Democrat Panel Approves Armenian Genocide Declaration for Floor Vote

Today, a House panel approved sending a bill to the floor that would declare that the mass killings of Armenia in1908 (I believe) should be considered a genocide. Since the word 'genocide' was developed by the United Nation after WWII, the U.S. government has remained silent on the issue of whether to consider the Armenian genocide a real genocide as to not alienate an ally in a strategic part of the region. I personally consider it to be the first genocide of the 20th century, and at the same time, have always been confused why the Turkish government feels so strongly in their opinion that it was not a genocide. The atrocities were carried out against the Armenians by the Ottoman empire (which does not exist anymore). However, it is what it is, and today relations between America and Turkey are more important than any time in America's history. Right now it is estimated that about 70% of cargo headed for Iraq goes though Turkey, and the use of their airspace is equally important. Again, I and many other scholars agree that the atrocities should be considered a genocide, however, by the U.S. government declaring that it was a genocide will not bring back the loss of the innocent Armenian lives of the early 20th century. Since the government has been silent on this issue for so many years, one has to ask the question why now? Do the Democrats really want to make our operations in the war on terror even more difficult than they currently are now? If this passes we know there will be consequences. Tom Casey of the State Department said today that Turkey "has been very vocal and very public about its concerns about this and has said that they did intend to act in very forceful way if this happens."