The Maverick Conservative

"The AP reported today that France passed a resolution today, on the anniversary of Wonded Knee, condenming the Untied States genocide of the American Indians in the 19th Century--noting that the American Indians had been an old ally of the French (French and Indian War) who were treated shamefully by the United States.  The French resolution stated that it was time the entire international community condemned this historical genocide,  as an illustration of the kind of genocide that cannot be allowed to happen again."

The above might have happened, for all I know (I don't keep up with every resolution France has passed), but I made it up. Would such a resolution by France make any sense?   Of course not.  It would be a gratuituos slap at the U.S. for no reason.  But lthere would probably be MORE reason for it than there is for a House Resolution (that Nancy Pelosie is pushing to a vote) declaring a Turk massacre of Armenians in 1915 to be "genocide."

Let us be blunt here. This is a matter of internal politics of Turkey. It is none of our business (genocide NOW might be our business, but it was not even modern Turkey in 1915; it was the Ottoman Empire).

Armenians want this NOW for their own MODERN political reasons. It is like African-Americans demanding reparations for slavery NOW in the U.S. What you think about that as a political issue in the U.S. (I don't think much of it for many reasons) is one thing. NO other country has any business passing resolutions on it. Similarly, we had no business interfering in the Britain/Irish/Protesntant/Catholic conflct in Northern Ireland even when it was HOT. To pick an event 90 years ago, and condemn the British for it, would have been the height of meddling.

How can Nancy Pelosi and the House be this stupid? Hey, it is CONGRESS. Hurting our troops may be a factor below the surface here (the House is certainly showing UNCONCERN about the welfare of our troops in Iraq). I would not put it past the Democratic leadership to be deliberately attempting to hurt the Iraq War effort (even at the cost of hurting the troops).

But it is clear that Congress is becoming more stupid every day under Democrat leadership (it was pretty darn stupid under Republican leadership in recent years).

Now have Republicans toyed with this resolution in the past?   Sure they have.  Republicans are not immune from interest group politics.  But here is the difference.  Here is what the REPUBLICAN Speaker did when President Clinton objected to this resolution:

SPEAKER HASTERT WITHDRAWS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION

Citing Clinton Administration Claims that its Consideration Would Threaten American Lives, Speaker Withdraws Measure Only Moments before Adoption by House

Washington, DC -- Citing claims by President Clinton that the consideration of the Armenian Genocide Resolution (H.Res.596) would endanger American lives, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert today broke his pledge to bring the measure to the House floor, acceding to the President's request that he withdraw the resolution. This action was taken only moments before the resolution was to come to the House floor for a vote, reported the H.Res.596 Committee.

Speaker Hastert, in an announcement explaining his decision, noted that, based on the concerns raised by the President, he was removing the resolution from the legislative schedule of the House. The Speaker said that President Clinton had raised "grave national security concerns" over the resolution, stressing that even the measure's consideration would pose a threat to American lives. The President, in a letter to the Speaker dated today, noted that bringing the resolution to the House floor "could have far-reaching negative consequences for the United States." The Speaker acknowledged in his statement that the resolution "would have enjoyed support among the majority of the House."

President Bush has objected to this resolution when it is MORE dangerous to American lives than when President Clinton objected.  So far, Nancy Pelosi has proceeded toward a vote anyway.  That is irresponsible.

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