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North County Times, CA
Oct 20 2007
Genocide resolution should pass
By: JIM HORN - Commentary
A brouhaha is brewing regarding the proposed resolution ---- the
timing is an issue ---- to recognize the Turkish genocide directed at
Armenians ninety years ago when more than 1.5 million Armenians were
slaughtered by Turks. During the two years I lived in Turkey, I got
to know and understand the Turks and Armenians, as well as other
downtrodden minority groups in that country.
The resolution is a Democratic initiative and President Bush is
trying to block it, claiming the resolution will provoke the Turks to
cut off routes used to supply our bases in Iraq.
The Turks are angry at Iraqi Kurds who harbor guerrillas who have
been attacking Turks in support of Turkish Kurds who want
independence from Turk oppression. The Turks are threatening to mount
a significant incursion across the border into Iraq to attack the
Kurds, the most successful of the three major Iraqi groups in
self-government. In this attack, the Turks would cut those supply
lines anyhow.
The resolution is driving the Turks batty because they want to
control how we Americans manage our internal affairs. Their
threatening to cut off routes through Turkey that we use to supply
our bases ---- and Iraqi Kurds ---- if it passes is just an excuse
they are using in support of their argument to attack Iraq.
While the Turks were a useful ally during the Cold War, the Cold War
is over and that alliance means nothing now. The Turks needed us more
than we needed them because Joe Stalin was ready to trounce them, and
NATO gave the Turks protection.
The Turks sabotaged our pre-invasion plans in Iraq. They have been
the most useless, costly and problematic NATO partner in the
alliance, repeatedly in disputes with a more stalwart NATO partner,
Greece.
If the Turks cut off our supply lines into Iraq or attack Iraq ----
the Iraqi Kurds ---- they should be booted out of NATO, and all
American and European military assistance to Turkey should be cut
off. They no longer need it. They are no longer threatened by the
USSR.
A clarifying note: The so-called Turks garnered a reputation of
incredible ferocity during the Korean war. The reality is that the
"Turks" who fought so valiantly were in fact Kurdish conscripts,
along with conscripted Christian Armenians, Assyrians, Bulgars and
Greeks. The only contribution the Turks made was their officers and
senior noncoms who stood behind the conscripts with machine guns at
the ready to gun down any who faltered.
A congressional vote for the resolution would be well-deserved
recognition for the significant contributions Armenian-Americans have
made to America, a lot more than the Turks have contributed.
Jim Horn of Sun City is a retired U.S. diplomat.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10 /20/opinion/commentarycal/21_09_3110_19_07.txt
Oct 20 2007
Genocide resolution should pass
By: JIM HORN - Commentary
A brouhaha is brewing regarding the proposed resolution ---- the
timing is an issue ---- to recognize the Turkish genocide directed at
Armenians ninety years ago when more than 1.5 million Armenians were
slaughtered by Turks. During the two years I lived in Turkey, I got
to know and understand the Turks and Armenians, as well as other
downtrodden minority groups in that country.
The resolution is a Democratic initiative and President Bush is
trying to block it, claiming the resolution will provoke the Turks to
cut off routes used to supply our bases in Iraq.
The Turks are angry at Iraqi Kurds who harbor guerrillas who have
been attacking Turks in support of Turkish Kurds who want
independence from Turk oppression. The Turks are threatening to mount
a significant incursion across the border into Iraq to attack the
Kurds, the most successful of the three major Iraqi groups in
self-government. In this attack, the Turks would cut those supply
lines anyhow.
The resolution is driving the Turks batty because they want to
control how we Americans manage our internal affairs. Their
threatening to cut off routes through Turkey that we use to supply
our bases ---- and Iraqi Kurds ---- if it passes is just an excuse
they are using in support of their argument to attack Iraq.
While the Turks were a useful ally during the Cold War, the Cold War
is over and that alliance means nothing now. The Turks needed us more
than we needed them because Joe Stalin was ready to trounce them, and
NATO gave the Turks protection.
The Turks sabotaged our pre-invasion plans in Iraq. They have been
the most useless, costly and problematic NATO partner in the
alliance, repeatedly in disputes with a more stalwart NATO partner,
Greece.
If the Turks cut off our supply lines into Iraq or attack Iraq ----
the Iraqi Kurds ---- they should be booted out of NATO, and all
American and European military assistance to Turkey should be cut
off. They no longer need it. They are no longer threatened by the
USSR.
A clarifying note: The so-called Turks garnered a reputation of
incredible ferocity during the Korean war. The reality is that the
"Turks" who fought so valiantly were in fact Kurdish conscripts,
along with conscripted Christian Armenians, Assyrians, Bulgars and
Greeks. The only contribution the Turks made was their officers and
senior noncoms who stood behind the conscripts with machine guns at
the ready to gun down any who faltered.
A congressional vote for the resolution would be well-deserved
recognition for the significant contributions Armenian-Americans have
made to America, a lot more than the Turks have contributed.
Jim Horn of Sun City is a retired U.S. diplomat.
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/10 /20/opinion/commentarycal/21_09_3110_19_07.txt