Yesterday, a congressional committee passed a resolution declaring the World War I killing of untold numbers of Armenians by Ottoman Turks a genocide. And, given media reports on this resolution, you’d think it caused a Cold-War rift in the strategic relationship between the US and Turkey, its NATO (and Afghan-War) ally. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Granted, Obama practically begged Congress not to pass it to avoid upsetting Turkey; and Turkey promptly reacted by recalling its ambassador in a hissy fit.
I think the Americans would feel that same if we were to pass a resolution in our parliament talking about the treatment of [native] Indians in this country… We are seriously concerned that this bill… will harm Turkish-US relations and impede efforts aimed at normalising Turkish-Armenian tie…
We condemn this resolution which accuses the Turkish nation of a crime it has not committed.
(Statement by Turkish government)
Fair enough Turkey. But until it’s voted on by the entire House, this resolution has no binding effect. Moreover, the US and Turkey have played this kabuki diplomatic dance before; most recently in 2007 when the Democratically controlled Congress had a perceived interest in passing a similar resolution to frustrate the foreign policy of (Republican) President George W. Bush by passing a similar resolution.
Yet cooler heads prevailed, and the resolution never even made it to the floor of the House for a vote:
Even the diplomatically challenged George W. Bush has decried this pending resolution as an egregious insult to a desperately needed and remarkably loyal ally. And never mind that it arrogates to American politicians the presumptuous role of judge and jury on a contentious matter that Turkish politicians themselves are still trying to resolve.
Because, even if the genocide at issue is an historical fact (and I’ve read enough to believe that it is), the U.S. has no compelling interest in passing this political resolution. Especially when Congress could be debating far more constructive measures to help Bush stop the genocides now unfolding in Darfur and Zimbabwe… Not to mention the absurdity of its members making a proclamation about events that occurred during World War I, when the vast majority of the people they represent barely know what occurred during World War II.)
[US Congress set to condemn Turkey, TIJ, October 15, 2007]
So, just as it was in 2007, there’ll be lots of pulling and tugging but no rift between the US and Turkey over this resolution. It too will die in committee. Not least because even voting on it would undermine all of the goodwill President Obama has built up with this key Muslim country as well as convey the impression that, as their infighting over healthcare reform demonstrates, Democrats can’t get their act together on anything.
Our focus is on continuing to make progress on an issue that has, for almost 100 years, divided two countries [Turkey and Armenia]. Through some very tough diplomatic work by Secretary Clinton, we’ve made progress. We’re on the cusp of normalization [between them].
(White House spokesman Robert Gibbs)
Related commentaries:
Congressional committee condemns Turkey
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