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'Wavering' On The Armenian Genocide

March 20, 2009
An "LA Times" piece earlier this week suggested that the Obama administration is wavering on a pledged presidential declaration on the Armenian genocide because of worries of losing Turkey's help and support in the Middle East.

The apparent primacy of realpolitik has not gone down well in parts of the blogosphere.

Here's Matt Welch for "Reason":

The sun rises in the east, spring follows winter, and a new American president is backing away from his campaign pledge to refer to the Ottoman-era Turkish genocide of Armenians as a "genocide," because the White House is "fearful of alienating Turkey when U.S. officials badly want its help."

And Alex Massie for "The Spectator":

All Presidential candidates decry the Armenian genocide on the campaign trail and the successful ones always welsh on calling it that once they are in power. George W Bush was no exception. Realpolitik you say? Just the usual campaign stuff you have to say? Well, perhaps. But if politicians want to be taken seriously perhaps they should cease being quite so cynical.

A resolution was introduced into Congress on March 17, and Turkey has already warned the United States that it might damage relations.

With Obama visiting Turkey in early April and Armenian Americans pushing for a presidential declaration on April 24, the annual remembrance day, interesting times are ahead.

(Hat tip: Andrew Sullivan)

-- Luke Allnutt
This forum has been closed.
     
Comments
by: Martin Bright
April 05, 2009 07:09
Stop warmongers. Neither armenian people nor turkish or azeri peoples need another war.Put your money into your battered health and education systems and not into your corrupt militaries.

by: Diana from: California, USA
March 28, 2009 23:52
Armenians should stop being so naive. As long as the Jewish Lobby and Israel back up Turkey in their denial of the Armenian Genocide, we will never see the USA accept THEIR OWN HISTORY! My grandparents came to the United States because the US DID acknowledge the genocide that took place in Turkey . . . now they want to deny it.

We should stop protesting Ankara and start protesting Tel Aviv and the Israeli Embassies around the world. THEY are the road block . . . and the world should know that those who cry Holacaust at every turn would deny the Armenian people any justice. It's disgusting.

by: Art from: Hollywood
March 24, 2009 16:50
Artak, I agree on some points of your statement but starting a war with another country is now what Armenia and Armenian people are about.

As far as recognition goes, I feel that America will recognize the Armenia Genocide, I just don't know exactly when.

I have had this discussion with many political science professors and each and everyone of them (black or white) said, America will do its part.

I also don't agree that we should donate the money to the Armenian military because I think that money can be used in other, more important areas, like health care and technical education.

Anyway, it is going to be interesting to see what our current president is going to do, will he have the balls of Arnold to stand up and speak the truth?



by: Artak from: Glendale
March 24, 2009 07:53
I am proud to be an American Armenian and one proud of my heritage and culture. Unfortunately I am also sad to say that America is sold out and certain political groups by every means control this great country. America will never recognize the Genocide as long as Turkey is alive and well. So my dear Armenians instead of spending all that money lobbying for the resolution to pass in the USA, donate all your money to the Armenian millitary. It is the millitary that will eventually force Turkey to his knees. Maybe this is a wake up call for all Armenians to unite and remember how powerful we were.
The very proud Armenian.

by: Victar from: Sydney
March 22, 2009 20:54
All Armenians understand this. Every country benefited from the Armenian Genocide. Even if they accept it now or later it's only due to their own benefits ($$$$), not because they feel for the Armenians. The word democracy should have been eliminated from the American dictionaries. They don't seem to know the definition. I regard modern America as Hitlers Germany. They (Americans) have no rights telling other countries e.g China to look at human rights when America should have a look at what good things they have done the past decades (?). Obama will do nothing (genocide will NOT go through) as there is script he must follow. They still believe they can use Turkey for a bit more $$$$$=land. They r true satan worshipers. May GOD continue to shine light on our country Armenia, as we and only we seem to be the true Christians. At least we are honest when it comes to accepting History as it is.

by: Dee
March 22, 2009 15:45
Take a moment to read an open letter about the Armenian Genocide from the International Association of Genocide Scholars to President Obama-
http://www.genocidescholars.org/images/IAGS_Obama_Letter.pdf

by: Truth Seeker from: Florida
March 21, 2009 20:03
Read the facts here, not politician ambitions or intention of greedy lobbyists. Just the historical facts.

http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2007/09/1961-new-series-innocent-armenians.html

by: Aram Hamparian from: Washington, DC
March 21, 2009 04:18
Here is a link to the actual source materials (9 documents and 1 video) on President Obama's long track record in support of Armenian Genocide recognition:

http://www.anca.org/assets/pdf/hill_notes/022409.pdf

by: J from: USA
March 20, 2009 19:58
It's a matter of votes. Armenians vote.
     
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Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org

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