Pseudo-conservatives taking the wrong approach to the subject of the Armenian Holocaust
First off, it's sad to report that Hillary Clinton may have sabotaged the bill for recognizing the Armenian Holocaust. But with that told, this brings me to a most astounding revelation this week: that some conservatives were against the bill...because it jeopardizes American's relations with Turkey!
For example, we have Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters, who alienated me some time ago, as he supported Ariel Sharon's disengagement process and implied that he supports Mahmoud Abbas. Put another way, he's implied that he's the kind of knee-jerker who's willing to go out of his way to give conservatives a bad name. Now, it seems that he comes as one example of someone who's willing to give the impression that he's willing to take a knee-jerk route and block the Armenians' quest for justice that's taken almost a century. He's attacking the bill that was meant to recognize Turkey's genocide from 1915 by saying that it comes at a bad time, because it jeopardizes US relations with Turkey, already slowly moving back to Islamic fundamentalism, and causes problems for our partnership in dealing with the situation in Iraq.
Perhaps Morrissey is forgetting that, 4 1/2 years ago, when the US was preparing to attack Saddam Hussein's forces in Iraq, Turkey refused to let it launch the attack through their borders. And perhaps he's also failing to take into consideration that, if Turkey is going to so much as threaten to erode their relations and continue to deny the genocide that the Ottoman rulers of yesteryear committed, that they're already showing their true colors, and identifying with the Ummah as well?
Let's see what Morrissey says here:
And Morrissey's whole argument here misses a much bigger question: is the history of the Armenian Holocaust widely taught in America's school curriculum? And are there any public memorials to the victims? As far as I know, there may be none in the US, not even in the District of Columbia. In places like Fresno, California, and Watertown, Mass, where you have plenty of people of Armenian backgrounds living, I wouldn't be surprised if they could get it taught there. But outside of those places, what is there?
Like I said, I was very alarmed at how some conservatives, including Bryan (Preston?) at Hot Air, would end up thinking that Turkey, which has now even threatened to ally itself with Iran and invade Kurdistan, would be so concerned about eroding relations with the US. He also seems to think that the Dems like Pelosi are doing this as a means of simply causing problems for the Dubya administration, without taking into consideration that some of them represent areas where Armenians live, and actually are attempting to prove themselves to their possible electorate. The reasoning people like Bryan give here is ludicrous and misses an important point: a country that's not willing to admit the crimes of its forefathers, as Turkey is, and that's even willing to go to jihad again, does not a good partner make in the war on Islamic terror. In fact, that's what makes this bill important in the war on Islamic extremism. How will we be able to fight Islamofascism if we don't recognize the past crimes of Muslims everywhere and anywhere?
One of the commentors at Hot Air had this to say, and I think he nailed it perfectly:
And unless conservatives like Morrissey and Bryan can make a clear call for establishing memorials, monuments and educational programs statewide for discussion of the Armenian Holocaust, they have far less of a credible leg to stand on. That's one of the most important things to do now, and it should be noted that, while Reagan did bring up the issue in the early 1980s, the aforementioned details I stressed were not established. That's what conservatives have to start stressing and lobbying for alongside the Armenians before they can bring up any of these arguments regarding terrible Turkey.
Update: Betsy Newmark is also missing the points by miles, and using Democrat Jane Harman and Warren Christopher as examples to justify opposition to the bill is pretty tacky.
Update 2: Hugh Fitzgerald discusses how America has been relying on Muslim states for quite awhile to build expensive army bases on the assumption that alliances would last. It's time already to stop relying on them for places where to establish bases, and time to stop wasting valuble money on places like those too. See also this entry by Greg at Dhimmi Watch.
For example, we have Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters, who alienated me some time ago, as he supported Ariel Sharon's disengagement process and implied that he supports Mahmoud Abbas. Put another way, he's implied that he's the kind of knee-jerker who's willing to go out of his way to give conservatives a bad name. Now, it seems that he comes as one example of someone who's willing to give the impression that he's willing to take a knee-jerk route and block the Armenians' quest for justice that's taken almost a century. He's attacking the bill that was meant to recognize Turkey's genocide from 1915 by saying that it comes at a bad time, because it jeopardizes US relations with Turkey, already slowly moving back to Islamic fundamentalism, and causes problems for our partnership in dealing with the situation in Iraq.
Perhaps Morrissey is forgetting that, 4 1/2 years ago, when the US was preparing to attack Saddam Hussein's forces in Iraq, Turkey refused to let it launch the attack through their borders. And perhaps he's also failing to take into consideration that, if Turkey is going to so much as threaten to erode their relations and continue to deny the genocide that the Ottoman rulers of yesteryear committed, that they're already showing their true colors, and identifying with the Ummah as well?
Let's see what Morrissey says here:
Most people realize that over a million Armenians didn't just disappear into the vapor. The Turks have always denied it, but the rest of the world understands what happened in Armenia in the opening days of World War I. Historians and academics have reached their consensus, and regardless of whether Turkey acknowledges the Ottoman Empire's guilt or not, the truth is well known.But if we don't press the issue and send a message, then Turkey will continue to remain stubborn about their guilt. Is their Islamic extremism any more forgivable than any other Muslim government, even Saddam's?
And Morrissey's whole argument here misses a much bigger question: is the history of the Armenian Holocaust widely taught in America's school curriculum? And are there any public memorials to the victims? As far as I know, there may be none in the US, not even in the District of Columbia. In places like Fresno, California, and Watertown, Mass, where you have plenty of people of Armenian backgrounds living, I wouldn't be surprised if they could get it taught there. But outside of those places, what is there?
Like I said, I was very alarmed at how some conservatives, including Bryan (Preston?) at Hot Air, would end up thinking that Turkey, which has now even threatened to ally itself with Iran and invade Kurdistan, would be so concerned about eroding relations with the US. He also seems to think that the Dems like Pelosi are doing this as a means of simply causing problems for the Dubya administration, without taking into consideration that some of them represent areas where Armenians live, and actually are attempting to prove themselves to their possible electorate. The reasoning people like Bryan give here is ludicrous and misses an important point: a country that's not willing to admit the crimes of its forefathers, as Turkey is, and that's even willing to go to jihad again, does not a good partner make in the war on Islamic terror. In fact, that's what makes this bill important in the war on Islamic extremism. How will we be able to fight Islamofascism if we don't recognize the past crimes of Muslims everywhere and anywhere?
One of the commentors at Hot Air had this to say, and I think he nailed it perfectly:
Bryan,Following all this, it has me wondering: if a Jewish tragedy were in focus here, would any of these people oppose a bill on that issue too? Did it ever occur to them that they could be accused of racism against Armenians by opposing it? And most importantly of all, did it ever occur to them that there are people of Armenian backgrounds out there who could be reading what they're saying and be justifiably horrified and angry that conservatives, whom they thought were against Islamofascism, were going miles out of their way to potentially appease a boastful country like Turkey?
I have to strongly disagree with you on the whole premise of your argument, and I think it will come back to haunt you. It was the turks who committed the genocide, and it is the turks who have consistently engaged in not only denial of that fact, but the repression of those who seek to point out the truth of it.
The notion that we ought to play along with evil because our values and virtues are for sale every time we need an airbase, is abhorrent to everything America stands for. It is no different than news organizations who propagandize on behalf of dictators in order to ensure access. Why is it wrong for CNN to keep quiet about Saddam in the 90s, but it is not wrong for the US to keep quiet about the turkish genocide of armenians now? In both cases, you are talking about one party compromising its integrity in exchange for a bribe: access to either interviews or military bases.
I think you are criticizing this merely because the democrats have done it. Had the republicans condemned the genocide, I believe your post would have been different. I am extremely conservative, but I have to say the democrats were right on this one. We are not [at] Turkey’s mercy, and you need to stop acting like we are dependent on them logistically. We aren’t. We conducted Iraqi Freedom despite Turkey having cut us off. We have other allies with coast-lines, like Israel and (you forgot this MAJOR one) KUWAIT. We have air bases in nations like Qatar. THAT is how we have kept the logistics in place.
Pandering to Turkey is not going to help our relations with them. Our relations have worsened because of the erosion of Turkey’s secularism, and because Turkey feels that oppression of the Kurds, LIKE THE ARMENIANS BEFORE THEM, are its right, and US forces have stopped them from doing this, which culminated in the humiliation of Turkish special forces which were on an assassination mission.
So we need to play this from a position of strength instead of kowtowing to the Turks. You USED to understand that Bryan.
And unless conservatives like Morrissey and Bryan can make a clear call for establishing memorials, monuments and educational programs statewide for discussion of the Armenian Holocaust, they have far less of a credible leg to stand on. That's one of the most important things to do now, and it should be noted that, while Reagan did bring up the issue in the early 1980s, the aforementioned details I stressed were not established. That's what conservatives have to start stressing and lobbying for alongside the Armenians before they can bring up any of these arguments regarding terrible Turkey.
Update: Betsy Newmark is also missing the points by miles, and using Democrat Jane Harman and Warren Christopher as examples to justify opposition to the bill is pretty tacky.
Update 2: Hugh Fitzgerald discusses how America has been relying on Muslim states for quite awhile to build expensive army bases on the assumption that alliances would last. It's time already to stop relying on them for places where to establish bases, and time to stop wasting valuble money on places like those too. See also this entry by Greg at Dhimmi Watch.
Labels: Armenia, Asia, dhimmitude, islam, racism, terrorism, turkey
