In for the long haul

Published: Saturday October 27, 2007

The Armenian Genocide has been a prominent story in U.S. and international news over the last few weeks as Turkey and the Bush administration have sought to defeat the resolution reaffirming the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide.

President Bush and his national security team have argued that passage of the resolution at this time may lead Turkey to retaliate in ways that would harm U.S. interests in Iraq and beyond. Instead of telling Turkey in no uncertain terms that its threats are not appreciated, the administration has chosen to show weakness.

Most members of Congress are ready to vote in favor of the Armenian Genocide resolution. But many are concerned that in doing so they may be blamed by the Bush administration, its mainstream media friends, and ultimately their constituents for Turkey's actions, ironically taken in defiance of the same Bush administration's appeals.

It is our job as Armenian-Americans to show these members of Congress and their constituents that passage of the Genocide resolution in fact strengthens the United States. In affirming its moral authority and in standing up to Turkish blackmail, the United States will regain credibility internationally and preclude Turkey's incessant threats against U.S. interests and military personnel.

We must also fight the perception that Turkey's defiance of U.S. interests and the Genocide resolution are somehow linked. Quite clearly, they are not. Members of Congress and their constituents were warned: if the resolution passed, Turkey would bring war to the one relatively peaceful part of Iraq; it would attack Kurds and go after oil fields in northern Iraq. The resolution has not yet passed, and Turkey is proceeding anyway. It is attacking northern Iraq; it continues to threaten even deeper military incursions; and it remains willing to shut down air rights and a vital air base to U.S.-led forces.

When we succeed in all these tasks, it will be time for the resolution to come to a vote. We can do it, and we will.