REPRIMANDING TURKEY WOULD CHOKE U.S. POLICY
By Zachary Hubbard
The Tribune-Democrat, PA
story_297125339.html
Oct 25 2007
American Revolutionary War folklore suggests that while Gen. Charles
Cornwallis’ delegation marched onto a field in Yorktown, Va., to offer
the British surrender to American Gen. George Washington, the British
military band played a song titled "The World Turned Upside Down." If
the author were alive today, he could pen a new stanza about recent
politics on Capitol Hill.
American politics recently were turned upside down. The Bush
administration sat quietly by as Libya assumed a rotating seat on
the U.N. Security Council. Simultaneously, House Democrats tried to
pass a resolution condemning America’s ally Turkey for the genocide
of up to 1.5 million Armenian Christians during 1915-17.
Long regarded by the U.S. government as a pariah, Libya in 2003
accepted responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103
over Lockerbie, Scotland. The U.S. also blames Libya for the bombing
of a Berlin disco in 1986 that killed two American soldiers.
As for Turkey, I neither deny nor condone the atrocities committed
against the Armenians during the Ottoman Empire. However, it was
during the Ottoman Empire, which ceased to exist after the defeat
of the Central Powers in World War I. Condemning modern Turkey for
the actions of the Ottoman Empire is like condemning modern Virginia
for slavery.
Turkey should apologize for the Armenian genocide, but the Turks must
come to this decision on their own schedule, not ours. A number of
seasoned American politicians, Democrat and Republican, agree. On
Sept. 25, seven former Cabinet-level secretaries sent a letter to
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi urging her to prevent the resolution
condemning Turkey from reaching the House floor. Pelosi subsequently
withdrew her support.
Pelosi and her cohorts are living proof that Americans, especially
American politicians, rarely learn from history. CNN reported in
October 2000 that then-House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a Republican,
had shelved a genocide bill against Turkey at President Clinton’s
request. Clinton had warned of "possible far-reaching consequences
against the United States."
The consequences of the Democrats’ recent push against Turkey
materialized quickly. During the week of Oct. 7, Turkish lawmakers
passed legislation authorizing military intervention against the
Kurds in northern Iraq.
The Turks fear the Kurds, their historical adversaries, will form
a Kurdish state. The Kurdish region is part of an important supply
line supporting U.S. forces in Iraq.
As a member of NATO, Turkey has long been an important ally of the U.S.
Maintaining good relations with Turkey is more important than ever.
Turkey is a moderate Muslim nation, something in short supply today.
It has already proven its worth in the global war on terror as a
staging base for U.S. aircraft and supplies.
Turkey’s military has led two iterations of NATO’s International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Turkey has long historical ties to Afghanistan. Turkish troops
stationed there are helping the Afghan government implement a
sustainable development program.
Turkey’s ability to work with Afghanistan and other Muslim nations
is critical to U.S. foreign policy.
While there is little doubt the political fighting between Democrats
and Republicans will continue, each side should choose its battles
carefully.
Perhaps things would be better if they focused their hostilities on
our enemies rather than our allies.
Zachary Hubbard is a retired Army officer and freelance writer residing
in Upper Yoder Township. He is a member of The Tribune-Democrat Reader
Advisory Committee.