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Akcam: Obama Should Recognize Genocide and Liberate Turks and Armenians
Prof. Taner Akcam
WORCESTER, Mass. (A.W.)—On March 19, prominent Turkish-born genocide scholar Taner Akcam delivered his inaugural lecture at Clark University titled, “Facing History: Denial and the Turkish National Security Concept.” In 2008, Akcam was appointed the Robert Aram and Marianne Kaloosdian and Stephen and Marion Mugar Chair in Armenian Genocide Studies at Clark University.
Speaking to an audience that had packed the Tilton Hall of the Higgins University Center, Akcam sent a powerful message to U.S. President Barack Obama, asking him to liberate Turks and Armenians by properly recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
Talking about the reluctance of Congress and some former U.S. presidents to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, Akcam said, “[T]here’s an ongoing theatrical drama—perhaps ‘comedy’ would be a better term—that all the parties engage in every year, and that has started to grow old. It’s time to end this dishonorable play-acting.” He explained how every time a U.S. president or Congress has the issue of the genocide on their table, “Rhey end up denying for one day what they believe the other 364 days of the year.”
Akcam continued, “All of the parties involved know very well what the U.S. administration and Congress think about 1915. But Turkey asks them to tell a lie only for one day. I have never understood why the Turkish government extracts so much joy out of making the United States lie for one day. I also find it completely dishonorable. Not only does this lie fail to lead to a resolution, it needlessly locks up the debate.”
Hence, Akcam argued, the importance of official U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide—”if the United States declares what it believes to be the truth and stands behind it”—would not only gain it “some self-respect on the subject, but it will liberate Turks, Armenians, and itself in the process.”
Akcam ended his lecture by asking Obama to stand up for truth. “I believe that we will enter a new era where morality and real politik will not be considered mutually exclusive, if President Obama should put an end to this lingering problem and liberate everybody in the process by an official acknowledgment of genocide,” he said.
Obama, both as a Senator and a presidential candidate, was an outspoken advocate for proper U.S. reaffirmation of the Armenian Genocide. He repeatedly called on former president George W. Bush to recognize the genocide and expressed reservations over the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Marshall Evans for his remarks recognizing that crime. In January 2008, Obama issued a campaign statement, noting that “America deserves a leader who speaks truthfully about the Armenian Genocide and responds forcefully to all genocides. I intend to be that President.” The complete statement may be read at www.barackobama.com/2008/01/19/barack_obama_on_the_importance.php.
Last week, Representatives Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), George Radanovich (R-Calif.), Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) were joined by 70 of their House Colleagues in the introduction of Armenian Genocide legislation (H.Res.252) calling on the president to recognize the Armenian Genocide. That resolution is identical to the one introduced in the previous Congress, which was adopted by the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a vote of 27 to 21, and had over 200 co-sponsors.
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Turkey needs The U.S. much more than The U.S. needs Turkey. So why are we condoning to blackmail?
‘Turkey needs The U.S. much more than the U.S. needs Turkey.’ This is not an accurate statement. What exactly your arguments are based on?
This is not Cold War period anymore and Russia is not threatening Turkey. In terms of military Turkey hardly needs the US any longer as Turkish military industry is now capable of producing its own fighter jets and other military equipments. Turkish military is the second biggest military force in NATO by now. In terms of economy, Turkey has not been receiving any aid from the US for decades.
Politically, the geopolitical position of Turkey is far too important for the US. US simply cannot afford to lose Turkey. There is Iran, Russia, China, Europe, Middle East and Israel what the US needs to consider while making its foreign policy. Turkey is the only country who has relations with all these countries and regions with its booming economy and strong military force.
How would US ignore such a rising star in the region?
Akcam says “I believe that we will enter a new era where morality and real politik will not be considered mutually exclusive…”
Morality? As in misrepresenting an inter communal warfare as one way genocide? As in hiding the fact from audiences that Akcam is paid by Armenians (Cafesjian Foundation and Zoryan Institute?)
Real politik? As in Armenian still occupying by force 20% of Azerbaijan? And coveting territories of Turkey and Georgia? Still trying to get away with all this? Concerned about the rising regional and global power of Turkey?
Who needs who most is not for a paid Armenian agent or paid politicians to say.
Where are those 2and halph miilion Armenians were living there before 1915 .
My generation never seen there grandparents .Whoo took fhere lives .
Hovagim
I do not wish to minimize the Armenian suffering, but I also do not want you to minimize Turkish suffering cause by Armenians. As for your question,the numbers used are a myth. The total population of the Armenian in the Ottoman Empire, according to official tax records of the empire in 1914 (before the Tereset = temporary resettlement) was 1,295,ooo. About 700,000 of them were subjected to the Tereset due to rebellions and treason. The rest stayed on where they were as they were not deemed a threat to the survival of the empire. Here is the accounting of the Armenian population:
About 400,000 fleed to Armenia; around 500,000 to Syria & Lebanon; about 60,000 to Egypt; 100,000-200,000 to Europe; 100,000+ the U.S., 60,000 to Asia; 30,000 to South America; 300,000 remained in Anatolia and other places.
Where do you think the Armenian Diaspora came from? The dead Armenians?
Did you get that, everyone? We are all survivors and the descendants of survivors of a temporary resettlement. Tell us more, Ergun, do.
No, you actually died but miraculously came back to life…
Oh, and reproduced, too! (smiles)
Prepare to probably be very disappointed by Obama on April 24th. Whether you know it or not, Obama is a stealth Muslim. His christianity, like that of his pastor, is the pro-Muslim ‘Palestinian’ christianity that denies that the Old Testament and Jesus are Jewish. Most people don’t know about this pro-Muslim christianity and therefore are completely blind sited on Obama as a stealth Muslim.
Armenia should be cementing its relationship to Russia now before Obama tightens the US strategic relationship to Turkey.
Read this Stratfor report: http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20090330_united_states_germany_and_beyond
In the above article note:
“…in many ways, Turkey is more important to the United States than Germany is”
“The United States needs Turkey to extend its influence in Iraq to block Iranian ambitions, and north in the Caucasus to block Russian ambitions”
A further tightened alliance of the US with Turkey (which is re-Islamizing, no less) means the same with Azerbaijan and Georgia.
Without Russia, Armenian is history. The US and EU will not lift a finger if Turkey and/or Azerbaijan invade. Western centric Armenians take note.
South Australia Passes Armenian Genocide Motion
ADELAIDE: An Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC Australia)
delegation was present as South Australian Parliament’s Legislative
Council passed a motion recognising the Armenian Genocide as “one of
the greatest crimes against humanity”.
The motion, introduced by the Hon. David Ridgway MLC (Leader of the
Liberal Opposition in Legislative Council) and seconded by the
Hon. Bernard Finnigan (Member of the Labor Government in Legislative
Council) went through unopposed, and sees the Upper House of South
Australia’s parliament join the New South Wales parliament in
condemning “the genocide of the Armenians and all other acts of
genocide”.
However this motion is unique, as it is the first to include
recognition of recently-uncovered material detailing the significant
humanitarian effort by the people of South Australia who aided the
victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide almost a century ago.
http://anc.org.au/news.php?extend.140
To Arius
Armenia will never be history. If your thinking is Moscow is somehow allied with Armenia out of the kindness of its heart is a joke. I laughed. Russia needs Armenia badly. Armenia is the only country blocking Russia’s weakening and eventual downfall. The only thing floating Russia and promising its future is massive oil and gas transit from Central Asia to Europe. If azeris invade they will suffer the same fate as before. turks being an American outpost will never be allowed to invade. If they do it will be the beginning of the dismantling of the “turkey”. A Happy Thanksgiving that would be!
1)History is not a propaganda. Why don’t you allow historians (not politicans) work independently and freely on documents and all evidences?
2)Turkey is a strong and powerful country with 75 million population. Turkey does not need USA or EU or another country.
3)It was a conflict between Armenians and Ottoman Turks. Unfortunately, a lot of people lost their lifes from both sides.
4)The end.
Wow. It’s amazing how many Turk Kemalists are burping their propoganda on this site. Is this a Turkish national pastime to visit Armenian news and blogger sites and spew your denylist propaganda? Muwahahahaha!