The Art of the Convenient Amnesia
Same playbook, different decade: The vanishing act of inconvenient truths, especially regarding historical genocides, is a well-worn path in the diplomatic and political landscape. Vance's recent digital disappearing act isn't an isolated incident; it's a symptom of a larger, more cynical pattern. FIRST INSTANCE: THE DENIAL MACHINE KICKS INTO GEAR (1915) The Armenian Genocide, where an estimated
1.5 million Armenians were systematically exterminated by the Ottoman government, began in 1915. Almost immediately, the perpetrators initiated a campaign of denial. The Turkish Republic, formed later, inherited and perpetuated this denial, framing it as wartime casualties or deportations, not intentional extermination. This foundational denial set the stage for a century of diplomatic pressure
and evasion, prioritizing geopolitical alliances over historical truth. REPETITIONS: THE ART OF THE 'STRATEGIC SILENCE' 1980s: Reagan Administration's Evasions: Despite widespread historical consensus, the U.S. government under President Reagan often avoided using the term 'genocide' in official communications to avoid antagonizing Turkey, a key NATO ally (National Archives, 1980s declassified
memos). Early 2000s: Congressional Resolutions Stalled: For decades, various congressional resolutions attempting to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide were consistently stalled or voted down, often due to intense lobbying efforts by the Turkish government and concerns raised by the Pentagon about U.S. base access and strategic interests in the region (AIPAC, 2007; though AIPAC generally