Victory for Armenians: Genocide Bill Passes First Step!

Earlier Bush had this to say, but it seems his even his superior persuasive skills could not prevent the bill from moving forward!

It passed through the House Foreign Affairs Committee by 27 votes to 21 - the first step towards holding a vote in the House of Representatives.

After the vote, the US Undersecretary of State, Nicholas Burns, told the BBC that the Bush administration was "deeply disappointed".

Of course, there was predictable opposition from some, especially the anti-Armenian Jewish members of Congress:

"We have to weigh the desire to express our solidarity with the Armenian people... against the risk that it could cause young men and women in the uniform of the United States armed services to pay an even heavier price than they are currently paying," he said.

That was said by Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Source: BBC News

Bush Urges Against Armenian Genocide Resolution

I haven't blogged for a while, but what better time to restart than now?

"This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings," he said hours before a vote by the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

It is highly unusual for the White House to make such a dramatic last-minute intervention in Congressional business...

With the opposition Democrats now in charge in Congress, they could force a vote, dealing a potentially grave blow to the Bush administration's efforts to keep Turkey on side...

By the way, this story is the top story on BBC right now. Obviously Bush knows how close it is to getting passed and is doing everything he can to prevent that from happening.

Source: BBC News

Video: Adam Schiff Questioning Condoleezza Rice About Armenian Genocide

Congressman Adam Schiff questioning Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice regarding the State Department's efforts to defeat legislation recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations - March 21, 2007

Jews Want Monopoly on Genocide

Recently, with the introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in Congress, there has been almost complete opposition by the Jewish community, especially the powerful lobby, as well as Israel. One of our readers sent in this article. While it attempts to render innocent the blatant negativity by the Jewish community towards the resolution, there are some important points that should be realized, the least of which is that the word "genocide" is not used once in the editorial to refer to the Armenian Genocide.

But there's more:

That said, we understand that opposition to House Resolution 106 does not necessarily signify lack of sympathy with the victims, or, indeed, sentiment against the concept itself. Not buying into an initiative on someone else’s schedule is not always an indicator of nefarious motives at play.

We also have no doubt that some would argue the Jewish community should oppose the resolution if only to preserve the aura of uniqueness surrounding the destruction of European Jewry in the Holocaust.

I think this speaks for itself. It wasn't written by an Armenian or anyone other than The Jewish Press.

Of course, the editorial attempts to remain balanced, but the statements above show the very clear Jewish position of anti-Armenianism, or at least as it relates to the proper recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Source: Jewish Press

Holocaust Survivor Lobbyist to Block Armenian Genocide Resolution

I don't want to sound racist or generalize, but is there something very wrong with this picture? A person who barely survived the Jewish Holocaust is working against the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, arguably a main motivator of Hitler's doings due to lack of attention and recognition at the time.

"We will do our best stop the Armenian Genocide bill," said Tom Lantos, the most powerful person of the Jewish lobby in the U.S. and the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee after the U.S. visit of Gül and Büyükanit.

The Turkish authorities were lobbying in the U.S. against the passage of the bill and trying to convince the chairman of the congressional foreign relations committee Tom Lantos who has a power in the Congress as he survived the Jewish massacre in the 2nd World War.

I'm a bit speechless, but if you're not, you can visit Tom Lantos's Official Webpage and tell him how you feel.

Update: Reader Helena has provided the lobbyist's phone numbers:

San Mateo: 650-342-0300
San Francisco: 415-566-5257
Washington, DC: 202-225-3531

Call him up!

Source: PanArmenian

Congressman Howard Berman Responds to Armenia Blog

Following the introduction of the Armenian Genocide Resolution, I wrote to Congressman Howard Berman. Here is his reply:

Dear Mr. [edited]:

Thank you for contacting me about the Armenian Genocide. You will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of H. Res. 106, the Armenian Genocide Resolution, and I voted for similar legislation when it was considered in committee during the last Congress. I will work to ensure that the resolution is brought up in committee again and makes its way to the Floor of the House for a vote.

On a related matter, you may be interested to know that I signed a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemning the assassination of Armenian-Turkish editor Hrant Dink. I encourage the Turkish government to continue its investigation into the killing of Mr. Dink, and have also called on the prime minister to repeal Article 301, a section of the Turkish penal code making it a crime to "insult Turkishness," under which Mr. Dink had previously been prosecuted. Furthermore, I have also cosponsored H. Res.102, legislation which condemns the Dink assassination and calls for the vigorous prosecution of those responsible for his assassination.

I appreciate the opportunity to share my views and look forward to hearing from you again in the near future.


Sincerely,

HOWARD L. BERMAN
Member of Congress

Of course, Howard Berman's 28th district has many Armenians and it is a political necessity to support the bill and related causes. Regardless, he is the only representative who wrote back.

Of Interest: Howard Berman

U.S. to Reassure Turkey of Blocking Genocide Resolution

So tell me: do you believe in this or that? This is the same administration we're talking about here! One side of it wants to block the Armenian Genocide Resolution, while the other side wants Turkey to be friends with Armenia.

U.S. officials will reassure the Turkish foreign minister, currently visiting Washington, that they will try to quash a proposed resolution in Congress condemning as genocide the early 20th century killings of Armenians.

George W. Bush's administration is alarmed that the suggested congressional resolution could disrupt efforts to repair strains stemming from perceptions in Ankara that regional instability caused by the U.S.-led war in Iraq have harmed Turkish interests.

Ah, so it's clear now: U.S. wants to heal the wounds - literally speaking and otherwise - of Turks who oppose the Iraq war. How does it do this? He promises to block the resolution and address other issues, such as Kurdish rebels in Northern Iraq.

Tit for that. Quid pro quo. If this isn't politics, I don't know what is.

Source: ArmeniaLiberty

Bush Wants to Punish Armenia

What's the issue, you ask? In 2001, the Bush administration and Congress agreed to send Armenia and Azerbaijan equal amounts of military aid. And this is where the problem comes in:

The President's budget recommends cutting U.S. economic aid to Armenia from the FY2006 actual level of $69 million to a proposed FY2008 level of $35 million. The proposed FY2008 Foreign Military Financing figure for Armenia is $3 million, a cut of $960,000, fully 30% less than the proposed FY2008 figure for Azerbaijan of $4.3 million.

The President is seeking only $300,000 in International Military Education and Training for Armenia [IMET], down $538,000 from FY2006, a dramatic cut of 64%. In sharp contrast, the White House is proposing that Azerbaijan receive $1 million in IMET, a considerable increase over their FY2006 level of $823,000 and more than three times the IMET levels being proposed for Armenia. Overall, the President's budget proposes 38% less in U.S. military aid for Armenia than for Azerbaijan.

They can take their hospital back if this is the thanks Armenia is going to get for its continued support of U.S. invasions.

Source: PanArmenian

Armenian Genocide Resolution Introduced in Congress

At last, the gears have been set vigorously into motion.

Pro-Armenian lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a resolution on Tuesday calling for the recognition of World War I-era killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as genocide.

"Time has come for the United States to recognize the Armenian genocide," Democrat Frank Pallone told a joint news conference of sponsors on Capitol Hill shortly after the resolution was introduced formally. "We feel very strongly that this year is the year we're going to get this passed."

"Make no mistake, the speaker will get a call from the president asking for a no vote on the grounds of national security," said Radanovich.

I am optimistic about this resolution. However, there is a chance that it may not make it. What will we do? Keep fighting until it is adopted, whether today, tomorrow, or in five years. There is a reason why Armenians have survived through the ages, regardless of conquest after conquest upon our people and culture: we never give up.

The sponsors of this bill are: Adam Schiff of California, Frank Pallone of New Jersey, George Radanovich of California, and Joe Knollenberg of Michigan. If you have time, send these four Congressmen a short letter of thanks. I already have.

Oh, and there's a reason I chose the source that I did for this story.

Source: Turkish Daily News

Scary: Richard Hoagland's Final Chance

When will this Genocide denier go away?

To overcome the controversy over the appointment of Richard Hoagland, U.S. President Bush's ambassador designate, to serve in Armenia, President Bush may use a "recess appointment" mechanism to bypass the opposition raised in the Senate against Hoagland's nomination.

...under U.S. law, presidents are vested with an authority to appoint officials at times when Congress is in recess. And Congress' next recess comes next month, between Feb. 18 and Feb. 25. If a recess appointment nevertheless happens, Hoagland's tenure would last until the next Congress convenes in January 2009.

This is exactly what Armenia needs: an anti-Armenian ambassador who won't be effective or popular and won't get the job done as a result.

I'll make sure this story ends well for all of us!

Source: ArmenPress

Jewish Lobby Does Not Want Armenian Genocide Resolution

One would think that holding Turkey accountable for its crimes against humanity and acknowledging the events of 1915 would be in tune with Jews. After all, they met a similar fate, which was seemingly inspired by the world's lack of care for the Armenian Genocide. But politics always goes before humanity:

A member of the Jewish lobby in the United States said “if Turkey doesn't do something, the Armenian genocide bill will pass in the U.S. Congress despite our best efforts to block it...”

In his words, neither the Jewish lobby nor President George W. Bush's last-minute efforts will stop the bill.the U.S. Jewish lobby which has always managed to block the Armenian genocide bill in the past has warned the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to “either do something or be ready to face the consequences.”

...he didn't even want to imagine what it would be like if Turkish-U.S. relations were further crippled by the Armenian bill after the row over Iraq. U.S. diplomats express similar concerns. However, the bill has already turned into a scare for the Jewish lobby in the United States. The only hope, for now, is Turkey's opening up its border with Armenia. Thus, the year 2007 is pregnant with a crisis that would leave even crises over the presidential elections and the general elections in the shadow, with the Jewish lobby already warning the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the yet unborn child.

Hard to believe, huh? Well, not really. Of course, from the point of view of justice, historical fact, human rights, and so on, it is ridiculous and filthy what these people are preparing for. But why are Jewish politicians so close to Turkey?

It's easy, really: the United States, Turkey, and Israel have a strong alliance together. Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Israel as an independent country, and since then it has remained a close political and military ally. Turkey also benefits the United States due to its strategic location and secular (relatively speaking) government, providing the superpower with bases from which to wage wars and protect its interests in the generally unstable region. For all this, Turkey receives money, investments, other economic aids, weapons, training, and much more, and enjoys the company of two very powerful countries.

Hypocrisy has never been so clear.

Source: PanArmenian

Participate! Urge Your Represenatives for 2007 Genocide Resolution!

With Congress now in the hands of Democrats, Armenians have a chance to get a Genocide resolution passed. This would mean that the United States, for the first time in its history, would acknowledge the genocide of 1915 by the Ottoman Turks.

This is what you do:
1) Find your representative: Click here to find your local representative. You will need your zip code.
2) Put in the required information. This is a must.
3) Use this prepared message, courtesy of ANCA:

I am writing to urge you to agree to join as an early cosponsor of the Armenian Genocide Resolution in the 110th Congress.

Along with Americans throughout the country, I look forward to the introduction of this legislation, which I understand will be the same as H.Res.316 in the last Congress. This human rights legislation honors the 1.5 million Armenians who were massacred by the Ottoman Turkish government starting in 1915 and recognizes the United States’ noble efforts to stop the genocide. It was cosponsored by 160 Representatives and was overwhelmingly approved by the House International Relations Committee.

To indicate that you would like to join as an early cosponsor, please contact Tim Bergreen in Rep. Schiff's office or Chris Herndon in Rep. Radanovich's office. To learn more, please contact the Armenian National Committee of America at (202) 775-1918.

Please accept my appreciation for your consideration of this morally compelling initiative to finally bring an end to the shameful denial of the Armenian Genocide - a crime against all humanity.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

That's it! It takes a minute, but a minute well spent. Turkey is launching a counter-campaign to this, so let's show them that we are more powerful and more determined with real facts than they can ever be with false ones. Besides, you can't do much else in a minute. Do what is important, do this NOW!

Genocide Resolution by April 24, 2007?

There is terrific news coming out of Washington D.C. about the possible passing of the Armenian Genocide Resolution by the new Congress.

The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), one of the two most influential Armenian lobbying organizations in the USA (the second is the Armenian Assembly of America) said it believes that the recent changes in the U.S. Congress where now Democrats hold the majority, has brought about the best opportunity in years to defeat Turkey's Armenian Genocide denial campaign.

ANCA said its Congressional friends will soon re-introduce the Armenian Genocide Resolution, setting the stage for a nation-wide, four-month grassroots drive to secure its adoption by April 24th.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that such a resolution will take place this year!

Source: ArmenPress