Cnn Wolf Blitzer: Remembering The Armenians Killed

[Nakharar]

CNN

CNN WOLF BLITZER REPORTS

 

Insurgents Set Off Numerous Bombs in Iraq; Remembering the Armenians

Killed by Ottomans; Thirty Years After the Fall of Saigon

 

Aired April 29, 2005 - 17:00 ET

 

 

 

WOODRUFF: This week, Armenians around the world mark the 90

anniversary of a nightmare. They and many others call it genocide,

but some powerful governments do not. Please note, the following

story contains some pictures that may be disturbing to some viewers.

 

CNN's Brian Todd looks at this long ago event that continues to stir

deep emotion and deep controversy.

 

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

 

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We shudder at images from

Darfur, Sudan. Wince at memories of Rwanda. Look at grainy pictures

of the Holocaust and say, never again. Almost forgotten is a brutal

campaign nearly a century ago that historians say may not have been a

model for those genocides, but certainly provided a rationale.

 

CHARLES KING, AUTHOR "THE BLACK SEA: A HISTORY": The fact that a

state could, in fact, carry this out under the eyes of the

international community and get away with it became, in fact, a

hallmark of what the 20th century, the tragic 20th century really was

all about.

 

TODD: Adolf Hitler himself was reported to have made a reference to

it in 1939 as he prepared to invade Poland. Quoted as saying "Who

after all speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"

 

April, 1915, the Ottoman Empire, covering the general area of what is

now Turkey, is battling on two front in World War I, and is

disintegrating in the process. Armenians, long part of that empire,

are restless for independence and get encouragement from Russia. The

Ottoman Turks, fearful of a Russian invasion on their eastern front,

see the Russian/Armenian alliance as a huge threat and target the

Armenian population inside their borders.

 

HARUT SASSOUNIAN, EDITOR, "THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE": They embarked on

an extermination plan by deporting the entire population closer to a

little under 2 million Armenians in the empire into the deserts and

by killing and starvation and disease.

 

TODD: Between 1915 and 1923 Armenian leaders are rounded up in cities

and executed. Villagers are uprooted en masse, driven south towards

the deserts of what are now Syria and Iraq. Many shot or butchered

outright by Turkish forces, but most die in forced marches. The

numbers to this day still hotly in dispute. Armenians say 1.5 million

were killed. The Turkish government says not more than 300,000

perished, and the Armenians shouldn't count themselves as the only

victims.

 

FARUK LOGOGLU, TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO U.S: These few years, both sides

suffered -- lost an incredible number of people to war, to famine, to

harsh climate.

 

TODD: Objective historians say the Armenian death toll is likely

between 600,000 and a million.

 

(on camera): The fight is not only over numbers, but words. One word

in particular. Neither the Turkish Government nor any American

president, except Ronald Reagan, has ever called this event genocide.

 

 

Harut Sassounian is the grandson of survivors.

 

SASSOUNIAN: It's described as a deep wound and in the psyche of every

Armenian that is not healing, is not going away. Because it's like an

open wound as long as the denial is there.

 

TODD: The U.S. Government says between 60,000 and 146,000 people have

died in Darfur, Sudan over the past two years. And former Secretary

of State Colin Powell called that a genocide. Historian Charles King

believes what happened to the Armenians was genocide by any

definition but...

 

KING: Labeling it a genocide among politicians has a very severe

political ramifications, particularly in terms of the U.S.

relationship with Turkey, an important strategic partner in southeast

Europe and the wider Middle East.

 

TODD: As Armenians mark the 90th anniversary of their darkest days,

many say all they want is acknowledgement. The Turks say they're

willing to set up a commission to examine the historical record. Two

countries with a closed border and no formal relations inching

closer. A super power caught in the middle -- all haunted by a

distant tragedy that we somehow never managed to learn from.

 

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

 

(END VIDEOTAPE)

 

WOODRUFF: Thank you, Brian. By the way, the Turkish government says

close to a million Turks died in that region during World War I. As

for current relations, Turkish officials tell CNN, although the

border is closed, there are daily flights between Turkey and Armenia.

And tens of thousands of Armenians, they say currently live and work

inside Turkey.

[TMNT]

WOODRUFF: Thank you, Brian. By the way, the Turkish government says

close to a million Turks died in that region during World War I. As

for current relations, Turkish officials tell CNN, although the

border is closed, there are daily flights between Turkey and Armenia.

And tens of thousands of Armenians, they say currently live and work

inside Turkey

 

What the hell does this mean? The report is on the "denial" of the Armenian genocide, so, could we assume that this is a ploy to ruin Armenia's credibility? Yes, we could assume this. I just don't understand why you would even cover the genocide if you are going to make asinine comments like this.

Edited May 2, 2005 by TMNT

[Nakharar]

They probably felt compelled to assert this in the name of "objectivity" and "political correctness".

[TMNT]

They probably felt compelled to assert this in the name of "objectivity" and "political correctness".

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Yes, it must be "objectivity" and "political correctness".

[phantom22]

A few years ago, we would not even have gotten any coverage by the major news networks. This is a major advancement.

[TMNT]

A few years ago, we would not even have gotten any coverage by the major news networks. This is a major advancement.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

This is not "media coverage", it is gutter journalism. How would Wolf Blitzer feel if every holocaust article concluded with "the German government claims that 20 million Germans died during the war"? Better yet, make it seem like it Israelis' are hypocrits because they are forced to work in Germany? Instead of stating so bluntly that Armenians illegally work in Turkey, why doesn't the author emphasize the border blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan? Apparently, a step towards "democracy" in the eyes of the Jew filled media is blackmailing your neighbor or, for the sake of "political correctness", setting "preconditions".

Edited May 2, 2005 by TMNT

[Anonymouse]

Judy Woodruff deserves a for attempting to cover the Genocide but not from me. Maybe Wolf Blitzer can aid her in that.

 

 

Edit, some clean up done

Edited May 3, 2005 by Edward

[phantom22]

Israel is now showing its hand. Even if the Turks begin a Genocide of Jews in Turkey (Mein Kampf is a best seller there), Israel will never waiver from its support of the Turkish state. Israel and Turkey are ONE and the same. There are righteous Turks and righteous Jews, but both governments have few redeeming attributes.

 

Here is what Pinhas stated:

 

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=9322

[Sip]

Maybe instead of the Genocide and Turkish Armenian relations, we should focus on getting the world to acknowledge how the Jews suck.

[Dave]

to acknowledge how the Jews suck.

 

The Israeli government and Jewish leadership, you mean? It's not like all Jews unanimously deny the Genocide...

[vava]

he was being sarcastic Dave....

[phantom22]

Give up on the Jewish State. Cultivate our friends in Europe, even if their motives are do not coincide with ours. Hold Turkey's feet to the fire. Honor the righteous Jews and Turks in Yerevan. Get these honorariums into the world media. The Jewish state will kiss up to Turkey no matter what happens.

[skhara]

The Israeli government and Jewish leadership, you mean? It's not like all Jews unanimously deny the Genocide...

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

No especially not a private level, only on a public one.

[skhara]

Give up on the Jewish State. Cultivate our friends in Europe, even if their motives are do not coincide with ours. Hold Turkey's feet to the fire. Honor the righteous Jews and Turks in Yerevan. Get these honorariums into the world media. The Jewish state will kiss up to Turkey no matter what happens.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

 

Neither the Jewish State nor the Turkish state will survive once their support structure crumbles beneath them -- The American tax payer. Supporting efforts to remove Jews from positions of power is a worthwhile cause.

[TMNT]

http://isfsp.org/nov.html

 

Check out this site, to be more specific, check out what happend on the 11th of November and what they recorded in the month of April.

[Verginne]

The Israeli government and Jewish leadership, you mean? It's not like all Jews unanimously deny the Genocide...

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

No, just the VAST MAJORITY...most all jewish lobbies are working very hard for turkish interests. Most jews support these lobbies in some form or other. Since they don't stop these lobbies and shut them up, they bear responsibility for what their lobbies are doing in their name. I'm not into accepting bones thrown that are meaningless, impotent and inconsequential, so I don't want to hear about jews that do support Armeniansl..too little, too late and definitely not enough. Also, they support israel and heaven forbid they get their stinking rathole country to do anything that might just lead to showing the jewish involvement in the Armenian Genocide as instigators as well as participants

 

The ONLY way Armenians are ever going to get the jews to stop is NOT by making nice and trying to be friends, but by fighting fire with fire and exposing their criminal role.

 

So this report.......what else would you expect from a jew and the jew media????

 

In these denials, it is NOT mere DENIAL...it is the active mass production of turkish lies by jews, active assistance and COMPLICITY. I hate when people say, "jews aren't the only ones who deny or fail to recognize the AG."

Edited May 3, 2005 by Verginne

[Nakharar]

Why do we even care what others think? The less we talk about them the better.

[Verginne]

Why do we even care what others think? The less we talk about them the better.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Well, if you're perfectly content with the status quo, then you personally don't have to care what others think.

[Dave]

There are actually protests by Israeli Jews against Israel, do you count them in the majority too?

 

I know that it is unacceptable that Jews, who had a genocide of their own, deny the Armenian Genocide. But how can an average Jew who accepts the Armenian Genocide shut the Jewish lobbies up?

[skhara]

There are actually protests by Israeli Jews against Israel, do you count them in the majority too?

 

I know that it is unacceptable that Jews, who had a genocide of their own, deny the Armenian Genocide. But how can an average Jew who accepts the Armenian Genocide shut the Jewish lobbies up?

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Dave, you are missing the point. Most Jews accept it on a personal level, but as Verginne very well put it:

 

Most jews support these lobbies in some form or other. Since they don't stop these lobbies and shut them up, they bear responsibility for what their lobbies are doing in their name. I'm not into accepting bones thrown that are meaningless, impotent and inconsequential, so I don't want to hear about jews that do support Armenians

 

What kind of Jew is an average Jew by the way?

[gamavor]

There are actually protests by Israeli Jews against Israel, do you count them in the majority too?

 

I know that it is unacceptable that Jews, who had a genocide of their own, deny the Armenian Genocide. But how can an average Jew who accepts the Armenian Genocide shut the Jewish lobbies up?

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

 

Sorry, but this is mildly speaking B/S!

 

If people are not satisfied by the government, they simply change it. Simple as that. There is plenty of expirience accumulated in the recent 15 years how to do it with different colors - rose, velvet, etc..

 

If Americans, Jews or North-Western Barbarians (a.k.a Brits) like their governments, they should share the responsibility of their actions.

 

The people that you are talking about are dissidents.

[vava]

Give me a friggin break. I'm tired of this already. Is that ALL you guys can talk about?? Every thread lately has been jew-this, jew-that. Who cares? Are you all so moronic and one-track-minded that you MUST FIND the jewish scapegoat? Is this some sort of holy grail for you people? You SIMPLY CANNOT categorize so blatantly - ie. "All jews supprt the jewish lobby and their interests, therefor they are responsible for the genocide/genocide denial." Anti-jew rhetoric, and scapegoatism is no way for Armenia and Armenians to attain genocide recognition, nor prominence politically.

 

You speak of 'fighting fire with fire' - I'm all for that. But all we got now is a few matches. Fighting fire with fire, would mean bringing Armenian issues to the forefront in global politics, making it matter economically, and best yet, garnering public support. Your certainly not going to accomplish ANY of those goals with 'jew-this, jew-that'.

 

Where are YOUR lobbyists, politicians, academics, economists? They are all probably working real hard, and getting upset that they're not getting anywhere as a result of a few on-line idiots that are giving the general public the image that ARMENIANS ARE RACISTS!!

 

LOBBY YOURSELVES dammit, instead of sitting there complaining like victims and blaming " the jews" for everything wrong in your sorry, bitter lives.

 

I'm through with this thread.

Edited May 3, 2005 by vava

[vava]

You speak of 'fighting fire with fire' - I'm all for that. But all we got now is a few matches.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Disclaimer - I am in no way dismissing the efforts by the Armenian communities, associations and leadership in striving for Gencide recognition throughout the world. In fact, the collective efforts of Armenians are impressive. Best yet, our achievements have nothing to do with blaming 'the jews'.

 

May we continue to build on our successes, advance Armenian issues, and develop Armenia as a prosporous state with a thriving economy. And this without resorting to conspiracy theory, and/or racially disparaging policies...

Edited May 3, 2005 by vava

[skhara]

Yes I agree vava, image is important. I am not sure, maybe it is preferable to stay kosher, but it is also good to know to whom ones back should never be turned.

[gamavor]

Give up on the Jewish State. Cultivate our friends in Europe, even if their motives are do not coincide with ours. Hold Turkey's feet to the fire. Honor the righteous Jews and Turks in Yerevan. Get these honorariums into the world media. The Jewish state will kiss up to Turkey no matter what happens.

style_images/master/snapback.png

 

Americansky I'm pleasantly surprised! So, you saw the light!