Pelosi Armenian Genocide Measure Will Go Forward

[seemslikeadream]

http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-11-voa71.cfm

US House Speaker: Armenian Genocide Measure Will Go Forward
By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
11 October 2007


The speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, says a resolution approved by a House committee this week characterizing the World War I-era killings of tens of thousands of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as genocide will go to a vote in the House. VOA's Dan Robinson reports from Capitol Hill, President Bush wants the resolution stopped, saying it will harm relations with Turkey and U.S. interests in the region.


Nancy Pelosi, 11 Oct 2007
Speaking a day after the 27 to 21 vote in the foreign affairs committee approving the resolution, Pelosi reaffirmed her determination to see the measure come to a vote in the House.

Some 224 House lawmakers have signed on in support of the resolution, which Pelosi and House majority leader Steny Hoyer say will be brought up at some point before the House is due to end its current session, likely next month.

Pelosi told reporters at her weekly news conference that congressional resolutions on Armenian genocide have been put off, with various justifications, over the past 20 years.

There is never a good time to acknowledge that genocide has taken place, Pelosi adds, whether in the distant past or the present.

[Deja Q]

1. You know, there surely are better times to think over the ancient past...

How about issues happening now?

And the aftermath of the actions she has supported.

Attempted genocide is a topic that never has a "good time", surely that's obvious, even to a retarded toddler. But usually the best times are not during times of war when one needs allies, and equally so when there are so many other issues that need addressing, good grief...

Poor judgment on your part, Nancy, poor judgment.

[HughMoran]

13. Great judgement IMHO. "Attempted genocide" ? 1.5 million is just an "attempt"

I am impressed with Nancy on this one - your view is puzzling to me.

[fujiyama]

24. Ummm this isn't really the "ancient past"

It occurred less than a hundred years ago and mass slaughtering of people is still genocide - which is attempted eradication. I'm not sure by what standards you're judging genocide. Also, I find your statement about "needing allies during a time of war" to be curious. We're no longer in a war. We're taking place in an occupation - the only solution to which is complete withdrawal.

[glowing]

2. Isn't there something better they can be doing than this? And while they

are on genocide... add the US for killing and displacing the many Iraqi's that we have.

[seemslikeadream]

3. maybe she's using this for leverage

[spanone]

9. i think there's something going on here we don't know about. imo

[seemslikeadream]

11. I think this Russian guy is on to something

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2024610

[Brother_1969]

4. Can anyone out there explain to me ...

...why this must be done RIGHT NOW?

I mean, things are bad in that part of the world and are getting worse (Israel vs. Syria, US vs. Iran, Pakistan destabilizing, etc.). We have never needed Turkey to be on our side more so than now. Why do we have to dredge up something from that long ago right now?

Makes you wish that Cindy Sheehan's campaign was more viable?

[HughMoran]

14. Because my relatives were massacred by the Turks who have denied doing it

...that's why. It's about time that the fucking murderous Turks were made to acknowledge the 1.5 MILLION ARMENIAN PEOPLE that they SLAUGHTERED. I imagine many of the same people who think this is bad timing arguing against the folks that think it's not a good time for impeachment.

[mmonk]

5. Very good.

Now if we can get Waxman to investigate bribes, we're cooking.

Sibel video on bribes to deny Armenian genocide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Is7XIiEygk

[HughMoran]

15. Wow, scumbags taking bribes to deny the massacre of Armenians?

This stinks to high-heaven - it's about time this was brought to the fore.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Maybe *somebody* wants the Turks to clean house in "Kurdistan"...

Just a thought...

Hoyer supports this, you say...and what ally of Turkey is a big Hoyer fan.... :think:

[mike_c]

7. nobody pushes Nancy Pelosi around!

Oh, wait....

[TheUniverse]

8. Nancy instead of talking about century old genocides.

You can help end one right now...

[mmonk]

10. Actually, she's closer to criminal activity concerning the Turks

and US officials than she realizes. She can start with the bribes to deny the genocide and keep going.

[Joanne98]

18. Thankyou!

[HughMoran]

12. Good.

I'm sick and tired of the Turks denying the slaughter of Armenians. My GF was Armenian and was forced to leave Turkey and come to this country due to the genocide - this is personal and I could give a crap if the timing is bad. Pelosi is right about this - the timing has been bad for 20 years. Fuck Turkey.

[Brother_1969]

17. The question is, what is the smartest thing for us to do right now

Without this resolution, there is a chance that Turkey can be persuaded to not invade.
With this resolution, that probability is significantly reduced.

That's the issue here.

If Turkey invades, it will seriously complicate things for us. We could be forced to re-supply over longer distances, increased losses to IEDs, more firefights and more civilian casualties, etc. It will probably prolong US presence in Iraq.

These are some of the most obvious downsides to this resolution at this time. My question is: What are the upsides?

[ProSense]

19. The smartest thing is to

call it genocide, end the hypocrisy.


Withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq.

[HughMoran]

20. I could give a crap about Turkey's hateful politics

And if we have to leave Iraq due to our stupidity of being there in the first place, that's a good thing.

Your priorities are insane IMHO.

[Joanne98]

16. The irony..

[Marie26]

21. Wow, Congress showing courage?

What a nice precedent.

[fujiyama]

22. Years ago, right before the '00 election

there was this really attractive Armenian girl in one of my classes...She was talking about how she supported Bush because Clinton had persuaded Hastert to kill the bill then.

The irony.

Personally, I think it's a good idea to force Turkey to admit their past. It's never too late to make amends. I'm amazed how many here think this is a "bad idea" because it can hurt relations - disgusting Kissingerian realpolitics in my opinion. This is the right thing to do.

[HughMoran]

23. Well said.

It's been too long - it's time to acknowledge this in spite of any perceived consequences.

[fujiyama]

25. If Turkey is considered an ally

it is our responsibility to help them come to terms with what they did. Covering up the truth or denying it in the name of political expediency is disgusting in my opion.