US bill on Armenia moves forward

[The Sushi Bandit]

Source: BBC

A bill recognising the killing of Armenians in Ottoman times as genocide has cleared its first hurdle in the US Congress despite Turkish warnings.
It passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee by 27 votes to 21 - the first step towards holding a vote in the House of Representatives.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul reacted swiftly to the result, saying the move was "unacceptable" and had no validity.

President George W Bush had urged the committee not to approve the bill.

"Its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in Nato and in the global war on terror," the US president said.



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7038762.stm

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Hey Bush! go Fuck yourself, OK?

[liberalmuse]

1. Good!

As I'm listening to Serj Tankian right now, I'm thinking, "Fuck Bush and Fuck Turkey." They systematically massacred Armenians and they should be forced to admit what they did.

[Andy Canuck]

2. This could be done at anytime

and hasn't been addressed in the past. Why is it being addressed now, out of all the genocides in the world? The hypocricy factor is absurd and makes the vote a tragic statement. They should be voting on the present Iraqi genocide. My concern is that it is going to cause outrage with the Turks and US forces will be meeting them on the battlefield. If Turkey attacks the Kurds in Iraq, the US is a position of having to protect the Kurds, and direct conflict with TUrkey could follow. Postponing the vote for a couple of years may not be a bad idea.

[dipsydoodle]

3. The reason it's being done at this time

is because the USA is lagging behind other countries who recognised the genocide years ago. So - IMO postphoning it would've served no useful object. If there is a reason why the USA wishes you avoid conflict with Turkey it's more likely to be associated with the oil pipeline which runs there from Azerbaijan.

[Eurobabe]

4. Excuse me, hyposcrisy factor?

Armenians have been waiting for decades for this. Turkey is being a big fat bully, IMHO.

What shall we tell the others that have experienced a genocide/ethnic cleansing? Oh sorry, the timing is always wrong?

This thread will soon become a hot third rail like every other that has been posted since yesterday.

Turkey has wanted to go after the PKK for a long time now, the Armenian genocide resolution is just an "excuse" to legitimize their doing so.

The Middle East is farging mess since Bush took office.

[Andy Canuck]

5. The genocide should have been recognized a long time ago

but to recognize right now, puts more lives at risk. Hypocrisy factor is such that this Congress authorizes a war in Iraq that has killed over a million people and a potential war in Iran that may kill millions more and yet it feels it has the moral authority to acknowledge other world horrors. It may be better to wait two years when the congress has shown backbone on the genocide in the present and isn't using the death of millions nearly a century ago as a political/moral shield.

[bdamomma]

14. Turkey wants to go after the PKK, and apparently the US asked

them to not go into Northern Iraq, who is not listening to us, why should they (Turkey) we invaded Iraq. Turkey must come clean and face the facts that an acknowledgement must be made, this could have been alleviated a long time ago, Turkey must step up to the plate.

[BadgerLaw2010]

6. Nice to see that Turkey *still* denies they were responsible for this.

This isn't like we're claiming that they committed war crimes in Romania, Hungary and Austria during the 1400-1600's. This was in the 20th century.

Turkey can grow the fuck up.

[Amonester]

12. Yeah... it's not like many of the criminals who did it are still alive

today... But, if it still angers their kids (in power today), then I suggest their gov. should pass a resolution against the natives' genocide that was committed in North America a century or two ago.

If They Really Want To "Get Even" Without Going Overboard, They Can...

[WhiteTara]

7. Congressional panel OKs Armenian measure

Source: Yahoo

WASHINGTON - A House panel defied President Bush on Wednesday and approved a measure that he said would damage U.S. goals in the Middle East.

The measure that would recognize the World War I-era killings of Armenians as a genocide had been strongly opposed by Turkey, a key NATO ally that has supported U.S. efforts in Iraq.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee's 27-21 vote now sends the measure to the House floor — unless the Democratic leadership reverses course and heeds Bush's warnings.

At issue is the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, says the toll has been inflated and insists that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

more

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071011/ap_on_go_co/us_armenia_genocide

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Hmmm. They must be taking spine building pills, maybe it is contagious and it will spread all over Capitol Hill

[Gregorian]

8. I am an Armenian American. I hope this comes to fruition.

I have relatives who were killed. My life has been seriously affected by the genocide. And I wouldn't be an American were it not for that genocide. I heard the stories while growing up. Talk about sad.

I hold no grudges. I just want the truth to be clear, and not forgotten.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

9. I wish my boss would get over his hatred...

His Great-grandparents were victims. He just transfered it to all 'Muslims'. :eyes:
It's ridiculous, if you ask me. Makes as much sense as me hating my European ancestors for killing my Amer. Indian ancestors, or hating my English ancestors for what they did to my Irish ancestors. Or maybe I should hate my German ancestors for 'taking' land from my Prussian ancestors.
:shrug:

[bdamomma]

15. I want the truth also, Turkey is displaying their cowardness.

another thing why do you think Hitler exterminated so many Jews, his logic was as he responded "Who remembers the Armenians", he took his cues from the Ottoman Empire and their bloody rampage.

[BanzaiBonnie]

10. Black Dog of Fate

Historical accounting of the genocide. Another sad point in the history of humanity.

I hope those in the House have the guts to keep going with this.

[bdamomma]

16. it will probably be squashed in the full House, I have a sinking

feeling about this.

[The Sushi Bandit]

11. K&R

[Malikshah]

13. So where is the bill on the Ottoman Genocide?

5.5 million Ottomans killed 5 million refugees....-- many from the Caucasus, Balkans, Eastern Anatolia.

Justin McCarthy has written extensively on this.

Guess those folks just don't matter.


As usual, the Congress doesn't look at the whole picture.