Democrats in a House committee debate say that Turkey will "get over it" if they officially designate the actions of the Turkish government against Armenians during World War I to be genocide.
"Let us do this and be done with it. We will get a few angry words out of Ankara for a few days, and then it's over," said Brad Sherman, California Democrat. "If this irritates our relationship with Turkey, let's stop the irritation by recognizing the truth."
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer made similar comments this morning during a briefing with reporters.
Mr. Hoyer, Maryland Democrat, said he met with the Turkey's ambassador to the U.S. today and assured him that he considers Turkey a strong friend and ally of the United States.
"This [resolution] was about another government at another time, and should not be perceived...as a reflection on the present government, the Turkish people or their present posture," Mr. Hoyer said.
Mr. Hoyer added he didn't believe such a resolution would have a long lasting negative affect on the United State's relationship with Turkey, noting that Congress passed a similar resolution earlier this year denounced Japan's use of Korean "comfort women" during World War II.
"The Japanese were not pleased, but the Japanese overcame it and our relations were not undermined," he said. "It was a temporary blip, and we would hope that if there is a blip [in U.S.-Turkey relations] it is temporary."
The committee debate this afternoon has attracted bipartisan support and bipartisan opposition. Three Republicans have so far said they support the resolution, and one Democrat has said he opposes it.
Rep. Dan Burton, Indiana Republican, was the most adamantly opposed Republican.
"I just don't understand why we're going to cut our nose off, shoot ourselves in the foot at a time when we need this ally," Mr. Burton said. "I feel awful about the things that happened. Everybody does. But the question is, why are we doing this at this time?"
"We're in the middle of two wars right now, and the possibility of a nuclear exchange if we're not careful," Mr. Burton said. "We're talking about kicking the one ally over there that's helping us right now in the face."
The Bush administration says Turkey may no longer allow the U.S. military to use its air bases for resupply of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, California Democrat, said the committee faces "a sobering choice."
"We have to weigh the desire to express our solidarity with the Armenian people and condemn this historic nightmare against the fact that this could cause men and women in the U.S. uniform to pay an even harsher price than they already are," Mr. Lantos said.
"This is a vote of conscience, and the committee will work its will," he said.
-- Jon Ward, White House correspondent, The Washington Times
Comments (12)
I have to support Turkey on this one. 2.5 years ago they proposed the creation of an independent academic council to research the events of WWI and investigate the historical archives of the Ottomans, the Germans and the Russians to determine what really happened. Turkey was willing to live with the decision of the independent council. It would be ideal to have the Armenian archives referenced as well but they remain closed to the rest of the world.
Seems that Turkey wants to get to the truth but for some reason some Congressmen are being inticed to create the truth.
What is best for America?
Posted by Allen Collinsworth | October 10, 2007 4:06 PM
Sure this may seem like an inappropriate time to say that the Turkish government was responsible for a genocide, but as Mr. Hoyer said, "This [resolution] was about another government at another time, and should not be perceived...as a reflection on the present government, the Turkish people or their present posture." I can see why Congress wants to pass this genocide resolution, to make the present day generation more aware of the past genocides so there is no national, racial, cultural, and political discrimination. We can not deny that a genocide took place,some people might argue that the purpose of the Government regarding the moving of Armenians from their original settlements was to prevent their anti-governmental actions,but this is also a politicial genocide expecially if you take in the fact that 1.5 million Armenians suffered at the hands of the Ottoman Turks during World War One. Bush does not want to pass this resolution with the fear that it will offened the Turkish government today. However we can't just change history to benifit the status quo, things should be recorded as they happened.
Posted by gov. girl | October 10, 2007 4:12 PM
For Mr Hoyer to pretend this is about condeming 'another government from another time' and has nothing to do with the Turkey or Turks of today is disingenuous to say the least.
Anyone with any knowledge of this argument, and Mr Hoyer has certainly been around it long enough to understand it, cannot pretend not to realise that the issue of recognition is tied to land restitution claims. Armenia does not recognise Turkey's eastern border and considers east Turkey to be west Armenia. This is an ongoing territorial dispute to which history is just one component.
If this was about historical truth, and not pandering to Armenian voters and contributers, then when are the Turks massacred by the Armenian militias going to be subject of a resolution? Where are the resolutions covering many similiar events throughout colonial history? Why does Armenia refuse to open its archives, as Turkey has done? Why does Armenia refuse to take part in a historical committee, as Turkey proposes? Why has this resolution not been written by historians? Why are the views of the 69 historians who objected to the accuracy when this resolution first surface being ignored? Who in the US is a more qualified Middle Eastern Historian than Bernard Lewis? The Encyclopedia of History and Historians says nobody.
Apparently, some Congress people with large Armenian constituencies disagree, they feel they are better qualified.
Posted by Philip | October 10, 2007 4:56 PM
To Mr. Collinsworth...
Do you think we should convene an academic council to debate the Holocaust? Turkey will get over it and needs to come to terms with its past behavior. Germany doesn't deny the Holocaust and Turkey shouldn't deny the Armenian Genocide. Facts are facts. Sometimes you have to tell your friends the truth.
Posted by Hamlet | October 10, 2007 6:39 PM
I just heard that a resolution was passed to go before our Congress saying Turkey
committed genocide. My apologies to you Turkey for my government doing such a stupid move. I do not support this kind of talk or belief. It makes me sick. It is none of U. S. business. Our lawmakers should be working on matters to do with things here at home, instead of sticking their nose in other people's affairs. I take a dim view of Armenians using our Congress for personal gain. I don't elect these people to represent me and expect them to work for people outside the U.S. Come on folks, my taxes are paying you!
Posted by Shocked by my govt | October 10, 2007 7:45 PM
Why do we even care about this issue? We run the risk of alienating an important Muslim ally in the war against radical Muslim fundamentalists and jihadists (and trust me, we don't have that many of them) just so we can be nice to a bunch of Armenians who don't even live in this country? This event happened over 90, that's right, over 90 years ago. I'm sorry what happened to the Armenians, but if we start condemning what other people did to ethnic groups in other countries, where does it stop? Are we going to formally condemn in Congress the way the French treated blacks in West Africa? Are we going to condemn what the Belgians did in the Congo? Are we going to condemn what the British did in India? Are we going to condemn what the Dutch did in colonizing Java? And, while we're at it, is the rest of the world going to condemn us for what we did to the American Indians? How would we feel if France passed a resolution condemning what we did to the Sioux people throughout the Nineteenth Century? This is lunacy and I really think Congress has more important issues to debate than what happened in another country over 90 years ago.
Or could this be another way for Democrats to try and stop the war in Iraq? By alienating Turkey, maybe they are hoping that Turkey will stop us from using their country to supply our troops? Over 70% of the supplies going to our troops in Iraq has to go through Turkey, so if Turkey closes her borders to us then it will be a lot more difficult to supply our own troops, perhaps forcing us to start withdrawing them. Pardon me for being so cynical, but nothing the deranged liberal democrats do in Congress these days would surprise me.
Posted by Libertyship46 | October 10, 2007 10:23 PM
Tired of Turks bullying us around. They have already backstabbed us once not letting our troops to open the northern front. If you are even remotely literate in modern warfare you should know that it cost us casualties, wounded and treasury. What kind of an ally is that? Its a corrupt country which is more anti-american than osama himself (80% hate US by most of the polls). In case of the war with Iran they will never allow us to use those bases anyway. I say move the bases out of that muslim country and end of the story. Armenians have been great citizens to this country. Many serve in military and are distinguished in Marine Corps. Why do we care? BECAUSE WE ARE AMERICANS. WE WILL STAND UP FoR JUSTICE. ITS THE AMERICAN WAY. Semper Fi.
Posted by Sonny | October 11, 2007 12:50 AM
First of all, why are we doing this? It is all positive for the Democrats. For politics; the Democrats want the Armenian vote. It requires no expenditure of political capital on their part and the term genocide provides huge returns on their rhetorical investment (considering that the U.N. can't even define it). Finally, this fits into the Democrats attempts to get the U.S. out of Iraq. It is an asymmetrical way of limiting the field of logistical support operations and initially will definitely put our soldiers at risk while degrading the overall strategy in the Middle East. Just one more case of our military having to adapt battlefield tactics in Iraq as well as at home. (Has anyone asked Nancy about the reception our troops are getting at Oakland on their return from Iraq?)
Posted by Larry Stone | October 11, 2007 4:18 AM
Just another instance of the repubicans inability or unwillingness to recognize the truth.
Vote Republican!....It's easier than thinking.
Posted by harry dangler | October 11, 2007 3:58 PM
When, oh when will our Congress get around to condeming those damned Greeks for their assault on those poor Trojans. It's hard for me to sleep knowing that we haven't taken sides in that dispute. After all, the Greeks only gave us wine that gives you a headache the next day while the benefit of Trojan condoms is well established.
Posted by Dan Miljanich | October 11, 2007 6:06 PM
If you know anything about the history of the Ottoman Empire and the First World War, you will know that Armenian Genocide is a huge lie. Since Armenians teamed up with Russians to create an armed rebellion against the Ottoman Empire, a huge war occured at eastern Turkey - apart from the 1st WW - and thousand died from BOTH sides. When will the congress recognize the killings of thousands of Turks by Armenians? They just want the Armenian vote and being racists against a Muslim country just because Armenians are Christians. And oh, When will America recognize their own genocide against the Native Americans? And I hope Turkey stops supporting US, that would be great for the whole region.
Posted by Charlie | October 17, 2007 9:55 PM
In response to Charlie, no one in Congress has said that the Turkish massacres of Armenians beginning in 1915 were not genocide, not even those who oppose the resolution. The issue of whether or not it was genocide is not up for debate, and has not been for a long time. Historians and scholars have unequivocally proven that the events of 1915 were genocide, and any further discussion on that is absurd and has no place among educated people. It is as absurd as Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying the Holocaust is a myth, and us actually considering his argument. International Association of Genocide Scholars has a declaration saying the genocide is an absolute historical fact. In fact, there is no organization or government, outside of Turkey, and not funded by the Turkish government, that denies the genocide.
Turkey needs the US more than we need Turkey. They have proven time and time again that they will pursue their own interests regardless of US policy. In 2004, when the US wanted to go into Iraq, Turkey did not allow the use of their airspace. The US also asked them (pleaded with them) not to enter Iraq to fight the Kurds, and they did anyway. They are looking for an excuse to go into Iraq, and they will do so eventually regardless of US policy.
In regards to the timing of this issue: This bill has been introduced to Congress EVERY year. In fact the passing of this bill is 92 years too late. Every year, when it comes time for the Foreign Relations Committee to vote on the resolution, it's a "sensitive time" for one reason or another. Pelosi recently said: "When I came to Congress 20 years ago, it wasn't the right time because of the Soviet Union. Then that fell, and then it wasn't the right time because of the Gulf War One. And then it wasn't the right time because of overflights of Iraq. And now it's not the right time because of Gulf War Two." What Turkey is REALLY saying, is that NEVER is the right time.
What's more, is that Turkey made the same threats to France last year, when the French Parliament passed a similar resolution. Yes, they severed ties with France, but (not surprisingly), re-established these ties a few months later and since then, commerce between the two countries has tripled.
I guess we are ok with sending the world a strong message that says "if we can use your bases, we'll make sure you look good in the history books." Genocide denial can not be a perk of a friendship with our country. As Americans, we should not stand for this.
Posted by Maria A. | October 19, 2007 6:39 AM