POLITICAL LANDSCAPE: BILL STILL FACES BATTLE

Glendale News Press
10/03/18/politics/gnp-pollandscape031810.txt
March 18 2010
CA

The Obama administration may not be able to stop the progress of a
resolution to acknowledge Armenian Genocide, despite opposition from
the White House, a State Department official reportedly said Wednesday.

"Congress is an independent body, and they are going to do what
they decide to do," Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon said,
according to the Associated Press.

That was a welcome sign for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), who wrote
the bill, and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), a key supporter,
although the bill still faces an uphill battle, they said.

The administration and members of Congress have argued that the
resolution, if approved, could hamper fledgling bilateral relations
between Armenia and Turkey.

Military officials have also voiced concern about the resolution
affecting Turkey’s cooperation with U.S. operations in Iraq,
potentially putting American troops in danger.

"We’re going to have to lobby them one at a time and explore the
specious arguments being put forward by the Turks," Sherman said.

"The fact is that Turkey claims to be our friend. We’ve given them
tens of millions of dollars. They’re not in a position to threaten
the United States."