Turkey is Not the Ottoman Empire

While most of our attention has been focused this week on Israel, JINSA has also been concerned with two non-binding House Resolutions that could have a pronounced negative effect on U.S.-Turkish political and security relations. Turkey is a strong ally of the United States in NATO and an important partner in the region. Allied control of the “safe zone” for the Kurds and the “no fly zone” in northern Iraq require Turkey’s active participation. Turkish-Israeli security relations add to stability in a volatile part of the world.

While most of our attention has been focused this week on Israel, JINSA has also been concerned with two non-binding House Resolutions that could have a pronounced negative effect on U.S.-Turkish political and security relations. Turkey is a strong ally of the United States in NATO and an important partner in the region. Allied control of the “safe zone” for the Kurds and the “no fly zone” in northern Iraq require Turkey’s active participation. Turkish-Israeli security relations add to stability in a volatile part of the world. And Turkey’s secular democracy can be an important model for other countries.

The following letter was sent to members of the House leadership and the House International Relations Committee.

On behalf of the Officers and Board of The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs, and our 17,000 members around the country, we want to bring to your attention our concerns about HR 398, “The United States Training on and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.”

As you know, JINSA is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to further American national security interests. Since our founding in 1976, we have worked to support strong security ties between the U.S. and like-minded, democratic countries – particularly in the Middle East and the Mediterranean region. Turkey is one of those countries.

Turkey, our NATO ally, has consistently supported American interests when many others failed to do so: in Korea, through the Cold War, in the Gulf War and – at great economic cost – beyond the Gulf War. Turkey’s relations with Israel and with the Central Asian and Caucasus countries of the FSU enhance stability in a volatile region.

JINSA cannot presume to assess blame or blamelessness on the issue of the Armenians. We are baffled, though, as to why the United States would be so willing to offend an important ally, when such offense serves no prevailing American interest and indeed would damage those interests.

For reasons of American national security, to expand stability and democracy, and for reasons that are both pragmatic and principled, it is our hope that HR 398 will not be brought before the House for a vote.

The resolution will, however, be brought to a vote tomorrow, along with HR 596 [Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution].

We believe they should fail.