Examiner.com
March 7 2010

Obama asks Congress not to judge Turkey on Armenia

March 6, 5:04 PMNY Israel Conflict Examiner
Richard Shulman

The Obama administration has asked the House of Representatives not to
vote on whether Turkey committed genocide against Armenians in 1915.

Armenian-Americans are disappointed in this reversal of what they say
was an Obama campaign promise. The Administration explains that this
is a matter between Turkey and Armenia. Commentators point out how
much the U.S. depends on Turkey, having the second biggest military in
NATO and therefore is a big customer of the U.S., has forces in
Afghanistan, hosts U.S. bases near Iraq, and unofficially mediates
between the U.S. and Iran (John d. McKinnon and Marc Champion, Wall
St. J., 3/6, A12).

Reality seems to be canceling quite a few campaign promises. It does
not seem fitting for the U.S. Congress to pass judgment now on what
foreigners did to each other 95 years ago. Obama has gotten the U.S.
into position to disappoint one side or the other, no matter which the
U.S. decides in favor of. U.S. prestige still is sinking, and Pres.
Bush cannot be blamed any more, try as Obama does to do so. One would
think that Congress has nothing better to do.

No matter who the mediator, Iran can not reconcile with the U.S.,
because of Iran’s expansionist religious and national ideology.

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