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MAKING SENSE OF GENOCIDE
Los Angeles Times
March 8 2010
Turkey needs to come to grips with its bloody past so it can move
forward in its relations with Armenia and the U.S.
An estimated 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were massacred in the
final throes of the Ottoman empire. That blood bath, carried out
by the Turks between 1915 and 1918, was genocide, and should be
called by that name. In approving a nonbinding resolution to make
this the official U.S. position, Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-Valley
Village) and other members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee were
responding to constituent demands that the United States take a moral
stand. Now, Congress and the Obama administration must decide whether
such a symbolic act also serves the strategic interests of the United
States. For the moment, just like presidents George W. Bush and Bill
Clinton before him, Barack Obama appears to be saying no.
It is important for the United States to stand for historical truth on
the Armenian slaughter. Even more important is that Turks themselves
come to terms with their brutal history. From Germany to South Africa
to Argentina, there are many examples of countries that have confronted
their violent pasts honestly.
Instead, Turkey recalled its ambassador for consultations after the
23-22 House committee vote, saying the resolution offends the country's
honor and warning of negative consequences for U.S.-Turkish relations,
as well as for the ratification of agreements to normalize ties with
the Republic of Armenia. A more productive approach would be for the
Turks and Armenians to adopt the protocols hammered out last year to
establish diplomatic relations and reopen their shared border.
The U.S. vote must not become a pretext for further stalling.
During the 2008 campaign, Obama was unequivocal in his support for
labeling the killings a genocide. As president, however, he has the
unenviable task of weighing that position against the need for Turkey's
support in Afghanistan, in stabilizing Iraq and for United Nations
sanctions against Iran. Turkey is the only Muslim country in NATO,
and it currently sits on the U.N. Security Council.
We understand that any U.S. administration must nurture the vital
strategic alliance with Turkey. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton, who coaxed Turkey and Armenia into signing the protocols last
year, noted that the agreement established a commission to examine
their bloody history and argued that "it is not for any other country
to determine how two countries resolve matters between them." That's
true, but we also understand Armenian fears that such a commission
could whitewash history.
The goal is Turkish and Armenian reconciliation, putting to rest the
ghosts of the past. That is in the U.S. interest as well as that of
both peoples. For it to happen, the onus is on Turkey to acknowledge
the Armenian genocide.
Los Angeles Times
March 8 2010
Turkey needs to come to grips with its bloody past so it can move
forward in its relations with Armenia and the U.S.
An estimated 1.5 million ethnic Armenians were massacred in the
final throes of the Ottoman empire. That blood bath, carried out
by the Turks between 1915 and 1918, was genocide, and should be
called by that name. In approving a nonbinding resolution to make
this the official U.S. position, Chairman Howard L. Berman (D-Valley
Village) and other members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee were
responding to constituent demands that the United States take a moral
stand. Now, Congress and the Obama administration must decide whether
such a symbolic act also serves the strategic interests of the United
States. For the moment, just like presidents George W. Bush and Bill
Clinton before him, Barack Obama appears to be saying no.
It is important for the United States to stand for historical truth on
the Armenian slaughter. Even more important is that Turks themselves
come to terms with their brutal history. From Germany to South Africa
to Argentina, there are many examples of countries that have confronted
their violent pasts honestly.
Instead, Turkey recalled its ambassador for consultations after the
23-22 House committee vote, saying the resolution offends the country's
honor and warning of negative consequences for U.S.-Turkish relations,
as well as for the ratification of agreements to normalize ties with
the Republic of Armenia. A more productive approach would be for the
Turks and Armenians to adopt the protocols hammered out last year to
establish diplomatic relations and reopen their shared border.
The U.S. vote must not become a pretext for further stalling.
During the 2008 campaign, Obama was unequivocal in his support for
labeling the killings a genocide. As president, however, he has the
unenviable task of weighing that position against the need for Turkey's
support in Afghanistan, in stabilizing Iraq and for United Nations
sanctions against Iran. Turkey is the only Muslim country in NATO,
and it currently sits on the U.N. Security Council.
We understand that any U.S. administration must nurture the vital
strategic alliance with Turkey. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton, who coaxed Turkey and Armenia into signing the protocols last
year, noted that the agreement established a commission to examine
their bloody history and argued that "it is not for any other country
to determine how two countries resolve matters between them." That's
true, but we also understand Armenian fears that such a commission
could whitewash history.
The goal is Turkish and Armenian reconciliation, putting to rest the
ghosts of the past. That is in the U.S. interest as well as that of
both peoples. For it to happen, the onus is on Turkey to acknowledge
the Armenian genocide.