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WHAT ABOUT AMERICAN, EUROPEAN GENOCIDES!
By Fareed Mahdy
Journal of Turkish Weekly
March 10 2010
ISTANBUL (IDN) - Did you ask yourself what would happen if the
Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee adopted a resolution
calling "genocides" the U.S. killing of American natives, the Spanish
extermination of aborigines in Latin America, the atrocious American
nuclear bombs on Japan or the U.S. wars on Vietnam, Afghanistan and
Iraq - just to mention some massive murdering perpetrated by Western
powers? Probably you did not.
Otherwise, you would have felt indeed astonished by the decision of
the U.S. Congress foreign affairs committee to brand as "genocide"
the death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire during the First World War, specifically between the years
1915 and 1918.
Moreover, the U.S. Congressional committee's resolution, which was
approved on March 4, would have no clear justification. Apparently,
nothing new happened regarding this particular issue since the Foreign
Affairs committee adopted a similar resolution in 2007.
Why then a new resolution and why now?
There would be many possible explanations, such as the heavy pressure
of Armenian diaspora in the U.S., and the eventual U.S.
dissatisfaction with the new Turkish political and diplomatic
orientation, which has touched untouchable Israel and brought up
other unforgivable 'sins', such as stepping up Ankara's relations
with Damascus and Tehran.
In fact, in less than one year, Turkey has gradually shifted its
policy from the trend to "westernisation" and obsessive aspirations
to join the European Union (EU) as a full member, for an increasing
"easternisation", with an active, energetic presence in the Middle
East.
No wonder, exhausted by EU mounting requirements leading nowhere -
French president Nicolas Sarkozy and former Belgian prime minister
Herman van Rompuy, now acting as the first full-time president of the
European Council, among other EU leaders, have declared that Turkey
will never be a EU member - Ankara had to opt for looking for its
interests somewhere else.
Moreover, the timing of the U.S. Congress resolution could not be
less appropriate for Armenian-Turkish new relations. Ankara has made
a huge effort to normalise its relations with Armenia, with which
it signed in October 2009 a series of protocols aiming at gradually
achieving cooperation and understanding ties between the two countries.
TURKISH REACTION
Ankara's reaction to the U.S. Congressional resolution has been
immediate. In fact, it recalled its ambassador to the U.S., Namik Tan,
and condemned the U.S. Congress resolution to declare the killing of
Armenians by Ottoman forces in the First World War "genocide".
"We condemn this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a
crime it has not committed," Ankara said in a statement following
the Congress vote.
For his part, President Abdullah Gul of Turkey said the resolution had
"no value in the eyes of the Turkish people" and warned that it would
deal a blow on fledgling efforts to end decades of hostility between
Turkey and Armenia.
The U.S. Congressional resolution prompted popular condemnation
demonstrations in the streets of main Turkish cities.
TURKISH STRENGTH
In view of its key importance as an ally in the U.S. wars on Iraq,
Afghanistan and in Pakistan, as well as the fight against the
so-called global terrorism, its role in Middle East peace process
and as potential mediator in Iran nuclear standoff - let alone being
a reliable NATO ally, having sent more troops to Afghanistan, and
hosting powerful U.S. military bases on its territory, among other
strategic contributions - Turkey could not have reacted less furiously.
Ankara has stepped up its reaction calling on the White House not to
let the Congressional committee resolution be passed to and approved
by the whole House of the Representatives.
THE U.S. REPLY
Almost without delay, U.S. Secretary, Hilary Clinton, reacted to
Ankara's call.
"I, Hillary Clinton, along with our President Barack Obama, we
mentioned very obviously that this decision by the Congressional
Committee of House of the Representatives is inappropriate," said
Clinton. She added: "We are against this decision. Now we believe
that the U.S. Congress will not take any decision on this subject."
The new tensions caused by the U.S. Congress can lead to anything
but facilitating peaceful, negotiated solutions to the Middle East
conflict and the nuclear 'crisis' with Tehran. Maybe it's just about
that? (IDN-InDepthNews/06.03.2010)
By Fareed Mahdy
Journal of Turkish Weekly
March 10 2010
ISTANBUL (IDN) - Did you ask yourself what would happen if the
Turkish parliament's foreign affairs committee adopted a resolution
calling "genocides" the U.S. killing of American natives, the Spanish
extermination of aborigines in Latin America, the atrocious American
nuclear bombs on Japan or the U.S. wars on Vietnam, Afghanistan and
Iraq - just to mention some massive murdering perpetrated by Western
powers? Probably you did not.
Otherwise, you would have felt indeed astonished by the decision of
the U.S. Congress foreign affairs committee to brand as "genocide"
the death of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman
Empire during the First World War, specifically between the years
1915 and 1918.
Moreover, the U.S. Congressional committee's resolution, which was
approved on March 4, would have no clear justification. Apparently,
nothing new happened regarding this particular issue since the Foreign
Affairs committee adopted a similar resolution in 2007.
Why then a new resolution and why now?
There would be many possible explanations, such as the heavy pressure
of Armenian diaspora in the U.S., and the eventual U.S.
dissatisfaction with the new Turkish political and diplomatic
orientation, which has touched untouchable Israel and brought up
other unforgivable 'sins', such as stepping up Ankara's relations
with Damascus and Tehran.
In fact, in less than one year, Turkey has gradually shifted its
policy from the trend to "westernisation" and obsessive aspirations
to join the European Union (EU) as a full member, for an increasing
"easternisation", with an active, energetic presence in the Middle
East.
No wonder, exhausted by EU mounting requirements leading nowhere -
French president Nicolas Sarkozy and former Belgian prime minister
Herman van Rompuy, now acting as the first full-time president of the
European Council, among other EU leaders, have declared that Turkey
will never be a EU member - Ankara had to opt for looking for its
interests somewhere else.
Moreover, the timing of the U.S. Congress resolution could not be
less appropriate for Armenian-Turkish new relations. Ankara has made
a huge effort to normalise its relations with Armenia, with which
it signed in October 2009 a series of protocols aiming at gradually
achieving cooperation and understanding ties between the two countries.
TURKISH REACTION
Ankara's reaction to the U.S. Congressional resolution has been
immediate. In fact, it recalled its ambassador to the U.S., Namik Tan,
and condemned the U.S. Congress resolution to declare the killing of
Armenians by Ottoman forces in the First World War "genocide".
"We condemn this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a
crime it has not committed," Ankara said in a statement following
the Congress vote.
For his part, President Abdullah Gul of Turkey said the resolution had
"no value in the eyes of the Turkish people" and warned that it would
deal a blow on fledgling efforts to end decades of hostility between
Turkey and Armenia.
The U.S. Congressional resolution prompted popular condemnation
demonstrations in the streets of main Turkish cities.
TURKISH STRENGTH
In view of its key importance as an ally in the U.S. wars on Iraq,
Afghanistan and in Pakistan, as well as the fight against the
so-called global terrorism, its role in Middle East peace process
and as potential mediator in Iran nuclear standoff - let alone being
a reliable NATO ally, having sent more troops to Afghanistan, and
hosting powerful U.S. military bases on its territory, among other
strategic contributions - Turkey could not have reacted less furiously.
Ankara has stepped up its reaction calling on the White House not to
let the Congressional committee resolution be passed to and approved
by the whole House of the Representatives.
THE U.S. REPLY
Almost without delay, U.S. Secretary, Hilary Clinton, reacted to
Ankara's call.
"I, Hillary Clinton, along with our President Barack Obama, we
mentioned very obviously that this decision by the Congressional
Committee of House of the Representatives is inappropriate," said
Clinton. She added: "We are against this decision. Now we believe
that the U.S. Congress will not take any decision on this subject."
The new tensions caused by the U.S. Congress can lead to anything
but facilitating peaceful, negotiated solutions to the Middle East
conflict and the nuclear 'crisis' with Tehran. Maybe it's just about
that? (IDN-InDepthNews/06.03.2010)