Transcript [PDF] - House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats

25
Chairman BERMAN. We will resume the markup. Is the gentleman
from Indiana, Mr. Pence, within hearing range of my voice
Apparently he is. For what purpose does the gentleman from Indiana
seek recognition
Mr. PENCE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
Chairman BERMAN. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. PENCE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today’s markup of H.
Res. 252, a resolution that would affirm the Armenian Genocide in
the United States record, I know is a sincere effort by the leadership
of this committee and many members of this committee to
mark a dark chapter in history.
Let me say without ambiguity and with a heavy heart for the
families that would be looking in and who join us today. I believe
a genocide was committed against the Armenian people in the
early part of the last century and it should never be forgotten.
The Bible tells me as a Christian to mourn with those who
mourn and grieve with those who grieve and so we do today in recognizing
that fact. The families and the loved ones of victims of
those terrible events that began more than 90 years ago have my
heartfelt condolences. I do not minimize or deny the horror of what
took place. Neither do I accept the contention that those who were
lost were collateral damage. The fact that more than 1 million
Christians were killed makes the loss even more personal to me.
In recent times, U.S. Presidents have annually remembered the
Armenian Genocide. President Obama noted last April that it was
‘‘one of the great atrocities of the twentieth century,’’ and I associate
myself with those comments. While we should never forget
this genocide and the lives that were lost and the lives that are
still marred to this day, I sadly cannot support this resolution.
The old book also tells us that there is a time for every purpose
under heaven, and I would submit with great humility that now is
not the time for this committee or the American Congress to take
up the measure that is before us. As you are aware, Mr. Chairman,
more well aware than I am from your experience, as the ranking
member has said, Turkey is a strategic partner in our ongoing efforts
in Iraq and Afghanistan. They share our interest in defeating
international terrorism and seeing secure and free nations emerge
after many years of war.
Currently Turkey has more than 1,700 troops in Afghanistan,
and their efforts certainly have been noticed by al-Qaeda. Last
month Osama bin Laden’s chief lieutenant, Ayman al-Zawahiri,
specifically cited the role of Turkey’s forces operating in Afghanistan
as being a problem for al-Qaeda.
The basing and logistical support that Turkey also provides is
quite simply vital to our efforts in the Middle East. Incirlik air
base, for example, has been a staple of American power projection
for decades. For the continued use of Incirlik base, our lease must
be renewed with the Turkish Parliament on an annual basis for
our continued partnership with Turkey and Afghanistan. Our relationship
must also be renewed and respected. I believe we should
not at a time of war take that relationship in any means for granted.
Mr. Chairman, given the fact that American troops are at this
very hour in harm’s way in Iraq and Afghanistan where they de-
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