Bush on Armenian Genocide in 2000 and now in 2007

[trancepriest]

George W. Bush for President
February 19, 2000

Mr. Edgar Hagopian
Mr. Vasken Setrakian


Dear Edgar and Vasken,

Thank you for your inquiry to my campaign regarding issues of concern to Armenian Americans.

The twentieth century was marred by wars of unimaginable brutality, mass murder and genocide. History records that the Armenians were the first people of the last century to have endured these cruelties. The Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign that defies comprehension and commands all decent people to remember and acknowledge the facts and lessons of an awful crime in a century of bloody crimes against humanity. If elected President, I would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering of the Armenian people.

The Armenian diaspora and the emergence of an independent Republic of Armenia stand as a testament to the resiliency of the Armenian people. In this new century, the United States must actively support the independence of all the nations of the Caucasus by promising the peaceful settlement of regional disputes and the economic development of the region. American assistance to Armenia to encourage the development of democracy, the rule of law and a tolerant open society is vital. It has my full support.

I am encouraged by recent discussions between the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The United States should work actively to promote peace in the region and should be willing to serve as a mediator. But ultimately peace must be negotiated and sustained by the parties involved. Lasting peace can come only from agreements they judge to be in their best interests.

I appreciate the tremendous contribution of the Armenian community to the United States. The Armenian community has been and will continue to be a model of dedication to values of faith and family.

Sincerely,

[signed]
George W. Bush

[trancepriest]

Now in 2007:

Bush warns against Armenia bill

President George W Bush has urged US legislators not to pass a resolution declaring the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks to be genocide.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7038095.stm

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Mr. Bush appeared on the South Lawn of the White House before the vote and implored the House not to take up the issue, only to have the majority of the committee disregard his warning at the end of the day, by a vote of 27 to 21.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/wa...d-armenia.html

[dre4]

This is totally wrong by Bush/Rice and Turkey. This further shows the intolerance of islamic countries and the hypocrisy and ignorance of this administration. Again people, the war on terror, Iraq, etc will last 30 years after bush. This has nothing to do with bush. Turkey under no circumstances should be allowed into the EU.

HISTORY:
1915-1917 The muslim Turkish government massacred 1.5 million Christians and Jews. It is widely acknowledged to have been one of the first modern, systematic genocides.
The Republic of Turkey's formal stance is that the deaths of Armenians during the "relocation" cannot aptly be deemed "genocide". This point has been contended with a plethora of diverging justifications: that the killings were not deliberate or were not governmentally orchestrated, that the killings were justified because Armenians posed a Russian-sympathizing threat as a cultural group.

On wednessday the U.S. House of Representatives passed a congressional bill recognizing the mass killings of armenians during world war I as genocide. It passed 27-21.

In a letter to Bush, Gul (the president of Turkey) warned that "in the case that Armenian allegations are accepted, there will be serious problems in the relations between the two countries."

Turkey is also planning on illegally invading the Sovereign Democratic Nation of Iraq to committ genocide again against the Kurds of Norther Iraq with which they share a border. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/....ap/index.html

If you are as disgusted as I am that the United States Government would sell out to the Islamic Fundamentalist that silence historians with Jail, Death and the threat of war please support your local congressman to vote FOR house resolution 106.

Turkey has indeed launched an all-out effort against the resolution, enlisting the help of many former politicians turned lobbysts -- especially former Rep. Dick Gephardt, a big advocate of similar resolutions in the 1990s who has now turned into the leader of the Turkish lobby.

After years of investigations Hastert famously pulled the bill hours before a full House vote. It was later revealed Hastert had received half-a-million dollars from Turkish interest groups.

[slamminshaun]

Is there any reason we had to wait until 2007 to acknowledge this? Why not 10 years ago, 20 years ago? My understanding is that a "symbolic" resolution has been brought to the table almost every year for a long time, and never passes, with little or no mention in our media (until now of course). I guess it wasn't considered genocide until Bush took office??

Turkey might be wrong about this, but what can America possibly gain from passing a resolution like this? We could possibly lose Turkey's support in the Middle East, which would be a HUGE problem going forward. Over what? Sure, Bush wrote that letter, before Iraq, before 9/11, before we NEEDED Turkey.....no matter what response he takes in this case, it's the wrong one. Not passing this resolution is simply the lesser of two evils, IMO.

Now would be a perfect time for the NAACP to push for reparations. If Bush doesn't give it to them, he obviously supports slavery....right?

[trancepriest]

How can Bush make such a high moral stance as he has done in his administration and then refuse to sign a bill simple stating that genocide happened? Especially when he previously supported the measure while running for president? What happened to those christian principles... good vs. evil? If he believes that Turkey committed genocide against the Armenians which he has stated in that letter. Why not acknowledge it... like he said he would?

If elected President, I would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering of the Armenian people. --- Bush

This guy is failing to live up to his own simplistic view of the world.

[yume]

By refusing to pass the resolution, it looks to the rest of the world that we are don't believe it was genocide. That is obviously false, after reading Bush's letter.

Try flipping it around. What if this was about the holocaust? Would you refuse to acknowledge that the holocaust happened because it was in your best interests? That would make us just as bad as Iran.

As for waiting 10 years, that makes no sense. We'll still be in Iraq, using Turkey's base in 10 years. Probably for operations in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, and maybe Russia too. So I guess we'll just have to postpone acknowledging it was a genocide indefinitely.

[slamminshaun]

I'm still confused why we don't blame Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Kennedy, etc, etc. for also not making sure such a resolution was passed....???? After all, this did happen almost 100 years ago so we've had plenty of presidents who could've stepped to the plate.

I'm also wondering, why are we passing resolutions in this country that regarding something that had nothing to do with our country? Pass a symbolic resolution about slavery in the South or treatment of the Japanese-Americans during WWII and I'll understand where its coming from....What next? Pass a resolution denouncing the brutality of Ghengis Khan??? Napolean?? Fuck, how about Julius Caeser? I hear he killed a few people in his day.

[trancepriest]

Originally Posted by slamminshaun

I'm also wondering, why are we passing resolutions in this country that regarding something that had nothing to do with our country?

Are you talking about Iraq?

[slamminshaun]

Originally Posted by trancepriest

Are you talking about Iraq?

No, but you are once again....you can't go ONE thread without saying "Iraq". I thought this thread was about Armenian-Americans?

[trancepriest]

Originally Posted by slamminshaun

No, but you are once again....you can't go ONE thread without saying "Iraq". I thought this thread was about Armenian-Americans?

That's what I thought too. But then you wrote this:

Originally Posted by slamminshaun

We could possibly lose Turkey's support in the Middle East, which would be a HUGE problem going forward. Over what? Sure, Bush wrote that letter, before Iraq, before 9/11, before we NEEDED Turkey.....

It seems like you support overlooking the genocide in support of the fight against terrorism... a big moral contradiction in itself. To top off to support a war in Iraq.