Obama broke promise on Armenian genocide

Campaign promise No. 511: "As president I will recognize the Armenian genocide."

The ruling

President Barack Obama said during the presidential campaign that he would recognize the Armenian genocide. But on a recent overseas trip, he avoided uttering the word itself.

Between 1915 and 1923, 1.5 million people were killed at the hands of the Ottoman Empire, according to a proposed resolution considered by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007. That resolution failed in the face of Bush administration concerns that it would alienate Turkey, which borders Iraq. The issue has long been controversial in Turkey, where leaders have resisted the label "genocide."

On Monday, a reporter asked Obama about his position on the matter during a joint press conference in Ankara with President Abdullah Gul of Turkey. Obama said his views hadn't changed, but then wouldn't use the word "genocide." He said Turkish and Armenian officials are meeting now to discuss a range of issues.

"I don't want to, as the president of the United States, pre-empt any possible arrangements or announcements that might be made in the near future. …"

Later, in a speech to the Turkish Parliament, Obama brought up the historical events and referred to his position, but again he did not declare the events genocide.

Some might argue that Obama used wise diplomacy here, that as a guest in Turkey he was right not to upset his host. But the argument that it would be undiplomatic to antagonize Turkey is the same one the Bush administration used, which Obama criticized in making his promise.

We think Obama is trying to have it both ways. He said his views haven't changed, but he wouldn't use the term "genocide," which is what his campaign promise was all about.

Obama will have other opportunities to address this issue, if he chooses to do so. April 24, for example, is a day of memorial for the Armenian genocide. But based on what we've seen so far, Obama won't say the word "genocide," even when discussing the events in question. During the campaign, he said he would. We rate that a Promise Broken.

By Angie Drobnic Holan