An Apology For Statecraft
This is one of those topics that probably wont be popular. But I need to get this off my chest. The US House of Representatives appears to be very close to passing a bill that will denounce the events of almost 100 years ago - consequences be damned.
ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey may cut logistic support to U.S. troops in Iraq if the U.S. Congress backs a bill branding as genocide the 1915 massacres of Armenians by Ottoman Turks, a senior ruling AK Party lawmaker was quoted as saying on Monday.
Congress's Foreign Affairs Committee is expected to approve on Wednesday a bill on the genocide issue and speaker Nancy Pelosi, a known supporter of the Armenian cause, could then decide to bring it to the House floor for a vote.
Turkey, a NATO ally of Washington, strongly denies Armenian claims, backed by many Western historians and a number of foreign parliaments, that up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians suffered genocide at Turkish hands during World War One.
It says many Muslim Turks as well as Christian Armenians died in inter-ethnic conflict as the Ottoman Empire collapsed.
"Don't accept this bill. If you do, we will be obliged to do many things we do not want to do," the top-selling Hurriyet daily quoted AK Party deputy leader Egemen Bagis as saying.
"For example, the Americans depend on Turkey for a large part of their logistical support in Iraq. We would be obliged to cut this support," he was quoted as saying.
Bagis was speaking in a personal capacity, but Turkey's government has many times urged foreign countries, including the United States, not to pass such resolutions, saying historians, not politicians, should judge historic events.
I am not, by any means, an expert on the ins and outs of this whole event. But a couple of observations are in order. Whatever happened in Armenia almost a century ago happened when a government that does not exist any longer, the Ottoman Empire, was still in power. The successor government, that of Turkey, is not the same. I am not - in any way - making light of the real suffering that occurred. But demanding accountability or an apology from a successor government for the actions of a previous power seems absurd.
To do so in the face of real, serious consequences to our real interests in the contemporary world is past absurd. It is dangerous to the point of being suicidal. I do not make any apologies for the people involved in the real horrors that went on in 1915. But I fail to see where any motion passed in 2007 by an American Congress will do a single thing to bring those people back to life. But it could do real damage to this country.
For the folks of Armenian heritage, I have a few questions: Is it worth damaging the country you or your forebears migrated to to pass this resolution? Is it worth demanding an apology from a successor government for the actions of one that is long gone? Is it worth hurting the country you call home now to count coup on a government that is dead and gone? Please, let this drop.
Yeah, this one won't be popular.
Politics, World news | Gaius Monday, 8 October , 2007
By George, Tuesday, 9 October , 2007 @ 7:56 am
On the other hand, perhaps the Democrats want Turkey to withdraw support for our military logistic efforts in a further effort to undermine the battle in Iraq (the war is on terror, the battle is in Iraq).
By Bleepless, Tuesday, 9 October , 2007 @ 3:40 pm
Seen any Etruscans lately? Let’s denounce the Romans! Oh — they aren’t around? Well, how about the Ottomans who bumped off the Armenians? No? Well, nice try, Senate.
Sabines. Jutes. Old Prussians. Ah, the list goes on forever. My indignation is boundless, as is my proposed list of resolutions.
Mohicans! Hurons! Oops. They got wiped out by other nature-lovers.
Chichmecs!
By Richard, Wednesday, 10 October , 2007 @ 7:00 pm
I am not of Armenian heritage but I understand well the motivation for seeking justice. This has been going on for decades with the Turks delaying and obfuscating until now when some people can compare them to the Etruscans.
There are still people alive today who are survivors of the Armenian Genocide. Soon they will be gone. Perhaps simple justice and clarity doesnt count for much to people interested in realpolitik.
Gaius, let me turn your question around. What kind of a country did you or your forebears migrate to? Hopefully one that stands for something other than expediency.
By Gaius, Wednesday, 10 October , 2007 @ 7:09 pm
I just posted on it again. Let me turn it around on you in turn: are you really sure your house is not made of glass?