WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Sunday that she intends to move ahead with a vote on a resolution that labels the deaths of more than a million Armenians during World War I as genocide.

 

 

Members of the Kurdistan Workers Party protest the U.S. resolution last week in Istanbul.

 

1 of 2 The resolution has strained U.S. relations with Turkey and drawn criticism from the Bush administration.

 

"This resolution is one that is consistent with what our government has always said about ... what happened at that time," Pelosi said on ABC's "This Week."

 

When asked about criticism that it could harm relations with Turkey -- a key ally in the war in Iraq and a fellow member of NATO -- Pelosi said, "There's never been a good time," adding that it is important to pass the resolution now "because many of the survivors are very old."

 

"When I came to Congress 20 years ago, it wasn't the right time because of the Soviet Union. Then that fell, and then it wasn't the right time because of the Gulf War One. And then it wasn't the right time because of overflights of Iraq. And now it's not the right time because of Gulf War Two.

 

"And, again, the survivors of the Armenian genocide are not going to be with us."

 

But White House Spokesman Tony Fratto said bringing the resolution to a vote "may do grave harm to U.S.-Turkish relations and to U.S. interests in Europe and the Middle East."

 

Turkey's top general warned Sunday that ties with the United States will be irreversibly damaged if Congress passes the resolution, The Associated Press reported.

 

Turkey has recalled its ambassador from Washington for consultations and warned of cuts in logistical support to the United States over the issue. The recall is only for a limited period of time, said a U.S. State Department official who talked to the ambassador.

 

"If this resolution [that] passed in the committee passes the House as well, our military ties with the U.S. will never be the same again," Gen. Yasar Buyukanit told the daily Milliyet newspaper, according to AP

 

The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted 27-21 Wednesday to approve the nonbinding measure, which declares the deportation of nearly 2 million Armenians from the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1923 was "systematic" and "deliberate," amounting to "genocide." The deportations led to the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million people.

 

But Sunday, Pelosi stood by her previous assertion that the measure would be taken to a full vote if it passed the committee.

 

Newly installed chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen, tried to calm tensions by phoning his Turkish counterpart shortly after Wednesday's vote.

 

Mullen told Gen. Yasar Buyukanit, Turkey's chief of staff, that the Pentagon is working hard to inform Congress of what the military implications might be if the Turks were to respond by cutting off U.S. access to the air base at Incirlik in Turkey.

 

Seventy percent of U.S. air cargo bound for Iraq passes over or through Turkey.

 

The Armenian government and Armenians around the world, including many Armenian-Americans, have been pressing for international support for their contention that Armenians were the victims of genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Turks.

 

The Ottoman Empire disintegrated in 1923, replaced by the modern republic of Turkey, where the Armenian issue remains sensitive. Turks reject the genocide label, insisting there was no organized campaign against the Armenians and that many Turks also died in the chaos and violence of the period.

 

Though predominantly Muslim, Turkey, which borders both Europe and Iraq, is secular and pro-Western. In addition to its membership in NATO, Ankara is also seeking to become a member of the European Union.

 

Speaking later on ABC's "This Week," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell denounced the House committee's vote -- despite agreeing with the assertion that the killings amounted to genocide.

 

"I think it's a really bad idea for the Congress to be condemning what happened 100 years ago," the Kentucky Republican said Sunday. "We all know it happened. There's a genocide museum, actually, in Armenia to commemorate what happened.

 

"But I don't think the Congress passing this resolution is a good idea at any point. But particularly not a good idea when Turkey is cooperating with us in many ways, which ensures greater safety for our soldiers."

 

Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham echoed those comments on CNN's Late Edition.

 

"I'm not worried about World War I. ... I'm worried about what I think is World War III, a war against extremists, and Iraq is the central battle front and Turkey has been a very good ally," Graham said Sunday.

 

"We've had problems with Turkey, but the problem that Turkey has with the northern part of Iraq, if you think it is bad now, let the country fail."

 

 

Turkey has engaged in ongoing cross-border skirmishes with rebels from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, which launches raids from northern Iraq. The recent killings of Turkish soldiers brought the conflict to a boiling point, and Turkey's parliament may consider a motion to approve cross-border incursions into northern Iraq as early as this week. Watch how the rebels are straining U.S.-Turkish relations ?

 

The United States and the EU have designated the PKK a terrorist organization. The U.S. State Department has urged Iraq to crack down on the PKK, though some Turkish officials have said Washington has failed to take decisive action. E-mail to a friend

 

I don't care what your opinion of the war is, anyone who would support this measure is an idiot. This is a dead matter, we know what happened and we dont need official resolutions to decide this. Turkey did it, move the f*** on. But of course, this will hurt the Bush administration and instead of being a good, responsible congress they will push on with fruitless matters that will hurt us in Iraq, just because.

 

This is not going to end the Iraq War or have any impact on its ending just hurt our mission further.

 

In the words of Jim Norton, Pelosi needs to roll around in a field of barbed wire with Magic Johnson. I just cant grasp for the life of me why you would want to push this further and severly hurt relations with an ally over something that is about as important as my next dentist appointment.

Term. F***ing. Limits.

Don't want to be insensitive here, and I can't speak for Armenians obviously, but what exactly does this resolve for them? Does it offer some kind of closure? Your relatives were killed in what amounted to genocide, as opposed to.... just the usual horrific slaughter you find in war?

 

There's no debate on what happened.

 

Very little good can come of this. But it seems a lot of harm could be done.

In the words of Jim Norton, Pelosi needs to roll around in a field of barbed wire with Magic Johnson. I just cant grasp for the life of me why you would want to push this further and severly hurt relations with an ally over something that is about as important as my next dentist appointment.

 

Classy.

In the words of Jim Norton, Pelosi needs to roll around in a field of barbed wire with Magic Johnson. I just cant grasp for the life of me why you would want to push this further and severly hurt relations with an ally over something that is about as important as my next dentist appointment.

 

Classy.

When passing this could actually hurt people fighting for us in Iraq, who the f*** cares.

 

The ammount of bulls*** that goes on in Congress is absolutely disgusting and this goes for both sides without a doubt.

 

The fact that days were spent debating Rush f***ing Limbaugh instead of concentrating on things that are actually important and mean something is vile.

 

When you have the government dissintigrating the FDA (which helps protect the basis of our everyday life) its obvious passing a 'resolution' condemning what everyone already f***ing knows that happened over a century ago is more important.

 

The longer these loons stay in congress, the more fried and extreme their brains become. God we need term limits.

Ok, sorry. The house is the place where unimportant things always get debated. It's a fact of life, and it's a reason why it's known as the junior circuit.

Yeah, it is pretty unnessecary and stupid. But some of you guys just love flying off the handle. Rolling around in barbed wire with Magic Johnson?

 

We put an arms embargo on Turkey in 1975 over their invasion of Cyprus. That was a much more serious act, and our relations have been fine. If anyone thinks a resolution over an act in 1914 against ARMENIANS is what will make Turkey invade northern Iraq against the KURDS, then you're really naive. They've already shelled Northern Iraq. What act of the democrats prompted that?

 

Turkey is quickly becoming a greater actor on the world economic stage. If they do stupid things like limit their relationship with us and invade Northern Iraq, they deserve what they get.

I don't really see a point of doing this now. It seems Pelosi actually wants to hurt our efforts in Iraq. I'm not saying just because I don't like Pelosi, I just don't see any other motive, it's not she's overcome with sympathy for Armenia all of a sudden.

Turkey is making this their problem when it doesn't really need to be. They are not the Ottoman Empire.

 

That said, since Turkey is making this their problem, there's really no reason to pursue this. If we want to take a stand against genocide, there are plenty of better ways to do it, like, I don't know, doing something to stop the mass killings in Sudan, or elsewhere around the world. Call me crazy. This resolution won't save one life, but it may end up costing some if we sufficiently anger Turkey.

 

OTOH, my guess is Turkey is just posturing. Like I said, this isn't really their problem, and surely the politicians understand that on some level. I don't know what their angle is, but I don't think they'll blow their relationship with the US over something like this.

"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

-Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939 (9 days before the invasion of Poland)

"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

-Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939 (9 days before the invasion of Poland)

 

Is this being suggested as a reason to pass the resolution? We're talking about the Armenian genocide now, aren't we? What will change if we pass the resolution?

I know the deal with Turkey not liking the idea of the Armenian Genocide being called...well...a genocide, but why? It was the Ottoman Empire that committed it. They could easily state it that way, pawn it off as one of the reasons Ataturk led the Turkish Revolution shortly after, and be done with it.

"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

-Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939 (9 days before the invasion of Poland)

 

Is this being suggested as a reason to pass the resolution? We're talking about the Armenian genocide now, aren't we? What will change if we pass the resolution?

 

I agree that we are much more disjointed in time.

 

But I think the idea is that the more civilized nations condemn acts of genocide, regardless of how it does or does not benefit them, the less justified or able others are in commiting genocides. That quote suggests to me that one of Hitler's defenses is that genocide happens and is justified and that the civilized world accepts it, therefore he could engage in his final solution.

 

The fact that the strongest nation on earth is condemning an act that happened almost 100 years ago, even though doing so hurts us diplomatically, sends an enormous message that passive acceptance of genocide is not ok.

"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

-Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939 (9 days before the invasion of Poland)

 

Is this being suggested as a reason to pass the resolution? We're talking about the Armenian genocide now, aren't we? What will change if we pass the resolution?

 

I agree that we are much more disjointed in time.

 

But I think the idea is that the more civilized nations condemn acts of genocide, regardless of how it does or does not benefit them, the less justified or able others are in commiting genocides. That quote suggests to me that one of Hitler's defenses is that genocide happens and is justified and that the civilized world accepts it, therefore he could engage in his final solution.

 

The fact that the strongest nation on earth is condemning an act that happened almost 100 years ago, even though doing so hurts us diplomatically, sends an enormous message that passive acceptance of genocide is not ok.

 

It's a completely empty gesture when we are allowing genocides in the present. The message it sends is one of hypocrisy. Honestly, it's almost disgusting.

"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

-Adolf Hitler, August 22, 1939 (9 days before the invasion of Poland)

 

Is this being suggested as a reason to pass the resolution? We're talking about the Armenian genocide now, aren't we? What will change if we pass the resolution?

 

I agree that we are much more disjointed in time.

 

But I think the idea is that the more civilized nations condemn acts of genocide, regardless of how it does or does not benefit them, the less justified or able others are in commiting genocides. That quote suggests to me that one of Hitler's defenses is that genocide happens and is justified and that the civilized world accepts it, therefore he could engage in his final solution.

 

The fact that the strongest nation on earth is condemning an act that happened almost 100 years ago, even though doing so hurts us diplomatically, sends an enormous message that passive acceptance of genocide is not ok.

 

It's a completely empty gesture when we are allowing genocides in the present. The message it sends is one of hypocrisy. Honestly, it's almost disgusting.

 

Agreed.

Yeah, it is pretty unnessecary and stupid. But some of you guys just love flying off the handle. Rolling around in barbed wire with Magic Johnson?

 

We put an arms embargo on Turkey in 1975 over their invasion of Cyprus. That was a much more serious act, and our relations have been fine. If anyone thinks a resolution over an act in 1914 against ARMENIANS is what will make Turkey invade northern Iraq against the KURDS, then you're really naive. They've already shelled Northern Iraq. What act of the democrats prompted that?

 

Turkey is quickly becoming a greater actor on the world economic stage. If they do stupid things like limit their relationship with us and invade Northern Iraq, they deserve what they get.

 

may I point out that kurds based in northern iraq bombs 2 turkish cities with stuff supplied by us tothem to protect themselves?

 

That the kurds have their own terroist group and brutually murder citizens in turkey? I was in Izmir last week when one of the bombs went off.

 

I am part armenian and my fiancee is turkish so got an interesting perspective but I see this as a reach for votes, power and money by folks that only causes more harm.

This provided me with an opportunity to use one of my favorite comedic quotes and im happy i did. In all seriousness as stated, this has to go down as one of the dumbest things to come out of Washington in at least a good 10 years. Meaningless and has vast reaching consequences.

This provided me with an opportunity to use one of my favorite comedic quotes and im happy i did. In all seriousness as stated, this has to go down as one of the dumbest things to come out of Washington in at least a good 10 years. Meaningless and has vast reaching consequences.

Dumbest thing in Washington to happen in 10 years: Congress authorizing the President to attack Iraq.

 

/end discussion

This provided me with an opportunity to use one of my favorite comedic quotes and im happy i did. In all seriousness as stated, this has to go down as one of the dumbest things to come out of Washington in at least a good 10 years. Meaningless and has vast reaching consequences.

Dumbest thing in Washington to happen in 10 years: Congress authorizing the President to attack Iraq.

 

/end discussion

Touche,

 

However, outside of the coffee houses in the "cool" parts of town their is some actual honest debate on that. This on the other hand their is no debate unless of course you're just blind to any sort of own thought process, this was is just plain posturing and stupidity and is driven by no reasons other than hatred for Bush.

I don't think this is agreat idea, but it's certainly not the dumbest thing to come out of Washington. Freedom fries were pretty dumb.

I don't think this is agreat idea, but it's certainly not the dumbest thing to come out of Washington. Freedom fries were pretty dumb.

Touche x 2, the resturant I used to work at carried Freedom fries.

I don't think this is agreat idea, but it's certainly not the dumbest thing to come out of Washington. Freedom fries were pretty dumb.

Touche x 2, the resturant I used to work at carried Freedom fries.

Yeah, that's pretty sad.

 

However, if you want to talk about meaningless resolutions, how about that waste of time Congressional condemnation of MoveOn.org?

We can't have a conversation with "stupid" and "Washington" without mentioning the words "Farm Bill"