by publius
Somebody help me out with this Turkey/Armenian resolution. I feel like I’m missing something. It seems like such a colossally stupid thing to do. Turkey is a key ally, and this is a particularly important time for good relations. I’m not saying that should excuse human rights violations. But it did happen decades ago – it’s not like there’s an urgent pressing need for this (as opposed to say the horrors in Congo). What is more urgent is that Kirkuk may well explode soon, and Turkey/Kurdish tensions are simmering. Why gratuitously piss off Turkey?
I guess I’m most curious about the underlying politics driving this. I can understand the vote in France – I assume it had anti-EU undertones. But here, it seems weird that the whole thing is being driven by high Armenian populations in a couple of congressional districts (yes, Pelosi is one -- but is that enough?). Also, I know the Armenians have their own lobby, but are they really this powerful? So powerful that Congress will act even if it jeopardizes stability in northern Iraq.
What am I missing here? I feel like I’m watching Syriana having missed the first half hour.
[UPDATE: David Schraub has more - and takes a different view.]
I'm half-Armenian and stay in touch with th eArmenian community, so I know what a sensitive topic the Armenian genocide is with them. All of us grew up with stories from teh survivors - my grandfather and grandmother being two of them.
But the political side of this - especially the timing - is inescapable. If any of you have any doubts how hostile Leftists are to this country, and how pervasive their influence is amongst the Democrats, this should dispel them.
Simply put, Putin is trying to bring the Cold War back using Islamic militants and South American cocaine traffickers, and a number of Democrats are going along with the idea, for what inducements I can only imagine. That's why Pelosi has been warming up to the Assads of late. It's also why they seem keen on destroying our relations with Turkey, a NATO ally - Russia has been an enemy of Turkey for centuries, and the hostility they have for the Turks is very deep seated.
Watch events unfold over the next few years, and see if I'm right.
Posted by: DrCruel | October 28, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Americans like you who mentioned that it was dumb to pass a resolution condemning Armenian Genocide are very dumb and ignorant. Our schools do not educate anything. 1.5 Millions of people were killed and you are saying it was dumb just because they are a close ally ?
So what happened if someone raped your sister and he was proven innocent just because he is a close friend of a judge ?
Posted by: James Christophen | May 09, 2008 at 09:35 PM
Americans like you who mentioned that it was dumb to pass a resolution condemning Armenian Genocide are very dumb and ignorant. Our schools do not educate anything. 1.5 Millions of people were killed and you are saying it was dumb just because they are a close ally ?
So what happened if someone raped your sister and he was proven innocent just because he is a close friend of a judge ?
Posted by: James Christophen | May 09, 2008 at 09:35 PM