OPINION & EDITORIAL
Political reality trumps recognition of genocide
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Also by Andrew Wagner:
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- Party identifiers cloud judgment (October 26, 2007)
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- Darfur genocide needs end (September 23, 2004)
by Andrew Wagner
Friday, October 12, 2007
"Genocide" is one of the most powerful words in existence. The systematic killing of a people by a government, solely for their membership in a particular group, has come to represent the ultimate act of inhumanity to most of the world. Once the word enters a conversation, the stakes involved rise dramatically, as well they should. Given the ability of the word to tarnish an entire country or generation of people, it comes as no surprise that any accusation of genocide immediately evolves into a pressing political issue.
The United States House of Representatives learned this first hand Wednesday. The Foreign Affairs Committee voted 27-21 to pass a resolution saying, "The Armenian Genocide was conceived and carried out by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, resulting in the deportation of nearly 2,000,000 Armenians, of whom 1,500,000 men, women, and children were killed." According to BBC, the vote crossed party lines, with both Republicans and Democrats exchanging "yes" and "no" votes.
Unfortunately, the government and citizens of Turkey generally view the issue in a different light. They contend that genocide did not actually take place. Their position is that foreign and subversive forces have unfairly increased the death toll and misconstrued what amounted to a civil war and other World War I-related casualties as genocide. Thus, when the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the resolution, the Turkish government immediately condemned the effort.
The issue has also sparked protests at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. Just yesterday, CNN reported that Turkey had recalled its ambassador to the United States over the resolution. Clearly, this is spiraling into a diplomatic crisis.
Despite the Turkish government's position, the evidence for an Armenian genocide is incontrovertible. For example, U.S. newspapers widely reported the genocide, and the United States played a large role in providing aid to the Armenian survivors. Also, embassy officials from all of the major nations in Europe and the United States submitted official reports on the killings. Finally, the Ottoman Empire itself commissioned trials after the war that convicted some of the government officials responsible for the genocide, including the former prime minister and minister of war.
Nearly every citizen of a country wants to believe the best things about their country. The denial and marginalization of these events by the modern Turkish government and people represents an attempt to shelve a past history that is both uncomfortable and potentially harmful to the national history of Turkey.
Should the House Foreign Affairs Committee have passed this resolution? Looking at the issue solely on the moral issues, yes, the committee should have passed the resolution. Other notable countries have recognized the genocide, including a relatively recent resolution by France. I firmly believe that part of the way to prevent these monstrous occurrences from happening in the future is to treat them in the most transparent way possible. Vigilance and remembrance of the past can help change the future.
Unfortunately, moral issues do not perfectly translate into the realm of international politics. Turkey has been a member of NATO since 1952. Furthermore, Turkey has a relatively unique secular and democratic state in a part of the world where that model rarely exists.
For the past 60-odd years, American-Turkish relations have been good. The United States lobbied for the admission of Turkey to the EU. Shaking this foundation of good relations should require considerable forethought.
Beyond the past history and foundation of the American-Turkish relationship, the United States functionally depends on Turkey. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that Turkey constitutes a vital hub for all of the current Middle Eastern and Afghanistan operations. Gates remarked that more than 70 percent of air cargo to Iraq flows through Turkish airbases. When France passed its resolution, Turkey responded by denying French planes overflight rights. If Turkey acts in a similar fashion, this will decrease the ability to supply forces in the Middle East.
Another aspect affected by this crisis is Turkey's plan to invade northern Iraq. For decades, Turkey has been fighting a guerilla war against Kurdish rebels who cross the border from northern Iraq into Turkey. Recently, Turkey has implemented a major buildup of forces and publicly declared that it is intent on entering Iraq to eliminate the rebels.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this can only destabilize the region more. It may already be too late to forestall a Turkish invasion, but this diplomatic crisis makes it almost certain that the Turkish government will not and cannot be seen heeding U.S. calls for restraint.
As much as I sympathize with the perspective of the Armenians, this resolution has already provoked a crisis and could easily create real difficulties if Turkey invades Iraq or cuts off the supply chain. It should not have passed out of committee.
In the scheme of things, Turkey is simply a more important issue. If the full House of Representatives votes on this resolution, as Democratic leaders have threatened, this move will only make the situation worse. I hate to say it, but realpolitik must win out in this case: Turkey is simply more important to the United States than Armenia.
Andrew Wagner (awagner@badgerherald.com) is a junior majoring in history and political science.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 12:31am):
How about this: let's just deny all the genocides for the sake of political expediency. That means the Soviets never killed all those people in their various republics, the Nazis were just partying with all those Jews, the Khmer Rouge were benevolent rulers of Cambodia, and the Hutus and Tutsis have always gotten along.
You couldn't be more wrong if you tried, Andrew.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 12:51am):
Mr. Wagner,
If I follow your illconcieved logic correctly then, if at anytime Iran becomes an ally of the US then we can tolerate their president's denial of the Jewish Genocide?
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 12:54am):
"The United States lobbied for the admission of Turkey to the EU."
Are you aware that the U.S. also said they only supported Turkey's admission into the EU if they acknowledged the genocide?
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 1:18am):
I agree politically speaking Turkey could be way important to the U.S. than Armenia, but you still need to take into consideration of what the truth is, from all the facts, and all the countries recognizing it as Armenian Genocide as well as the 27-21 votes, what the truth is should become reality in a sense. If it doesn't pass as a genocide what are people going to think about the House Committee about the votes? Is this a topic that can be put to the side and move on? Nothing is more important than the truth and proof of the history, plus if it really wasn't a genocide it wouldn't have come to a point like this.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 9:07am):
The Democrats should embrace the resolution for two very good reasons. 1) It's the right thing to do, 2) With a major military transport and supply artery severed, we are one giant step closer to ending the Iraq occupation.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 10:28am):
because you think Turkey is more important than Armenia you're willing to say that we shouldn't have recognized the genocide? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 2 MILLION DEAD. FACTS ARE FACTS.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 10:28am):
hey you're right..because Germany is such an important ally right now, lets just deny the holocaust too.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 12:19pm):
Ms. Pelosi said that she did not have a date in mind for bringing the issue to the floor, but that it would be brought up this session, which is to end around Nov. 16. Whatever happens, she insisted, relations between the United States and Turkey will remain strong.
This from a leader of the "reality based" faction? Just how does she insist?
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 12:27pm):
Has anyone considered that pissing off the Turks is a good way to make the Iraq war a little more difficult to conduct?
Oh, we can't get our supplies into Kurdistan, now what? I guess we'll have to cancel the war on a technicality (not a legit loss).
Thanks for using the back door, Pelosi.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 12:42pm):
"Thanks for using the back door, Pelosi."
Well she is from SF.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 2:13pm):
10:28, The Ottoman Empire killed the Armenians. Should congress also pass a resolution to acknowledge America's own atrocities committed BY Apache Indians during the 1500s?
Or, perhaps, Turkey should pass a resolution to condemn our use of slavery through the 1800s.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 2:45pm):
Andrew,
I agree with the above comments. Hate happens, but should we ignore it so we don't rock the boat?
By the way, I am openly gay, and you are alluding to the fact that gays should not fight for their rights because it is too important to not stand up for what is right because it is such a divisive issue. Armenians, gay, blacks, the Hmong, oh, who cares? Our relations with the Vietnamese government, Turkey, and the Christian right are just too important to sacrifice for humanity.
There is not enough high blood pressure medication in this city to make reading your articles worthwhile.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 3:30pm):
Strange that the Socialist Democrats took nearly 100 years to mount their high horse.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 7:06pm):
If I follow your logic, we should let Turkey bully us now and for as long as we need their air bases.
So let me get this straight. Let's let the people in Darfur die because they are not important to our interests, but yet, we are the country that is the beacon for freedom and for hope and for high morals.... right...
Its like the time GW as governor had the Taliban over in Texas because he needed them..and how did they turn out?
Nobody in their right mind is denying the genocide, so why are we afraid of turkey? don't we give them billions in foreign aid? what would happen if we cut them off? hmmm...the sick man of europe got their name for a reason, and you see just how sick they are now.
Anonymous (October 12, 2007 @ 7:15pm):
"Strange that the Socialist Democrats took nearly 100 years to mount their high horse."
And not so strange that racist Republicans don't give a damn about genocide.
Anonymous (October 13, 2007 @ 10:42am):
Are those the same "racist Republicans" that freed the slaves?
Kevork Kalayjian (October 13, 2007 @ 11:41am):
Dear Editor
The House Foreign Relations Committee vote 27/21 on H. R. 106, acknowledging the Armenian Genocide, is a giant step forward for a more perfect democracy here in the United States of America and in the context of our image in the world both for our allies and for our adversaries.
This is the greatest gesture of love and respect to the Turkish people. Our NATO brother-in-arms should know that, just as David Kaczynski brought his brother Theodore John Kaczynski (The Unabomber) to justice, America will not stand idle for deniers of Genocide.
It is a shame that the present administration still opposes this important human rights achievement. At it is a disgrace that there are still people amongst us who see no harm in denying a crime for profit.
This administration and its supporters marched into the White House as the defenders of the faith and the family values, they turned up to be a pack of wolves ready to sell America's honor to criminals.
Sincerely,
Kevork Kalayjian
Zareh Sahakian (October 13, 2007 @ 2:32pm):
What you are suggesting is to permit yourself to become hostage to a third country's whims.
If Turkey wants to act militarily against a neighbour she will do it, if not today...tomorrow. Today it's the Armenian genocide resolution tomorrow it will b e something else. When they attacked and occupied part of Cyprus there was no Armenian genocide issue in the US Congress.
What is not being said here is the fact that Turkey, since the fall of Saddam Hasain, has been looking at the oil fields of Mosul and Kirkuk with a big appetite, Turkey is simply looking for a pretence to take control of those oil fields.
Kurdish terorrism is nothing new, and mostly it is Kurds in Turkey that have been waging this war. remember a decade ago? Then the Turkish army wiped out thousands of Kurdish villages in South-East Turkey for harboring the PKK, killing thousands of innocent villagers.
So now, thanks to the US administration's incompetence in Iraq, Turks have found a perfect opportunity to realize their dreams.
This has nothing to do with the passage of a non-binding, toothless resolution that simply commemorates the death of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire.
Anonymous (October 13, 2007 @ 10:45pm):
"And not so strange that racist Republicans don't give a damn about genocide."
I don't see any Democrats advocating for unilateral military intervention in Darfur (the only thing that will work to stop the genocide). Rather, Democrats seem to prefer talking at the UN and passing worthless resolutions until everyone is already dead.
Anonymous (October 14, 2007 @ 8:23am):
I didn't think anyone cared about genocide, unless it involved God's chosen people. Are Armenians Jewish?
Anonymous (October 14, 2007 @ 3:09pm):
"Rather, Democrats seem to prefer talking at the UN and passing worthless resolutions until everyone is already dead."
Exactly - see 1994 genocide in Rwanda for more info.
Anonymous (October 14, 2007 @ 3:54pm):
"Genocide still exists, and we saw it in Rwanda; we see it now in Darfur",House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Her solution - passing a worthless resolution after everyone is already dead for 90 years. Not exactly worthless, al-Qaeda in Iraq will benefit.
Kevork Kalayjian (November 3, 2007 @ 9:57pm):
Bush Gives the Go Ahead for another Genocide Secretary Rice Delivers the Message to Congress
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice displays a racist attitude about human rights by urging congress to drop the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and now meeting with the governing Turkish gang of denialists. If all Americans adopted her attitude Ms. Rice would have been a slave today. After reading her comments one wonders which is worse, the physical enslavement of people, or the enslavement of the mind which leads to the moral prostitution of the American constitution and all the values that it stands for in the hands of this administration.
Her attitude is equally insulting and degrading to Turkish Americans, and citizens of Turkey who are sacrificing their lives to introduce a true democracy in that country, so that Turkey can be integrated into the European Union. True democratic values and traditions are trampled over and destroyed in Turkey by our desire to accommodate bases for our troops, airfields for our warplanes, and contracts for our multinational corporations. HR 106, The Armenian Genocide Resolution is the greatest gesture of love and respect to the Turkish people.
Those who advocate denial, treat the Turkish people as inferior being not able to handle the truth. Our NATO brother-in-arms should know that, just as David Kaczynski brought his brother Theodore John Kaczynski (The Unabomber) to justice, America will not stand idle for genocide deniers.
By opposing this resolution, President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, have become the moral axis of evil, because they have given the green light to the Turkish government to go ahead and complete the genocidal campaign against the remaining Armenians in Turkey, and commit genocide against other minorities in Turkey. The necessary ingredients are there; there is the PKK, which has been declared a terrorist organization; the Kurdish minority living in Turkey could easily be accused of supporting the PKK, George Bush, just like Hitler, has given his blessings to the Turkish generals, by virtually saying: who after all remembers the Armenians?
Turkish Islamist gangs have already deciphered this Administration's message and started a pogrom of Armenians and Kurds living in Brussels. Opponents of this human rights issue are bigots and racists, who do not think that the Turkish people have the common sense and the decency to be treated as civilized human beings. Instead, these deniers are treating the Turks as if they are the 'Barbarian of the Middle East' who cannot be expected to behave in similar standards as people living in Western democracies. Hence, while we do not deny the Holocaust, because we have bases and enlisted personnel in Germany, these people make us believe that we should treat the Turks as sub-human barbarians and let their governments deny a crime so that we can use their bases. What's next? The 9/11 attacks never happened? Or, was it a civil war?
While other countries are criticized, sanctioned, and attacked when they conquer a neighboring country, according to the US State Department it is OK for the Turkish governments to attack and conquer half of Cyprus. Why? Because, we have to appease our 'Barbarian Friends', so that we can keep our military bases in their country.
It is a shame that the present administration still opposes this important human rights initiative. It is a disgrace that there are still people amongst us, who see no harm in denying a crime for profit.
This administration and its supporters marched into the White House as the defenders of the faith and the family values, they turned up to be a pack of wolves ready to sell America's honor.
I am proud that my representative, Congressman Eliot Engel, voted for this resolution in the House Foreign Relation Committee, next step is the House floor.
I urge you to make sure that H. R. 106 comes to the House floor and that your representative votes for it!
Please contact your representative and have your friends, neighbors, and acquaintances do the same.
To find out how to contact your representative you may visit www.anca.org, or www.aaainc.org.
Thank you,
Kevork K Kalayjian Jr
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