History seems to be hurting US-Turkey relations, as the debate on the Armenian genocide hogs limelight amongst the two countries, the US airbase in southern Turkey fears a closure, if the relation strains further.
Turkey premier has even warned President Bush that the Genocide Bill would hurt ties.
As the so-called genocide bill gathers momentum, with the US House of Representatives setting up a committee to look into the barbaric event of 1915, in which a million-and-a-half Armenians lost their lives during the government of Young Turks and the needle hinges on the term ‘genocide,’ which Turkey is ever reluctant to accept.
Turkey has even warned that such a bill would not only spoil the reconciliation efforts of Ankara and Armenia, but also strain relations with the US, which would then mean that the Pentagon airbase in southern Turkey, an important focal point of arms supplies to the American forces in Iraq will have to be vacated.
Is the US ready for this?
America has been often caught saying that it has no common friends or enemies, but it has common interest, interests for which it can hug its greatest foe or break up its good relations with its friends.
Every question leads it to one answer that is of American interests. Turkey and America have been enjoying a fruitful relation for decades, the biggest proof for which is the American airbase in the country.
However, the warning of the Turkish premier that any move to term the mass massacre of Armenians in 1915, as genocide, would hurt Ankara and strain the relation between Turkey and the US.
Conversely, the US Administration finds itself in troubled waters on the issue that holds importance not only for Turkey, but also for US interests and America’s stance of Big Brother for the world.
With the turn of events, a lot can be expected from the US, which would leave no stone unturned to respect its own interests, no matter what.
Via: Washington Post
