Let the Turkish/Armenian genocide legislation wait
In my understanding of things, there is little question that the Turks dislocated or slaughtered some 1.5 million Armenians in WWI, and I think the Armenians do deserve some official recognition of that fact.
But not right now. It is absolutely insane for the US to be launching, once again, into this debate about passing purely symbolic legislation in the US Congress.
I'm more than willing to see this type of measure passed. In fact, I'd term myself a supporter, but it needed to be passed five years ago, or five years from now. US recognition has potential real world costs today.
At this point, we need the Turks. We need the Turks for Iraq, for their role as a stable Muslim democracy, for the US bases there, and for the little influence we have to keep them from invading the Kurdish territories.
If this legislation was being used as a diplomatic lever, I could understand, but it's not. It's just the yearly renewal of this debate. Congress, specifically Dems in Congress, put it aside for a few years, and bring it back at a better time.
There's little value in doing this now and a whole lot of downside.
But not right now. It is absolutely insane for the US to be launching, once again, into this debate about passing purely symbolic legislation in the US Congress.
I'm more than willing to see this type of measure passed. In fact, I'd term myself a supporter, but it needed to be passed five years ago, or five years from now. US recognition has potential real world costs today.
At this point, we need the Turks. We need the Turks for Iraq, for their role as a stable Muslim democracy, for the US bases there, and for the little influence we have to keep them from invading the Kurdish territories.
If this legislation was being used as a diplomatic lever, I could understand, but it's not. It's just the yearly renewal of this debate. Congress, specifically Dems in Congress, put it aside for a few years, and bring it back at a better time.
There's little value in doing this now and a whole lot of downside.
posted by mikevotes at
7:52 AM
4 Comments:
Ironically, 7 years ago the bill was about to be passed but pulled from consideration due to these exact same security concerns. Back then it was because we were in Kosovo and wanted Turkey to continue helping.
The bill never went away and has been awaiting passage all that time and the time might have finally come. Will we say again it's not the right time? That it'll be right in seven more years- when who knows what even worse situation we might be in? This was supposed to be passed long ago and to continue to pass the buck into the future indefinitely is nothing but a shame.
By
Anonymous, at 8:24 AM
Paul, I agree with you about the past failures, and I do believe recognition should be passed, but even last year would have presented a significantly different situation than today.
Right now, we're trying to head off the opening of a new front/conflict in the north. In my opinion, the Turks are finally quite serious about launching, at the very least incursion operations in Kurdistan, and that would be disastrous.
I agree that the Armenian genocide deserves its recognition, t's just about the worst possible time to do it.
By
mikevotes, at 8:39 AM
There's always something going on in the Middle East, and we always "need the Turks". Just bringing the issue up enrages them, so the damage has already been done.
Pissing Turkey off could actually help by getting them to oppose the new wars in Iran and Syria.
By
Todd Dugdale , at 9:07 AM
Again, the Turks are preparing to make a token incursion into Iraq to send a message.
If we have any hope of stopping this, this legislation needs to go away. For now.
Yes, the middle east will always be turbulent, yes, Turkey will always be a needed partner, but at this point, where we are right now, Turkish cooperation is more important to the US than at any time since we placed the nuclear missiles there in the early 60's.
Again, I understand and support the cause behind this legislation, but it's just not the right time.
(Also, Cutting one of the only two escape routes from Iraq is not a good idea.)
By
mikevotes, at 1:18 PM
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