PenceBlog: More news on Turkey and Armenian Genocide - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

The Indianapolis Star ran a story on Sunday quoting Congressman Pence about his vote on the non-binding resolution. Here's an excerpt:

Rep. Mike Pence thinks the mass killings of Armenians at the end of the Ottoman Empire was genocide. The Columbus Republican used to support a congressional resolution saying so.

But Pence voted Wednesday against the resolution -- "after a gut-wrenching number of days of reflection and prayer" -- because he said Turkey is an indispensable partner to the U.S. in Iraq and Afghanistan.

President Bush had warned that the resolution would do "great harm" to relations with Turkey, which allows the U.S. to use its airspace for cargo flights.

"The old book tells us that there is a time for every purpose under heaven," Pence said during the House Foreign Affairs Committee's debate on the resolution. "This is a season that calls for maintaining relationships with a crucial ally in the global war on terror."

The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette also ran a story on Sunday about the vote. Here's an excerpt:

"Rep. Mike Pence was one of the few committee members who were persuaded, saying he believed genocide occurred, but "with American troops in harm’s way, dependent on critical supply routes available through an alliance that we enjoy with the nation of Turkey, I submit that at this time, this is not the time for this nation to speak on this dark chapter of history."

Rep. Dan Burton, also a committee member, agreed with Pence’s view. Unlike Pence, he did not have to change his position to vote against the resolution. Burton has opposed similar bills the many times they have been proposed in the past 20-some years.

"There’s no question that thousands and thousands of people were killed during the time period we’re talking about," Burton said. "That was over 90 years ago. And right now there’s a conflict in Afghanistan, there’s a conflict in Iraq, there’s a conflict that’s going on – off and on – in Lebanon and the West Bank. All over that area it’s a tinderbox. And right next door, we’ve got Iran who’s trying to develop a nuclear capability."

Our strongest ally in the area, and has been for 50 years, is Turkey. I just don’t understand why we’re going to cut our nose off, shoot ourselves in the foot at a time that we need this ally."

posted by Pence Press Office # 3:30 PM