plentiful from the period 1915–1917. But with the U.S. dependent on the friendship of Turkey to support a difficult war in Iraq, it seems at the very least an ill-timed notion to rub Turkey’s face in the judgment of history. True, all Armenians and American-Armenians will feel affirmed by official American national recognition of the injustice they suffered. But isn’t it more important that the Turks themselves should finally come to acknowledge the truth of what happened to the Armenians 92 years ago? That may yet take decades to come to pass. Assuredly, it won’t be hastened by this week’s Congressional resolution. And what if resupplying American troops in Iraq is seriously compromised by a Turkish curtailment of U.S. base usage in Turkey? To rephrase Congressman Lantos’ well-stated dilemma: “Is the gratification of wounded Armenian sensibility worth the possibly serious risk that could ensure to American forces in wartime?” Perhaps not.
And this perhaps is one of the most interesting aspects of the debate and discussion surrounding the resolution. While some initially criticized Pelosi and other co-sponsors of pandering to the needs of a potential Armenian-American electorate, others — presumably Republicans — are now focusing on Iraq as one of the possible reasons for the Democratic party’s interest in recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The Weekly Standard puts forward what I suppose is a right-wing perspective.
[…] passage of the resolution is likely to constitute a serious blow to the war effort. Was this foreseen by House leaders? Was it the motivation?
The answer to the first question is certainly ‘yes.’ This resolution has kicked around the House for years, and was almost voted on in 2000–until President Clinton pressed Speaker Hastert to postpone a vote, out of concern for the effect on the relationship between the United States and Turkey. In a hearing before the House International Relations Committee that year, the former Turkish Ambassador warned ‘But above all, our cooperation on Iraq will inevitably suffer. The support for American policy in northern Iraq, already slim, will dwindle immediately…’ Turkish diplomats have warned for years that this issue held the potential to seriously undermine cooperation on issues such as Iraq, Iran, Cypriot reconciliation, energy security, and a range of other matters. So House leaders certainly knew this measure could badly disrupt the Iraq war effort.
Was the scheduling of this vote a specific attempt to undermine the Iraq mission? Don’t expect an answer to that question, but the vote has come up awfully suddenly.
[…]
The actions in question occurred more than 90 years ago; why is the House suddenly going to vote now? Given that it’s been clear for years the effect this bill will have on Turkey, and the inability of Congressional Democrats to end the Iraq war through any other means, it’s hard not to put two and two together and get four.
The Simi Valley Sophist goes further and effectively accuses Pelosi of treason.
Despite the Turkish threat, Pelosi is pushing forward with the resolution. What is Pelosi’s political imperative? It surely is not Armenian votes. And, it surely is not a fear of additional American service personnel deaths.
[…]
Now, you go ahead and tell me that Pelosi cares about the welfare of our troops. And, you go ahead and tell me that Pelosi actually cares about the memories of Armenians. I’ll submit to you that Pelosi has simply found another mechanism to throw a monkey wrench into the Iraqi war effort. I’m sorry, but I don’t find that patriotic. I hark back to the Vietnam War era traitor, Jane Fonda.
Ed Gruberman is even harsher.
The Democratic congress has sunk to a new low. Since they cannot just pick a date that they want US forces in Iraq to surrender to the Islamofacist dogs that the military is now beating and beating badly they have decided to do an end-around and possibly help kill our soldiers and leave those who do live high-and-dry without up to 70% of the supplies currently getting to them through Incirlik Air Base near Adana in Turkey. It’s the transshipment point for about 70% of all air cargo (including 33% of the fuel) going to supply US forces in Iraq. Included are about 95% of the new “MRAP” — mine-resistant, ambush-protected — vehicles designed to save the lives of American troops. […]
[…]
On October 11, Pelosi said, “While that may have been a long time ago, genocide is taking place now in Darfur, it did within recent memory in Rwanda, so as long as there is genocide there is need to speak out against it.” Well where was she when Bill Clinton turned his head on Rwanda and over a million people were chopped up by machetes? Sitting in San Fransisco that’s where she was.
But since taking office she and the Democrats have been unable to do anything about the war and that they consistently say they support our troops but not the fight. Well madame speaker, I think you’re nothing more than a treasonous crybaby and you are willing to do anything to stay in power. You make me sick. We all see through your attempt to back-door our troops on the ground and that power that you are so deeply in love with… is going to go out the door when our brothers, sons, fathers, daughters and mothers are left on the battlefield without rations, armor and bullets.
This Ain’t Hell… concurs.
I’m attempting to track down the roots of this Armenian Genocide legislation because last night, Crotchety Old Bastard and I had an email exchange over it and we arrived at the same conclusion; this is nothing more than an attempt by the Democrats to defund the war effort in Iraq and Afghanistan.
[…]
[…] Historians will remember that the Democrat “leadership” (using the term loosely) are a traitorous bunch of double-dealing, back-stabbing punk-ass sissies who can’t summon the fortitude to stand up to a few squeakywheels on the internet. That’ll be their legacy.
Yet, while also wondering about the timing of the resolution, Free Constitution doesn’t believe that the Democratic party would do such a thing to purposely derail the war effort in Iraq, especially if it means a greater number of coalition casualties.
I agree with the bill and think it’s a step forward for American foreign policy in general. I think Turkey is wrong for whining about it and more wrong for not owning up for it’s role in Armenian genocide. But I do question the timing, and underlying motivation:
[…]
I don’t know what could be more damning of a politician’s patriotism, to alienate key allies, seriously risk the lives and goal of our troops, our interests abroad, and national security for political reasons. I just have trouble believing Nancy Pelosi, and a number of Democrats and Republicans are guilty of such treason.
The Bloodthirsty Liberal argues that it is indeed a matter for the United States to be concerned about and responds to the entry made by This Ain’t Hell quoted above. Again, the blogger does not dispute the Armenian Genocide, but the general conclusion is somewhat different.
This Ain’t Hell has a good post on the whole Armenian genocide kerfuffle. He concludes, as does any person with half a brain (and TAH has both halves, both left), that the true motivation behind this intiative is to make the conduct of the war in Iraq that much harder by cocking a snook (look it up yourself) at Turkey, our ostensible ally.
But you know what? So what. The United States of America will call genocide anything it feels like calling genocide, and to hell with anyone’s feelings. I’ve lived among, worked with, and had my clothes dry-cleaned by Armenians—and I’d believe one of them over a warehouse full of Turkish textbooks denying such a holocaust ever took place.
Would we deny the Holocaust if the Germans made a stink?
We’re worried about democracy in Turkey under increasingly Islamist leanings. Let’s show ‘em democracy, red in tooth and claw. They’re upset by all this talk of genocide? Ask an Armenian.
Meanwhile, as others such as Turkish scholar, Yektan Turkyilmaz, recently warned, the resolution has had one negative effect. That is, ultra-nationalism is sure to increase even more in Turkey and it seems likely that resistance to discussion of the Armenian Genocide in the country will continue. Some signs of that are already beginning to show with emotions getting heated to say the least.
Chronicles of a Turkish Girl is just one example, although I personally hope that it is a knee-jerk reaction rather than something long-lasting. However, for nationalists in Turkey it will be another matter entirely. This is the most unfortunate consequence all.
So I generally use my blog to chronicle my personal life. However, in light of the recent events regarding Pelosi (a fool’s fool) and the resolution that looks like is going to pass deeming the events of 1915 in the Ottoamn Empire as a so-called genocide, I felt compelled to write about it.
[…]
Yes, I now loathe Armenians who sole national identity has been to have the world feel sorry for them for betraying the very govenment that had long been on their side. That is, up until Armenians got greedy and thought that they could carve out land of their own out of the Ottoman Empire. You all suck. And I mean that from the bottom of my heart
There is some interesting commentary coming from the Turkish blogosphere, however, with Talk Turkey arguing that it is Ankara which is perpetuating continuing coverage of the Armenian Genocide resolution. Much better, the blogger argues, that Turkey simply ignores the resolution rather than give the media grounds to elevate it to international headline status.
If Turkey simply had dismissed this non-binding resolution’s possible passage instead of condemning it so loudly and thereby legitimizing its relevancy, as I often suggest when I ask for restraint of the Turks (who are born with the ‘reactionary’ gene), the average American’s, (as well as the global community’s), attention span would not have outlived the discussion of the ‘current’ implications of such a public relations disaster.
[…]
I am not disputing the importance of recognition followed by reconciliation, and reiterate that this is not an argument for or against genocidal intentions and its existence (or acceptance) in the history of the human race (not exclusive to only Turkey, or Islam, or both), but a realization of unfamiliarity and passing judgement when it comes to judging the present and future actions of any one group based on its past record of irrationality.
This much for now, but I am sure there will be more over the coming days, if not weeks. The story doesn’t show any signs of going away in the near future.
Muslims Against Sharia commend House Democrats and Speaker Pelosi for pressing ahead with an Armenian genocide bill. Republican opposition to the bill is pure manifestation of moral relativism.
Muslims Against Sharia condemn Turkish government for refusing to acknowledge Armenian genocide and recalling its US ambassador in response to the bill.
Source: AFP
Post
Comment by Muslims Against Sharia — October 16, 2007 @ 9:33 am
http://cernigsnewshog.blogspot.com/2007/10/behind-armenian-genocide-vote.html
http://www.bloggernews.net/110960
http://www.minnesotamonitor.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2603
http://libertystreetusa.blogspot.com/2007/10/armenian-genocide.html
Comment by Onnik — October 16, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
Onnik,
Anyone who says they ‘loathe’ or ‘hate’ an entire race as Turkish Girl does about Armenians on her blog is a racist and should be called such. This also applies to Armenians and others who denigrate Turks as a race or a people.
Your comments here and on her blog should state clearly that she is a racist.
Comment by R — October 16, 2007 @ 6:42 pm
Well, when people get angry they say lots of things. I’m prepared to give anyone the benefit of the doubt until it seems that rather than a spur of the moment thing, it becomes obvious it’s something far more entrenched. Besides, she’s also allowing all comments to get through and as long as she is prepared to engage in discussion rather than personal attacks aimed at individuals as well as not censoring comments, I at least hope that it’s more an outburst against the resolution than racism.
Anyway, I don’t need to label anyone. Readers are quite able to come to their own conclusion on that one. Also, I don’t want to get into the usual quagmire associated with discussing the Genocide. I’d actually like some reasoned debate so want to avoid using emotive terms while also quoting from, and linking to, as many different posts reflecting what is being spoken about, as possible. At any rate, even the vast majority of those posts that oppose the resolution don’t deny the Genocide so I don’t think there’s any call for emotive outbursts on this subject.
Besides, I will decide when and when not to label people. It’s entirely another matter if you or she thinks otherwise. Personally, I hope that through not fueling argument we can instead bring people to discuss the issue instead.
Comment by Onnik — October 16, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
It is almost impossible to have a reasoned debate on the issue since Turkey has painted itself into a corner and many Turks (by no means all) are just not prepared to accept what happened.
The work of Taner Akcam and Fatma Gocek mentioned in the Inside Higher Ed article you link to above will hopefully shed light on why it has been so important to the Turks not to acknowledge the Genocide. Unfortunately my experience in debating the issue is that they will be dismissed as sell-outs, etc.
Comment by R — October 16, 2007 @ 7:01 pm
Comment by Onnik — October 17, 2007 @ 3:01 am
It is very sad when Turks allow their emotions get in the way of actions that should bind us. I am against the ‘racist’ rhetoric by and of both sides. I believe in a civil discussion of this subject matter apparently and obviously very sensitive to some if not most. And a continuing dialogue will go a long way in settling our differences. Thanks for your efforts toward such a mission of non-polarization of a ‘heated’ debate.
Comment by metin — October 19, 2007 @ 8:17 pm