Charles in Charlottesville hits it on the head. It's bad enough for our troops when the enemy cuts our supply lines. God help them - now the Armed Forces in Iraq have their own government doing it to them!!! Does the House of Representatives really think America is so stupid that they can't see what is going on? Argue history all you want - the bottom line is this - our government is putting my son - and all his brothers and sisters in the Armed Forces - lives in greater danger.

Kathryn , Canisteo, USA

Oh No! You mean that if we pass a resolution acknowledging the Armenian genocide, Turkey will no longer help us subjugate Iraq? What a shame! We might actually have to leave and let the Iraqis rule themselves. How are we going to be able to force freedom on them without more guns and soldiers? We might even actually have to admit that the invasion was a complete waste and a total fraud. I guess we'll have to find another oil-rich country to invade.

Seriously folks, I'm thrilled that the Turks are enraged at us. If it brings us one step closer to withdrawal from Iraq, I'm grateful. Of course, since the Armenian Genocide is incontestable, the Turks' rage is a contemptible exercise in bravado that proves that Turkey does not belong in the EU or in NATO. Most nations (including the US) have at one time or another committed monstrous crimes. You can't change the past or bring back the dead. However, you can have the humility and decency to face what you have done and atone.

Mike Stamper, windsor, CT USA

Being something of a Turkophile it is hard to admit, but having read Taner Akcam's book it does appear that the destruction of the Armenians was intended. Not by the general populace perhaps, but certainly by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress. Much earlier writings than Akcam's such as those of the US ambassador, Morgenthau, suggest this to be the case. One explanation, though not an excuse, was that the behaviour of at least some Armenians, in a country involved in a war, was less than patriotic if not outright treason. Americans might look to the treatment meted out by the so-called "Patriots" to their Tory neighbours during their War of Independence to see how their countymen reacted in similar circumstances.
Earlier postings re Turkish misbehaviour refer to Smyrna - Greece had invaded Turkey and various atrocities were perpetrated on the civilian population, occupation of Cyprus followed a Greek attempt to annexe that island. Greeks show tunnel vision in respect of both.

Jim, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Andrea you are way out of line missy! We were in Vietnam to prevent communist insurgency and we are in Iraq (at this juncture) to prevent the probable mass slaughter of innocent lives and to halt the country from being absorbed by the Iran. Yes it is true that our intelligence agencies did advise the administration not to invade Iraq. However, we did manage to eliminate a totalitarian crack-pot murderer and his cronies (and sons), and establish a system of democracy.

J.R. Barnes, Hockessis, DE U.S.A.

i can't understand people's comments especially who never know about turkey and its history.

- we never did ethnic cleaning like us or germany!
- we never used women as prostitute in the wars such as japan.
- we never settled colonies and sold people such as UK or France.
because of this true facts hth nations in the europe can speak their language now. if we did any ethnic cleanind there wouldn't any bulgarian,greek or avustrian in EU. we lived with other people ( more than 40 nationality ) in the past with happily and respectfull. we never forced them to have our religion. it's very obvious as you can see easily. so what's the problem! the problem is money and politics! us and uk want to get every source in the world, especially petroleum. so they don't want to fight with strong countries. they want to seperate all countries in the middle east. please learn the truths! never think only in your shoes. you have to learn standing in my shoes and you have to look through my eyes

turkish man, york, turkey

I am so happy it finally happens. True, my grand-grandfather is not alive to see it - he was waiting all his life, people, but I can see it almost 100 years after this horrifying story! It does not matter - it is not too late!!!

Musaelyan Camilla, Moscow, Russia

I am an American who has visited Turkey approximately 25 times. This is what I have observed: Among the educated classes, women have the same professional, educational, and social opportunities as men. My women friends are doctors, dentists, lawyers, pharmacists, and business owners. Their husbands and fathers do not control them. Parents are just as concerned about the education of their daughters as they are of their sons. There are many religions in Turkey and all are free to worship as they choose. There is a large Separdic Jewish community which speaks Ladino. Catholic churches. Protestant churches. Of course, lots of mosques. The Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox Church is located on a large, beautiful compound in the heart of Istanbul. I have been to services there many times. Kurds live peacefully with ethnic Turks as long as they do not take a stand for a separate state. It is fine to say "I am a Kurd." But it is not fine to say, "I am a Kurd!"

Marjorie, Dallas, USA

continued...
My close friends there are part Kurdish. They are well-educated, have good jobs, and are accepted by all. As for the "Armenian question", it is hard for non-Turks, including me, to understand the Turkish take on this. What I have been told is that Turks are taught in schools that a genocide never happened and that reports are false, spread by their enemies. I do know that otherwise chaming people become passionatly angry when this topic is broached. I can tell you that they take this VERY seriously. I think they believe what they have been taught. It reminds me of what I was taught as an American child--all Indians were the bad guys and that "we", the Christian White Europeans" were the good guys and had a right to massacre those pesky redskins. I believed it, then. Now I know better. My full sympathies go out to the Armenians, for I am sure they suffered greatly, but that was then and this is now. I don't think the U.S. Congress has any business getting involv

Marjorie, Dallas, USA

I don’t think people understand what is really going on with this vote; it is just local politics playing out. The democrats know this will cause Turkey to stop cooperating with the U.S. with regard to Iraq (using the airbase amongst other logistical operations). This is just a back door way to try to cause the Bush administration to capitulate in Iraq and withdraw from the whole country.Which is why Bush opposed the vote (and will continue to do so), and the democrat controlled congress will try to pass it. Am I the only one who can see this?

Chris, Shanghai, PRC

I think the civilized world has had enough of the American congress deciding who's good and who's bad, whats right and whats wrong in the Middle East. We have seen what a great job they have done in Iraq and Palestine. I am stunned that that we leave the job of sorting out history to a bunch of people most of whom would struggle to find Turkey on a map!
Why dont they spend some time focusing on fixing their own "genocide", namely the 40 million citizens in the US without even the most basic health care and leave the job of history to historians.

Scott Penhaligon, Kusadasi, Turkey

It is amazing how some countries are going on a fishing expedition It is amazing how some countries are going on a selective fishing expedition to “recognize” and “condemn” events in history. Yet, it is grossly ironic that there is no recognition forthcoming of the mass killings of Algerians by the French, or the Mass murders of innocent children in Azerbaijan by the Armenians, or the mass graves and rape camps in Kosovo, or the continuing massacres in Somalia. Could this be I wonder due to the fact that the recognition of the aforementioned atrocities will have no political or strategic advantages for the respectful legislators and hence is useless in pursuing? The abovementioned, well documented atrocities occurred under the noses of such “humanitarian” nations yet no action has been taken to condemn these nor has action been taken to prevent the mass killings in Somalia. It seems that recognising and condemning events which occurred 100 years ago is more logical to some.

Ibrahim, Istanbul, Turkey

It is very ironic that the legislative arm of government in some nations has put on another shirt, that of a historian and is “legislating” history rather than penal codes to prevent such unfortunate events from occurring. The same legislators are enacting laws which condemn non-existent states such as the Ottoman Empire, in a bid to slander and defame a so-called "Ally". An "ally", which happens to be the only democratic and secular Muslim nation in the world. An "ally", which is at the forefront of the war against radical "islamist" terrorists. An “ally” which has lost 35,000 of its sons and daughters to PKK terrorism. An “ally” whose motto is “Peace at Home, Peace Abroad”. Talk about hypocrisy and tall tales. SHAME ON YOU! Wake up and Come to your senses!

Ibrahim, Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey's behaviour and threats regarding the potential recognition of the Armenian genocide is a timely reminder to the international community and in particular the EU leaders that this, EU membership aspiring country, is a regional bully with no respect of human rights and freedoms.

I am regretting that Erdogan's government is sidelined by the Turkish powerful military. His governing group is thas making every effort to deceive the world and in particular the EU, that it is a modernised and forward thinking republic. The sad reality is that it is identical to Attaturk's Turkey that massacred more than 2m Armenians and Greeks of Asia Minor in the 1910s-20s. Not forgetting the present, suppression and massacres against the Kurds and other minorities within Turkey.

It is time that the international community empower Erdogan by recognising the Armenian Genocide.

K. Christodoulou, London,

The fact is that the Armenian Massacre, as it has been called for decades, went both ways. The Ottomans attacked the Russian Empire and was pushed back, then the Armenians refused to assist the Ottoman soldiers (since the Ottoman supply chain was very poor) and the massacre began. The Ottomans attacked Armenians who they saw as rebels and the Armenians fought back and joined the Russians. the fighing went both ways. In WW1, the Ottoman Empire fought on five different fronts and was quite successful. Not too bad for the "Sick Man of Europe." As for the PKK, there has NEVER been a nation called Kurdistan, that territory has over the centuries belonged to other nations, and immediatly after WW1, Mustafa Kemal claimed the current Iraqi territory as far south as Mosul as part of the Turkish Homeland, yes the Turks migrated to Anatolia, but the Magyar (Hungarians) came from Asia too. Lets not forget the violence of the Allied Nations who tried to carve up Anatolia after the Great War!

Rick Mente, Detroit, Michigan, USA

I want to say that IAM TURKISH AND IAM PROUD OF MY COUNRY'S HISTORY

ibrahim, istanbul,

Will this resolution bring back to life a single Armenian? Will it change anything in the real world (apart from giving a few politicians the feeling of self-righteousness they so brazenly crave)?

What was the point, and why now?

All we have done is unnecessarily and gratuitously insulted an important player in the Middle East, whose assistance is useful in our Iraq logistics.

Aha! Got it! This is an attempt to sabotage the Iraq war effort by indirect means. If we can't de-fund the war let us try to make it impossible by other means. Clever!

Charles, Charlottesville,

Let's face it, we all know and they (the Turks) know what skeletons are in their cupboard. Would it not be wise and do a 'Germany' and say 'I apologise'. They would then gain the respect and friendship of the whole world. Denial will alienate Turkey from both East and West and cause them immense damage.

Mr E J Poularas, London, UK

Once again Turks deny history and their acts.This is unacceptable for a country which want to be a member of EU.The most worrying thing is that the majority of Turkish do not want to face the reality and still believe the lies of their Government and their Generals.Search in Internet for Armenian genocide. You will find a lot of info.All this info cannot be incorrect. If anyone believes that Turkey will change during years i say he has to reconsider as 33 years ago Turkish army invated in Cyprus saying it was a "peaceful" operation. "peaceful" with 200,000 refugees raped women, killed civilians and 1619 missing persons.Some months ago nationalists killed an Armenian journalist. The killer was a student and thats frightening. If Turkey wants a place in EU face up your past and respect human rights.

Steve, Manchester,

I know all you people have your opinon,thats fine, but If you go back as far as history goes there has always been someone wanting to fight someone and destory there cilvilation. I am from the USA. I dont agree with a lot thats going on in the world mostly caused by our foreign policies. I think that the world need to move on to the next fight of keeping its citzens safe no matter what country. Now we all know the stories of the past let them rest, its not going to bring anybody back,but the people in this world can stop genocide thats going on right now. Please stop the cleansing in the world today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul, columbus grove ,Ohio, USA

There is no doubt that the USA has it's own nasty parts of history, but the majority of the country does not deny it or condone it. So, let the Turks admit that they have committed genocide of the Armenians, genocide of the Greeks of Asia Minor, and that Turkey illegally invaded and occupies Northern Cyprus (despite numerous United Nations resolutions calling for its immediate withdrawal). Let Turkey admit its genocides, get out of Cyprus, allow freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and equal rights for women and minorities who can live and speak without fear of insulting 'Turkishness.' Turkey has no business joining the EU until these issues have long been resolved. Can you imagine Geneva or Munich or London with no such rights? Why should Istanbul be any different?!?

John, New York, USA

please see http://www.ceng.metu.edu.tr/~e1448315/armenian/
Armenian kills Turks, and they were forced to migrate. At migration, Ottoman did not protect Armenians because Ottoman was at the war. Kurdish highwaymen killed Armenians. In near history, at the hocali, armenians genocide Azerbaycan people.

bir dost, Erzurum, Turkey

You know what we realy shoudnt join Eu anyway.You know its funny Germany,France,England and I have to say this countrys kill millions a people and still they are support the terror not just support with financial,political and also train them to then they were talking about Turkey how the humanrights must be in Turkey and ignore the terror in Northen Turkey.I think dont need the join EU we are more safe how we are.And US they come and attack the Iraq whatever reason 6000 miles away and they think we shouldnt pursuit terrorist In Iraq.That was the idea right Global war in terror.Armanians I have no word for them.They are not seeking peace they are seeking ghost story.When Turkey offer him about lets find out what happen send your historion they diddnt even try the come and seek the truth.Because they dont want a know the truth they are seeking hate and caos.All I am saying Armania not to far from Turkey.We didnt do anyting in 1915 doensnt mean we wont in 2008 and I cant wait that day

Adam Hall, Gatlinburg, USA

The Times Thursday February 6, 1919, page 7

A Redoubtable Armenian
Fighting the Turk

"...A very bloodthirsty fellow where the Turk is concerned..."

"One asked how the Armenian Sabian came to be a sergeant in a British line regiment in Mesopotamia. The answer was very simple. Sabian made it his business to be where he had the best chance of killing Turks. He fought on the Bulgarian side all through the first Balkan war. ....He spoke Turkish fluently and what was more, he had been a mining engineer in Gallipoli and knew the ground where we were fighting"
"...he was born to be the scourge and the destroyer of Turks..."

"...Our campaign against the Turk. of course, recalled how the
Armenians helped the Crusaders against Saladin..."

Erdem, Ankara,

THE TIMES, Feb 25, 1913 pg 5

MACEDONIAN ATROCITIES
"... Because it is the Moslems who are defeated, all excess committed by their conquerors are pardoned or set
down as regrettable but inevitable events which all broad-minded men understand and put at a proper value. When Turkish irregulars ravage burn, rape or slay, no words are sufficient to reprobate the criminals or those responsible for their control, which is perfectly right and just; when Bulgarian irregulars do precisely the same thing we are only told to wonder that they do no more.
The more crimes are committed in European Turkey now, the more difficuly will the problem of Asiatic Turkey become. If Asiatic Turkey is to be flooded with refugees bearing tales of injustice and wrong committed by Christians under the very eyes of the Great Powers, what hope can there be of any future unity or friendship between Moslem and Christian in Armenia, Irak, Mesopotamia, or Syria?
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,"
MARK SYKES

Erdem, Ankara,

You can "legislate" history as much as you like but you cannot "legislate" reality. Reality will one day come back and haunt you!
Oh, also in a bid to inform the grossly ill-informed it was Emperor Bayezid II of the Ottomans who saved a sizeable population of the worlds Shepardic Jews from the Spainish Inquisition, not the US. Hence, you will need more than just legislation to declare the Turks as barbarians. Turkey is also a sovereign nation and has the power to legislate history, including the treatment of Native Americans, but Turkey has common sense! We look to the future...

Ibrahim , Istanbul, Turkey

The Times, Wednesday, March 27, 1918

Through the German Eyes

Betrayed Armenia,

"...Considerable Armenian forces had to be overhrown, According to the Turkish Telegraph Agency, the glowing faith hatred and race hatred which separates Mahomedans and Christians in these districts has led to terrible events. The Armenians are said to have been guilty of the worst atrocities against defenceless Mahomedans of both sexes and all ages..."
"...Everybody who has learnt on the spot the antogonism between the two faiths, which for decades past has repeatedly broken out afresh, largely as the result of foreign influences can unfortunately have no doubt that these reports are in all probability accurate..."

Erdem, Ankara,

The Times Apr 27 1915 pg7

Disease-Ravaged Armenia
1,000 Deaths Daily at Erzrum

"An account of the condition of things on the Turco-Russian border that has reached the Messager d'Athines from Trebizond states that at Erzrum
there are 1,000 deaths daily from typhus and smallpox. The mortality is heavy amongst the doctors..."
"The Russian are said to be reluctant to advance on Erzrum owing to the fear of contagion"

Erdem, Ankara,

The Times Sep 04 1913, pg5

The Macedonian Commission of Inquiry

"...The hospitals of Sofia harbour hundreds of wounded women and children from these regions who, together with the 150,000 Macedonian refugees now in Bulgaria, could easily testify to the conduct of the allied Greek and
Servian armies which spread ruin, desolation along their tracks..."

Erdem, Ankara,

"I have issued the command -- and I’ll have anybody who utters but one word of criticism executed by a firing squad -- that our war aim does not consist in reaching certain lines, but in the physical destruction of the enemy. Accordingly, I have placed my death-head formation in readiness -- for the present only in the East -- with orders to them to send to death mercilessly and without compassion, men, women, and children of Polish derivation and language. Only thus shall we gain the living space [Lebensraum] which we need. Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

Adolf Hitler

Even the number one Nazi was not in doubt for this historical fact.
Anibody who is still in doubt whether that was a genocide or not may get some basic information from Wikipedia. Just visit www.wikipedia.org and serach for "Armenian genocide"

Art, Yerevan, Armenia

It may cost the U.S. politically and even strategicly but if the U.S. is going to stand for democracy and human rights then it must proclaim this a genocide. If Turkey wants to end its relationship with the U.S. and the accompanying dollars then let them.

Thomas Brashear, brownsville, tx/usa

TRUE FACT 1: In the first world war armenian attacks some ottoman villages which had no men. they killed lots of chil and women. because all men were in the army at that time. after that ottoman government wanted to move armenian to an another place, syria, for preventing the people, who were not in the war, from these attacks. some of armenian became sick in that movement because of bad weather conditions. In the past, these two different ethnic people lived peacefully. especially armenian people had good jobs in the government. anyway, all graves can be examined. as a turkish person, i'm saying to all people come to my country and examine the bones in those graves. scientist can decide from DNA if the dead is turkish or armenain people!
TRUE FACT 2: PKK is a terrorist group in Turkey. They've killed nearly 50.000 people in Turkey. 30.000 soldier, 20.000 normal citizen. they use guns,bombs. they killed people and then they run away. so Turkey want to protect theirselves and borders.

turkish man, york, turkey

we never want soil from iraq or another place. we just want to stop these terrorist attacks! let me ask you some questinos:
1) why did you and usa attack iraq?
2) did you prove saddam's chemical or nuclear weapon?
30 do you really know what happened in cyprus?
4) do you really know what's happening in the nothern of Turkey?
if you don't go these country, you can't see the true!
we want just peace! we don't want to take soil or patrol from another country and not want to give another country.

turkish man, york, turkey

armenian or kurdish people live freely in my country. they can work at good places! you can also live happily in my country without any problem. there is no problem about religion or nationality. .in my city, there are lot's of churches. and also i went some of them. it's just political play os USA if you can see!

turkish man, york, turkey

To Richard, Davis, California:

there was never slave sale in ottoman or turkey. we never sold people as you did! you've been attacking all around the world and can say such silly thing. your just nothing for me! the problem is people who want to learn the truth! I invite them to turkey. they can search freely! can you imagine this? by the way, ottomans nerver used us dollars! let me ask you, what is a terrorist for you?

turkish man, york, turkey

The nauseating attitude of Turkey and its apologists here is not that they’re arguing about the semantics of the word genocide (many British would be uncomfortable with labelling the Irish potato famine as such, the same for Australians and Americans concerning the violence against the indigenous populations), but that as a nation they display no shame, sorrow or acknowledgement of the repellence of the country’s past actions.

Very few Europeans will be proud of our nations’ colonial past, but the mass abdication of moral responsibility for the slaughter of hundreds and thousands of Armenians is disgusting. Weather the term ‘genocide’ fits exactly is not really the salient point, it is more that until Turks can face up and acknowledge their nations disgraceful actions 80 years ago (whatever the term used), membership to the EU is unthinkable.

Al, London,

i think europe never fotgot 1071(the malazgirt war).because they still want to have turkey land.they try to have their aim by supporting terror organisation(PKK-kurdish teror).by supporting bomb,weapon raise heat at middle-east.but they wont success their aim ,because kurdish didnt organise a state until this time and dont organise...

college, birmingam, UK

The Turkish Parliament could pass a resolution deeming united States treatment of Native Americans a genocide.

Cynthia Chase, Ithaca, NY

1.5 million people killed - many old people, women and children. Sounds like genocide to me. The unwillingness of the Turks to face up to their past and the way in which they currently treat minorities in their country surely demonstrates that Turkey has no place in the EU.

Andrew brown, derby, UK

Andrea, Manchester - I suggest that you read the UN Article 2 definition of genocide before you present such dinner-party politics

"any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group...."

Jon, Channel Islands, UK,

If you have any doubts that this was indeed a genocide you need to read the book United States Official Records on the Armenian Genocide, 1915-1917, published by the Gomidas Institute in 2004.

Arnold Weeks Jr., Fleming Island, Florida/USA

I would have thought a fitting reaction would have been for Turkey to label American action in Vietnam and Iraq as genocide.

Andrea, Manchester, UK

I am having problems with the timing of this resolution.
Yes, Turkey needs to take responsibility for its actions, but this is something that happened back in WWI. Given the state of world affairs (terrorism), we need allies more than ever.

Why would we go out of our way to turn an ally away from us.... especially in that part of the world?
Our politicians have all of the timing of idiots.

m.J., Iowa, U.S.A.

Read Taner Akcam 'A shameful Act, The Armenian Genocide and the Question of Turkish Responsibility' ISBN 978-1-84529-552-3 Constable £9.99.
Taner is aTurkish scholar of repute.
In the Economist review October 21 2006 'this timely and well research work.. highlights .. how many foreign observers of the deportations.. did conclude that the intention was to kill, not just deport... and to explain why the conditions in which these events might be freely discussed in Turkey have never quite fallen into place'

Graham , Bath, UK

I wonder what the remaining American Indians make of this?

Paul K, Thornton Cleveleys, UK

It is a right time for all Western Governments to stand all together and condemn the Turkish Genocide against the indignous people in the region. From the begining of Ottoman Empire in 1415 to the modern history of Turkish Republic in 1925 to the present in more than one occasion the Turkish army conducted military operation against civilians, which caused great ethnic cleansing against Kurds and Armenians. If the ethnic cleansing is such a sort of genocide, then Turkey will be held responsibile for more than one count of genocide against the Kurdish people.

Rahand, Birmingham, UK

Turkey has had almost a century to properly refute any errors in the 'genocide' accusations. Instead of spending $330,000 a month on professional Washington lobbyists, it would be better to direct their efforts towards the publication of a properly researched historical account of what did happen, instead of relying on pandemonious outrage and threats.

Whatever the truth, it cannot be held hostage to that which is convenient for Washington's politicians. After all, military equipment for Iraq, can be supplied via Israel and Jordan, just as easily, as through Turkey.

Charles Smyth, Belfast, Northern Ireland

I would like to draw attention to the incorrect points raised by Madeleine from Birmingham. Turkey occupied a part of Cyprus purely to protect the Turkish minortiy who were residing on the island.
Secondly Turkey has invited Armenian historians and the government to open thier archives and bring out the facts about this so called genocide.
Turkey may or may not be accepted to EU but a country like Turkey will not give in to the political games being played and will not be held for a ransom just to be accepted to EU.
Turkey is a soverign and influential country with a solid history going back 1000 years in the region.
I urge Madeleine to read more on the topic before jumping into conclusions just like the American Committe members.

Kursat Aydin, Istanbul,

And we're considering letting them into the EU? Really.....

Adam, Cardiff,

i am turkish and i do not have to worry about history which has made up by other countries. in addition, it can be observed that the number of death Armenians are increasing every year. in my point of view there wasnt any genocide, actually that genocide has made by Russian goverment. Ottaman empire wanted to protect Armenians till they arrive to their country. AND now I want to say that IAM TURKISH AND IAM PROUD OF MY COUNRY'S HISTORY.

firat, Brighton,

i saw a magazine from the turn of the century.
It had a photo of a young female child with the label
"Armenian Slave Girls for Sale 5 Dollars!". It was from an agency from Turkey. What is up with this?
You Turks need to grow up and accept what you did and who you are.
Quit bringing up what evil the USA does we know our history and it has nothing to do with this... we do not deny it either. You make me sick with your lies and denials. Who needs you anyway? Last I heard you wanted to be part of NATO and they did not want you to be part of NATO. I am sure there is many millions of great Turks some I have met but this denial is gross and insults everyones intelligence all around the world.

Richard, Davis, California

How much more effective to PREVENT genocide, e.g. Rwanda, Darfur, American Indian reservations and indigenous peoples-- than to pass a useless resolution. What does this resolution accomplish? Nothing positive.

Joanne, Fairbanks, usa

Let's put it on record.
The Turks were honorable and worthy opponents in Gallipoli in 1915 (WW1). They are highly regarded in Australia, NZ and UK. I know this from the records and from the mouth of my grandfather who fought the Turks at Gallipoli.

Gene, Sydney,

The evidence clearly demonstrates not only that the current Turkish Republic carried out the genocidal 20th century killings of more than 4 million Armenians (which is equivolent to 2/3 of the Jews killed by the Nazis). But also that that same state is also guilty of numerous pogroms and institutionaly racist acts of ethnic clensing in Cyprus, Kurdistan, Smyrna, Constantinople & other places. Imagine if Nazi Germany was still around today with all its state symbols and pride denying the Jewish holocaust! As for the Ottomans they enslaved, oppressed and humiliated their subject peoples longer than any other Empire in history. Not many people know that before 800 yrs ago there were absolutely no Turks established in large numbers in what is called Turkey today. These nomads came from central Asia & eventualy brought down a civilisation far superior to their own primative culture: Byzantium. The real nations of Anatolia are: Armenia, Kurdistan, Galatia, Cilicia, The Pontus & Cappadocia.

Chris, London, UK

If Armenians was really massacred as said by only the people who have never idea what happened in that geography, by Turks before Ottoman Empire collapsed and Turkish Republic was not created ,Armenians can be never exist now.
We forced them to move south regions belongs to Ottoman Empire that knowed IRAQ and Syria now to pretend Armenian attacks on Ottoman troops.
This is a common condition of countries protection reflex for theirselves in wars.
In World War II,US forced Japan civilz to west of US too.
We have never massacred to any nation in our glory history.
Ask to Americans what happened to native Americans as knowns as Red Indians,ask to French people that what happened to Algerians

Fatih Mehmet Arslan, Ankara, Turkiye

Of course anyone familiar with the US invasion of the Philipines early last century would descibe that too as a genocide.

Were it not for American exceptionalism.

Stuart Munro, Seoul, Korea

Turkey massacred, ethnically cleansed, or otherwise systematically destroyed the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek minorities in Turkey, and perpetrated untold atrocities against its Kurdish minority in the recent past, including use of attack helicopeters and F-16s against civilians (tens of thousands killed, millions displaced, countless villages destroyed), as extensively documented by Human Rights Watch and others. This from a country that demands complete respect for the rights of its own minorities abroad, and that is the only country to illegaly occupy a European country today (Cyrprus), in the name of the rights of Turkish minorities. The ethics and morals of the Turkish government, and of Turks who subscribe to its views, is warped beyond comprehension. Turks are willing to emprison anyone for verbal insults against "Turkishness" but defend the killing, raping and maiming of others.

Malcom O'Neal, San Francisco, Ca

Much has happened that we, who currently live in the world, are not responsible for. But to totally deny the facts will never lead to any reconcilliation.

Tom Merilo, Toronto, Canadaq

Perhaps Congress should condemn the genocide of the native Americans. Or apologize for the vast numbers killed in Viet Nam, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Iraq... in pursuit of national vanity.

Lester Ness

Lester Ness, Kunming, China

The USA is always in a tricky situation when it comes to these kinds of things. On the one hand there is the moral issue, and outrage, that many American’s feel. On the other side there are political and strategic matters at hand. Turkey is a key NATO Ally; one need only look at the map. On the other hand what happened in 1915 was a tragedy to put it mildly.

Turkey like any other nation has events in its past that would best be forgotten. The past is in the past. Germany has to deal with its Nazi past, and is endlessly racked up in its guilt. Japan has to deal with its past treatment of China and the rest of Asia, but instead is in a long period of denial. Turkey’s response is no different than the response that America takes to the treatment of the Native Tribes, that to push the issue to the side and point that things are not as bad as others would think. In all these cases it was a different time, and the people alive today had not been born when these events occurred.

Dan, New York, USA

Why do one Armenian not come up and just talk? Why is it always the Americans who speak for Armenians and their past? Yes, Turkey was the sick man of Europe but it was strong enough to wipe away the enemies and save the nation. We could have turned the lives of minorities into a misery but we didn't. We have Kurdish, Armenian and Jewish neighbours and friends just like our great-grandparents did. To understand the Turks and the reason why we believe a genocide did not happen, you have to have an idea of the Turkish mentality and outlook on life. We are more modern than those who think they are and we are so modern that we take embracing other cultures and minorities as a part of our nation's identity. But some of you won't understand this. Because you think being modern is only about how you are dressed. Our history and culture are amazing in the way they taught us to share a life in Anatolia with those people who don't come from the same background as we do.

Merve, Samsun, Turkey

Who are you Americans? You selfish, double faced politicians, how you are calling as "genocide" for a third country? You are the only country used nuclear bombs, you killed more than one million people Vietnam, Iraq and Afganistan. And looking for to kill people in Iran as well. And your older and younger brothers, UK and Israel. How many people did you kill in Palestine, Lubnan, India...

Albert Frederick, Genova, Switzerland

The American government has a difficult choice. They have to chose between Kurds, Turks and Armenians. It reminds me of the Big Brother and the moment when some of the participants have to leave the house. Unfortunately in this case it not about an interesting TV program, but a very dangerous game

Bess, Uppsala, Sweden

Former Speaker of the House Thomas O'Neill once said, "All politics is local." He was trying to explain how the wishes and concerns of constituency affect the actions of their representatives in Congress. I do not blame the members (particularly from California) of the Commission voting for the resolution. After all that’s what their Armenian constituents wanted.
Yesterday what I watched was not a Congressional Committee in action but total hypocrisy. The most offending part was to be subjected to morality lessons by representatives of a country which in the past fifty years have tortured, maimed and murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, not for survival but for ideological and economical reasons, and shamefully still doing so. Not to mention the subjugation and slavery of the African Americans and of total annihilation of Native Americans.

Mehmet Kavaklıoğlu, Ünye, Turkey

No one is going to believe the Turkish side of the story so long as they prosecute and imprison people for even discussing this within Turkey. In fact it rather indicates that Turkey has something to hide....

Luke, New York, USA

The Armenian issue is being used as a domestic political weapon by American parliament members. Turkey has invited Armenia and its historians to work with Turkish historians to understand this tradegy and the suffering by Turkish and Armenian people during war time. This has turned into a political game and it's all about lobbying and your connections in the States that help support your cause. Armenian diaspora has been paranoid about this issue, and has used its lobbiests for the tradegies to be recognized as genocide. We dont hear about French massacres in Algeria, or America officially recognizing its own responsibility for the recent direct or indirect murders of an estimated 1 millon civilian people in Iraq? This is politics people, not the truth.

Can K., Istanbul, Turkey

This is the first time I've ever thought that Bush was right. I have no idea what the truth of the matter is, but I'm wondering why such a resolution would come up now when it's been a bugbear for every US administration for the last 30 years, and most have successfully avoided it. We are depending on Turkish bases and support in the Middle East where we have very few friends and Turkey has been pleading with the US for the last 2 years to assist in stopping attacks by the PKK, labelled a terrorist group by the U.S. This seems to me more grandstanding by the House which seems to do little else. There're been a lot of genocides in history; I'm awaiting my resolution on behalf of my great-great grandparents who were forced to leave Ireland because of famine while food supplies were being sent to England. What good do these resolutions do? Contrary to appearance, Bush isn't the biggest fool in Washington these days.

NancyAnne, Philadelphia, PA.

The number of Armenians died during aforementioned inter-ethnic conflict increases year by year. 1,5 million is seemingly sophisticated number which is not approved by any official document. To me it is historians but not politicians who should truthfully say whether or not there was an Armenian genocide during WW I. Many people died from both sides during inter-ethnic conflict in Turkey during WW I. I am just curious to ask same politicians how they would name the fact that almost 20% of Azerbaijan terry is still occupied by Armenia, and that 10 thousands of Azeris including children and women killed by Armenians in Kharabach (still belonging to Azerbaijan). There are presently over million Azeris-refugees who have to left their homes in Kharabach.

Rza Bashirov, Famagusta, North Cyprus

What about the millions of Turks and other muslims that where killed in the eastern front of Turkey and surrounding regions of the Black sea. Most of the mass graves in eastern Turkey happen to be those of Turks and other Muslims, so doesn't that count as genocide caused by the Armeniand and their Russian buddies at the time.

Kaz, London, UK

Isnt it typical arrogant way of anglo unilateral thinking, not looking the other side of the coin. Biased thoughts won't contribute to anything. We TURKS opened all the archives to everybody to find out what happenned then. Because we don't have anything to fear about.

Suleyman, Norfolk, USA

As an American, I am sad that our president, once again, finds truth just an expendable quantity for his politics.

Isn't this the kind of thing that Bush's allies found so terrible about Soviet and North Korean government policy?

The Turks were brutal in WW I; if they expect respect on the world stage wouldn't it be better to come clean: tell the truth and pledge to do better

Abbott, Thornton, IL

So the word genocide can be used to describe the events in Nazi Germany, the modern Sudan, but not the massacre of Christian Armenians? Once again, the reaction of Turkey shows how utterly absurd it would be to allow this large Muslim country into the E.U.

Alex G., Detroit, USA

If the American government tried to pass a similar resolution on Israel's treatment of the Palestinians it would'nt last 5 seconds.

The fact is that Turkey doesnt have an undemocratic and sinister organisation like the AIPAC controlling American Foreign policy. If it did the Turkish could do whatever they liked to people, just like Israel does.

J Roberts, Manchester, UK

we develop friendly with Russia usa is very liar

mehmet, istanbul, turkiye

Isnt it just typical of Turkey once again to deny the hard reality of its actions in the past. The 'sick man' of Europe is desperately trying to cover up its past instead of finally accepting responsibility for what happened. How does it expect to join the EU when its international relations revolve around hushing-up its acts of oppression against countless ethnic minorities? Not to mention its ethnic cleansing in occupied Cyprus.

Madeleine, Birmingham, UK