Why is congress discussing this, and why is it important? Why would someone be apposed to classifying it as genocide? What (diplomatic) consequences does this action have? What's the whole deal with this? Does changing the classification change something?
2007-10-11 18:31:29 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
This is something that happen over 90 years ago. It's going to have great consequences if our government recognizes it as Genocide.
The French did the same thing and now they've been all but exiled from Turkey. All our main bases are in Turkey. I think about 50% of our supplies either come over their air space or from bases in Turkey. We need them despertly.
We're trading what happen 90 years ago for something that cannot be changed now.
2007-10-12 00:13:25 · answer #1 · answered by cowboydoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it is a great shame to have committed a genocide, since the Ottoman empire is considered to have been a fairly tolerant of minorities society. As far as consequences, the biggest one I know if is that Turkey has repeatedly asked for admission into the EU and been denied. One of the critireon of admission would be that the country "admit" that it had committed a genocide, and accept this. Also it gets into the World Court, and whether the American decree can be considered as evidence, if Armenia were to file suit against Turkey (which it never has). If the World Court were to adjudicate the matter, it might result in an adjustment of borders... favorable to Armenia most likely. The Turkish side of it maintains that these were haphazard killings, not a "systematic attempt to eliminate a race or country". Also, there is limited first-hand evidence of this genocide... I guess few scholars were rushing to document this horrible genocide. A year ago, before I had even heard of the Armenian genocide I saw a presentation on it... the guy seemed like a very well spoken, well educated but paranoid and partisan person denying that it should be considered a genocide.
2007-10-11 18:49:12 · answer #2 · answered by PUzzled 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because genocide is wrong and if we allow it to happen there it can spread throughout the surrounding countries and eventually wipe out whole nations. If they try to do this diplomatically we won't have to need more military to straighten things out again.
2007-10-11 18:43:23 · answer #3 · answered by Frosty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Armenians have been lobbying for it since it happened. They want to have the truth told as they see it. The Turks would prefer not to have history regard them as butchers. They admit that the Armenians died, but deny " DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY". If the Turks are angry enough, they won't let us fly over their land or use the airbases we spent a chunk of change building. And Bush NEEDS these to send stuff to Iraq!
2007-10-11 18:44:12 · answer #4 · answered by Wounded Duck 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It changes nothing. What it does do is drive home the point that the Turks tried to eliminate the entire Armenian populace in the same manner (though not as methodical) as Hitler did with the Jews.
But..there are simpletons who think if you say "No they didn't..it didn't happen" that everyone will say "Oohhh...hmm..maybe it didn't"
Well...it did. Even Hitler mentioned it when his generals asked "What will the world think of us (if we attempt to eliminate the Jews enmasse).
Hitler's response? "Who remembers what the Turks did to the Armenians?"
2007-10-12 06:31:19 · answer #5 · answered by Quasimodo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Turkey has always denied it and if you don't admit that what you did was wrong then that reveals something disturbing about your character and you are liable to do it again
2007-10-11 18:47:11 · answer #6 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evidently it matters to the Turks. Ask one of them.
2007-10-11 18:55:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋