A House committee Wednesday evening narrowly approved a resolution that labels the killings of 1.5 million Armenians by Turkish forces during and after World War I as “genocide.” The House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed the measure 27-21 even though the administration was strenuously opposed to it. President Bush has said such a resolution would seriously disrupt Turkish-U.S. relations.Turkey has been an important U.S. ally in the Iraq war largely through granting use of its bases, infrastructure and airspace. Turkish officials have strongly indicated that their government takes serious offense to the measure before the House and that consequences would follow were it to pass.
The American people appear ambivalent over the matter.
“On the one hand, yes, it is important to face up to history and recognize the perpetration of past genocides in order to better avoid them in the future,” explained Trixie Jacobson, 20, of Denver, “but the timing of this measure against Turkey just doesn't sit right with me, it being so close to Thanksgiving and all.”
Ms Jacobson continued, “I mean what's next? A Christmas eve vote on a symbolic resolution recognizing the North Pole's national passive antisemitism?!”
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