The remarkably elastic concept of genocide

George Bush, explaining why the Armenian genocide--the event that actually led to the coining of the term "genocide" by Raphael Lemkin--should not be designated as such by Congress:

On another issue before Congress, I urge members to oppose the Armenian genocide resolution now being considered by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We all deeply regret the tragic suffering of the Armenian people that began in 1915. This resolution is not the right response to these historic mass killings, and its passage would do great harm to our relations with a key ally in NATO and in the global war on terror.

George Bush, explaining why what's happening in Darfur must be termed genocide:

[M]y nation has labeled what's taking place in Darfur as genocide, and when we find genocide it's time to do something about it. ...

7,000 troops is not enough, if you believe what's taking place on the ground is genocide. Maybe some don't think it's genocide, but if you've been raped, you think it's -- your human rights have been violated. If you're mercilessly killed by roaming bands, you know it's genocide.

Bush then added, "Genocide genocide genocide genocide.  Oh, and by the way, genocide."

You know, it'd be more direct if he'd just wear a T-shirt that said "I AM A CYNICAL, POSTURING, HYPOCRITICAL BASTARD."  At least then the press might report on it (or they'd have a hard time cropping it out of their photos, anyway).

The only real question is why the Bush administration has chosen to ramp up the rhetoric on Darfur now, and the only certainty is that it has absolutely nothing to do with "human rights."  There's a likely explanation which I'm sure will leave you reeling with disbelief.

(More on the elastic concept of genocide here, featuring cynical posturing hypocritical bastarditude by Bill Clinton that makes Bush's look like a pale imitation.)

UPDATE: Via Democracy Now!, here's an excerpt of a letter Bush wrote in February of 2000 to the Armenian National Committee:

The Armenians were subjected to a genocidal campaign that defies comprehension and commands all decent people to remember and acknowledge the facts and lessons of an awful crime in a century of bloody crimes against humanity. If elected President, I would ensure that our nation properly recognizes the tragic suffering of the Armenian people.

It's tempting to conclude that he's broken this promise, but give him credit for misleading the ANC with Clintonian deftness: "the tragic suffering of the Armenian people" is exactly the phrase he used yesterday.  If they thought he was going to use the phrase "genocidal campaign" again after he was elected, that's their own misunderstanding.

Comments

[Mark Miller]

Bush's and Ethiopia's recent aggression in Somalia was also about oil. From my blog:

Again, securing oil for U.S. oil companies appears to be behind the attack on Somalia, Bloice reports. "On file are plans - put on hold amid continuing conflicts - for nearly two-thirds of Somalia's oil fields to be allocated to the US oil companies Conoco, Amoco, Chevron and Phillips," Bloice wrote.

"It was recently reported that the US-backed prime minister of Somalia has proposed enactment of a new oil law to encourage the return of foreign oil companies to the country."

http://oddsbodikins.blogspot.com/2007/05/us-attacks-somalia-no-one-reports-it.html