Denying the Armenian genocide (Via: Normblog)

It is doubtful that many people are persuaded by the Turks and their lobbyists. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum recognizes the Armenian genocide, as does the Reform Jewish movement, as, one assumes, do most Jewish leaders, at least privately — perhaps even the leaders of the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs and B’nai B’rith International. Yet the leaders of these organizations have steadfastly refused to endorse a bill currently before Congress that would formally acknowledge the fact of the Armenian genocide.

How can that be? Why do they shy away from using the word “genocide” to describe the tragedy of the Armenians at the hands of Ottoman Turkey?

The answer is unsettling. It has nothing to do with history or truth; it has everything to do with the strategic interests of Israel, as also, to a lesser degree, of the United States.

Personally, I'm quite fed up with kowtowing to any authoritarian regime's whims and eccentricities. Turkey is a big kid already and should be able to face up to atrocities committed by Turks when Turkey was still an empire. This includes not only the Armenian genocide but also the various massacres and expulsions committed under the Ottomans against Palestinian Jews . The Greeks also have some grievances of their own, not that the Greeks are clean from any counter-massacres of Muslims under the Ottomans.

But it's Turkey we are speaking of here. Turkey that in spite of maintaing a very profitable relationship with Israel, has never stood by Israel when it is besmirched by Arab ambassadors at the UN. Or has never failed to join its 'Yea' to any resolution condemning Israel for acting in its self-defence.

Now they are seeking to use Jewish influence in the Congress to block this acknowledgement of a historical atrocity. And the Jewish organizations that help them pretend that they can't smell the stench of this humongous hypocricy. Why do they agree to do this dirty work for the Turks?