Posted on 10/09/2007 8:59:43 PM PDT by americanophile
WASHINGTON: Turkey was making a final direct appeal to U.S. lawmakers to reject a resolution that would declare the World War I-era killings of hundreds of thousands of Armenians an act of genocide.
The House of Representatives' Foreign Affairs Committee planned a vote Wednesday on the measure that is opposed by the Bush administration.
On Tuesday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul warned of "serious troubles in the two countries' relations" if the measure is approved.
Those threats were coming as Turkey's government was seeking parliamentary approval for a cross-border military operation to chase separatist Kurdish rebels who operate from bases in northern Iraq. The move, opposed by the United States, could open a new war front in the most stable part of Iraq.
In Washington, Turkish members of parliament were making their case on the genocide resolution in meetings Tuesday with members of the committee that will consider the genocide resolution.
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
They woulnd’t let us use their country to attack Iraq. Screw em.
Threats seem to be the norm for these people. Having said that; the word genocide is thrown around very often and I don't know what percentage of the population the muzzies murdered. Did they try to kill all of them? If they did "attempted genocide" would be a reasonable charge. If it was blood mad butchery of large numbers of people, of course, that's an atrocity. I know it was a brutal and savage act upon these people. And the Turks should not be able to historically deny it.
As sad as any killings years ago are... is this really all our congress has to do? Really?
Stop it, just call Christmas recess early, and go home.
Talk about too much time on their hands.
I don't blame them. That was all Colin Powell's fault for dissing them big time.
Who do we need more right now...the Turkish military or the Armenian military (which does not exist)? Remember how those Israeli troops who destroyed the Syrian nuclear facilities got into Syria in the first place (via Turkey).
In view of the above, it would appear that the Turks are taking this matter very seriously.
To my knowledge, the modern Republic of Turkey founded in 1923 does not deny the horrific killings and devastation of the final years of W.W.I and the Ottoman Empire.
As I understand it Turkey demands recognition of the hundreds of thousands of others besides Armenians who died. They of course object to the word "genocide."
Armenia, as of a couple of months ago when I last looked, still refuses to accept a U.S. ambassador until we agree with them that it was "genocide."
To wit, Armenia is making demands also.
Turkey has troops and preformed a command role in Afghanistan as a member of NATO.
Many Americans are still unforgiving vis-a-vis Turkish territory for U.S. forces. I too was disappointed but I also know of the several factors that brought about Turkey's decision (as reported in news items). Not the least of which was France's warning that if Turkey helped us they'd never, never get into the EU.
The mass killings and uprooting of hundreds of thousands were horrific. The horrors killed hundreds of thousands on both sides and should never be forgotten. It's been almost a hundred years.
There exists today terrible conditions for tens of thousands as the result of the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. What about them?
At least the Council of Europe, et al. are trying.
What about the the rights of Azeris uprooted from the Armenia-occupied territory of Azerbaijan? What is Armenia doing to help today's victims?
In total in the South Caucasus I believe that there are some 800,000 displaced persons. Plenty of work to do about todays as well as sorting out events of one hundred years ago. IMO.
I’m all for our country recognizing as a matter of historical record that the Armenian population in Turkey was indeed exterminated through official acts of genocide on the part of the Turkish government/people.
It was an act of genocide whether we say so or not. We might as well say so. To wait is to compound the crime of inaction and neutrality in the face of pure blinding evil. You ask if now is the time? I wonder what’s been keeping us?
Bingo.
And just about now, we’d like very much for Turkey to not invade Iraq’s northern Kurdish region to go after the PKK.
A whole lot of American soldiers died because of just that.
Turkey demanded a larger bribe to allow us to use their country to invade Iraq.
Screw turkey.
Yep, the Turks did not stand by us in 2003, and are trying to blackmail us now with threats of invading northern Iraq, so I say let them stew in their own historical dirty laundry.
The Turks committed democide, which is is bad as genocide - only perhaps not racially motivated.
The US should not be afraid to name the bestial acts of the Turks as what they were. Anything else is mere pandering dhimmitude.
Considering around 1.5 million Armenians were genocided by the Turks (at the time about 20-25% of all Armenians)...its time to officially state it as such
Dismayed that GWB would rather coddle Islamic Turkey by not supporting such a measure. But, GWB is more and more becoming an anti-American globalist...more concerned with the world and not the USA
The truth hurts. Turkey should be ashamed of itself for the mass murder it committed.
"September 16, 1916.- To the Government of Aleppo.
It was at first communicated to you that the government, by order of the Jemiet, had decided to destroy completely all the Armenians living in Turkey.... An end must be put to their existence, however criminal the measures taken may be, and no regard must be paid to either age or sex nor to conscientious scruples.
Minister of the Interior Talaat Pasha."
"August 22, 1939. - I have given orders to my Death Units to exterminate without mercy or pity men, women, and children belonging to the Polish-speaking race. It is only in this manner that we can acquire the vital territory which we need. After all, who remembers today the extermination of the Armenians?
Adolf Hitler. "
What will we as Americans stand for? Coddling evil, or recognizing it for what it is?
But 75% of our munitions goes through turkey including the new anti IED vehicles. I say wait till the wars over in Iraq then settle it not now congress has better things to do.
“But 75% of our munitions goes through turkey including the new anti IED vehicles.”
I`m curious about the timing of this. Have past Congress`s tried to pass a resolution like this? The anti-war crowd in Congress may be doing this now so Turkey stops any cooperation with us.
I can think of no other reason Congress wants to pass this resolution since the surge is working can you? Plus when was the last time you saw a burning car in Baghdad on CNN or PMSNBC?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.