This is the 21st century and yet, somehow, we still need to remind ourselves that genocide is wrong, that it is not an acceptable tool to achieve a certain geopolitical end, real or perceived, and that no country or government is entitled to engage in it without consequences and while shielding itself using terms like “domestic affairs” and “national sovereignty.” It’s disgusting that we still need to debate whether intervention meant to prevent or stop genocide is “wise.”
Pointing to the historical nationalist upheavals that the Ottoman Empire witnessed in its last decades does not negate the occurrence of a genocide targeting Armenians.
There will still be crime and criminal activities: some as old as civilization (e.g., prostitution and human trafficking), some new in form if not essence (e.g., cybercrime). There will still natural disasters, social upheaval, family breakups, poverty and assassinations. There will even still be a need for a limited military action in one hapless part of the world or another.
“At this point, the U.S.’s core interests in the region are not oil… Our core interests are that everybody is living in peace . . . that children are not having barrel bombs dropped on them, that massive displacements aren’t taking place.”
The Ammar Abdulhamid Archive 