Turkish Coalition of America on Twitter Turkish Coalition of America on Facebook Turkish Coalition of America on YouTube
Turkish Coalition of America
  • Amerika Turk Koalisyonu

When Special Interests Block National Interest

Number 187 | December 20, 2011

Reprint of an article by Fred Hiatt, Washington Post Editorial Page Editor, published in the Washington Post on December 19, 2011.

Barring a last-minute surprise in the U.S. Senate, the well-qualified diplomat President Obama sent to serve as ambassador to Azerbaijan will have to come home in less than a month.

In the great modern novel of Washington dysfunction, this is a small subplot. But the failing nomination of Matthew Bryza, out of public view and without so much as a committee vote, offers a vivid example of how the larger U.S. national interest can fall victim to special-interest jockeying and political accommodation.

This particular story begins not in Azerbaijan, an oil-rich, predominantly Muslim former Soviet republic on the Caspian Sea (population: 8 million), but with its neighbor and bitter rival: oil-poor, predominantly Christian Armenia (population: 3 million). Armenia was expected to be a post-Soviet success story, given its clear national identity, proud culture and committed diaspora in the United States, France and elsewhere. But the past 20 years have brought disappointment: a government that is democratic more in form than substance and a corrupt, underperforming economy. Armenia is the 141st poorest country in the world, with a per capita income of $5,700.

One reason for the sub-par performance has been Armenia’s inability to settle grievances with neighboring Azerbaijan and Turkey. The cold peace has exacerbated the ill effects of being landlocked and left Armenia to the not-so-tender embraces of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

And one reason peacemaking has failed is the dogmatism of some diaspora groups that can enjoy, from afar, the luxury (and fundraising magic) of sustained grievance. A fervent, at times even counterproductively so, diaspora is not unique — ask Cuba, Israel or Latvia — but it has been particularly debilitating for minuscule, resource-poor Armenia.

This is the context for the campaign against Bryza, deemed insufficiently hostile to Armenia’s enemies by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and two Democratic senators with Armenian American constituencies, Barbara Boxer (Calif.) and Robert Menendez (N.J.).

When Obama first nominated Bryza in 2010, Boxer and Menendez put a “hold” on his nomination, preventing a Senate vote. Obama sent Bryza to Baku with a recess appointment and renominated him in January. The two Democrats continued to oppose him — never mind his performance on the job. Consequently, the administration never pushed for him. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, never scheduled a hearing. Meanwhile, the administration pushed hard for ambassadorial appointments with Republican opponents.

Arguments against Bryza have included “his opposition to [U.S.] recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey” (Menendez), his ostensible failure to speak out forcefully against Azerbaijani aggression (Boxer) and supposed conflicts involving his Turkish-born, U.S. citizen wife, also a foreign policy expert (ANCA). Opponents said, though, that their opposition had “absolutely nothing to do with the ethnic origin of his wife,” as Menendez said.

Their doubts about Bryza are not widely shared. On the contrary, 36 foreign policy luminaries, including former undersecretaries of state Thomas Pickering and Nicholas Burns, released a letter last week calling Bryza an “exemplary” ambassador who has served “with distinction.”
“He has the right combination of everything — contacts, trust, strategic vision, operational ability, leadership — everything,” they wrote.

If Bryza had been soft on the human-rights-abusing Azerbaijani regime, as alleged, you would not expect to find among his supporters the heads of the National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute — America’s premier democracy-promoting organizations. But all four signed the letter.

Nor does it make sense to blame a foreign service officer for Obama’s policy on genocide terminology, as Menendez did. “That is an argument to be hashed out with the U.S. Administration on the merits,” the letter points out. “But holding up a qualified career nominee who is already serving in a key position will not change U.S. policy, and does a disservice to U.S. interests in a critical region.”

Bryza has been promoting dialogue between the Azerbaijani regime and civil society; that will be set back. He’s been promoting reconciliation with Armenia, too. If Azerbaijan sees that the Armenia lobby, and two out of 100 senators, have veto power, the regime is unlikely to trust in the neutrality of the next envoy.

The biggest losers in all this won’t be Americans or Azerbaijanis (who, by the way, enjoy about twice the per capita income of Armenians), but Armenians — poor, isolated and once again victims of a power play that has nothing to do with their well-being.

  • When Special Interests Block National Interest
  • Post this article to Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Print this page

TCA Issue Papers

  • Twilight of the KurdsTwilight of the Kurds...read more
  • TCA Statement on the PKK-YPG ConnectionTCA Statement on the PKK-YPG Connection...read more
  • 30,000 Migrants Face Abysmal Conditions in Greece30,000 Migrants Face Abysmal Conditions in Greeceread more
  • Thousands back to school in Syria’s Aleppo as Turkey rebuilds over 400 war-torn schoolsThousands back to school in Syria’s Aleppo as Turkey rebuilds over 400 war-tread more
  • Iran's Warming Relations with the PKK Could Destabilize the KRGIran's Warming Relations with the PKK Could Destabilize the KRGread more
  • French Constitutional Council Reaffirms that Crimes Against Humanity or Genocide must be Established by Competent Courts not LegislatureFrench Constitutional Council Reaffirms that Crimes Against Humanity or Genociread more
  • Turkey won’t allow attack to derail efforts for peace and stabilityTurkey won’t allow attack to derail efforts for peace and stabilityread more
  • TCA Thanks Ed WhitfieldTCA Thanks Ed WhitfieldThe Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) e...read more
  • Turkey and Russia work together to fight ISIS after Istanbul airport terror attackTurkey and Russia work together to fight ISIS after Istanbul airport terror atread more
  • Turkey most generous country in the world for humanitarian aidTurkey most generous country in the world for humanitarian aidread more
  • UN honors Turkey's efforts against ozone layer depletionUN honors Turkey's efforts against ozone layer depletionread more
  • Turkish rockets, U.S.-led coalition hit Islamic State in SyriaTurkish rockets, U.S.-led coalition hit Islamic State in Syriaread more
  • Turkey, US-led coalition pound Islamic State militants in SyriaTurkey, US-led coalition pound Islamic State militants in Syriaread more
  • Ethnic identity in the U.S. and EU reflects the founding principles of the Ottoman EmpireEthnic identity in the U.S. and EU reflects the founding principles of the Ottread more
  • EU Council President says Turkey best example of how to treat refugeesEU Council President says Turkey best example of how to treat refugeesread more
  • Helping PYD/YPG against ISIS not effective strategy says prominent U.S. SenatorHelping PYD/YPG against ISIS not effective strategy says prominent U.S. Senatoread more
  • U.S. Diplomat calls for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azerbaijani territoriesU.S. Diplomat calls for the withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azerbaread more
  • Interactive Chart Maps Kurdish GroupsInteractive Chart Maps Kurdish Groups...read more
  • NATO Allies See Wisdom in Turkey's Recommendations on SyriaNATO Allies See Wisdom in Turkey's Recommendations on Syriaread more
  • The Russia-Armenia alliance is threatening Turkey, a critical U.S. allyThe Russia-Armenia alliance is threatening Turkey, a critical U.S. allyread more
  • TCA Celebrates 91st Anniversary of the Republic of TurkeyTCA Celebrates 91st Anniversary of the Republic of Turkeyread more
  • TCA Leads Business Roundtable for Speaker Boehner in IstanbulTCA Leads Business Roundtable for Speaker Boehner in Istanbulread more
  • TCA Commemorates 22nd Anniversary of the Khojaly MassacreTCA Commemorates 22nd Anniversary of the Khojaly Massacreread more
  • Turkey Hosts Afghan and Pakistani Leaders During 8th Trilateral SummitTurkey Hosts Afghan and Pakistani Leaders During 8th Trilateral Summitread more
  • New York Times Praises Turkey for Syrian Refugee CampsNew York Times Praises Turkey for Syrian Refugee Campsread more
  • Turkish Airlines Receives CAPA ‘Airline of the Year’ AwardTurkish Airlines Receives CAPA ‘Airline of the Year’ Awardread more
  • Orientalism: 'Terrible Turk' becomes a 'genocidal Turk'Orientalism: 'Terrible Turk' becomes a 'genocidal Turk'read more
  • Major International Court Finds the Ottoman Armenian Controversy Not Settled History and Not Like the HolocaustMajor International Court Finds the Ottoman Armenian Controversy Not Settled Hread more
  • Turkey and Mexico to Establish Strategic TiesTurkey and Mexico to Establish Strategic Tiesread more
  • Remembering Music Pioneer Ahmet ErtegunRemembering Music Pioneer Ahmet ErtegunBy Peter Brown Published in the Daily B...read more
  • TIKA gives grant to American IndiansTIKA gives grant to American IndiansAmerican-Indians living in Warm Springs ...read more
  • TCA Commemorates the Lasting Legacy of Mustafa Kemal AtaturkTCA Commemorates the Lasting Legacy of Mustafa Kemal Ataturkread more
  • Remembering the Turkish brothers who helped change race relations in AmericaRemembering the Turkish brothers who helped change race relations in Americaread more
  • Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Turkish RepublicCommemorating the 90th Anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republicread more
  • 2013 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to OPWC Headed by Turkish Diplomat2013 Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to OPWC Headed by Turkish Diplomatread more
  • National American Indian Housing Council Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Turkish Republic DayNational American Indian Housing Council Commemorates 90th Anniversary of Turkread more
  • First World Humanitarian Summit to be Held in IstanbulFirst World Humanitarian Summit to be Held in Istanbulread more
  • U.S. and Turkey Announce Plan to Create Fund to Stem ExtremismU.S. and Turkey Announce Plan to Create Fund to Stem Extremismread more
  • Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) Awards $150,000 Grant To Help Alleviate Rural Poverty In Latin AmericaTurkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) Awards $150,00read more
  • Turkey’s Prime Minister Reacted Angrily to Times of London Over Critical LetterTurkey’s Prime Minister Reacted Angrily to Times of London Over Critical Letread more
  • Turkish Airlines Adds Direct Flights From Boston LoganTurkish Airlines Adds Direct Flights From Boston Loganread more
  • Now Is the Time for a U.S.-Turkey Free Trade AgreementNow Is the Time for a U.S.-Turkey Free Trade Agreementread more
  • TCA Celebrates the 90th Anniversary of the Treaty of LausanneTCA Celebrates the 90th Anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanneread more
  • Turkish Cypriots Celebrate Anniversary of Cyprus Peace OperationTurkish Cypriots Celebrate Anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operationread more
  • Turkey Fourth Largest Donor of Humanitarian AssistanceTurkey Fourth Largest Donor of Humanitarian Assistanceread more
  • Armenian Media Recognizes the Success of TCA EffortsArmenian Media Recognizes the Success of TCA Effortsread more
  • Remembering the Circassian Deportations and MassacresRemembering the Circassian Deportations and Massacresread more
  • Commemorating Ataturk: The Beginning of the Turkish War of National LiberationCommemorating Ataturk: The Beginning of the Turkish War of National Liberationread more
  • Secretary of State Condemns Terror Attacks in TurkeySecretary of State Condemns Terror Attacks in Turkeyread more
  • Armenian Opposition Leader: Armenia Left out of Regional DevelopmentArmenian Opposition Leader: Armenia Left out of Regional Developmentread more
  • Remembering GallipoliRemembering GallipoliEvery year on April 25, Turks, Australia...read more
  • TCA Responds to President Obama’s Armenian Remembrance Day StatementTCA Responds to President Obama’s Armenian Remembrance Day Statementread more
  • April 23 Celebrated by Turkish Americans Across the USApril 23 Celebrated by Turkish Americans Across the USread more
  • Israeli Prime Minister Apologizes to Turkey Over Deadly Flotilla RaidIsraeli Prime Minister Apologizes to Turkey Over Deadly Flotilla Raidread more
  • 16th TCA Congressional Delegation Trip Concludes16th TCA Congressional Delegation Trip Concludesread more
  • TCA Commemorates 21st Anniversary of the Khojaly MassacreTCA Commemorates 21st Anniversary of the Khojaly Massacreread more
  • TCA Grant Helps Iraqi Christians in TurkeyTCA Grant Helps Iraqi Christians in TurkeyIn an effort to alleviate the suffering ...read more
  • Remembering the Victims of Armenian TerrorismRemembering the Victims of Armenian Terrorismread more
  • Greek Ultra-Nationalists Target Turkish DiplomatGreek Ultra-Nationalists Target Turkish Diplomatread more
  • In Memory Of Dave BrubeckIn Memory Of Dave BrubeckTCA would like to pay tribute to Dave Br...read more
  • Transparency International Reveals Greece as “Most Corrupt” EU CountryTransparency International Reveals Greece as “Most Corrupt” EU Countryread more
  • NATO Approves Deployment of Patriot Missiles in TurkeyNATO Approves Deployment of Patriot Missiles in Turkeyread more
  • Moscow on the MedMoscow on the MedTiny Cyprus, like many countries in Sout...read more
  • US should Strengthen Partnership with TurkeyUS should Strengthen Partnership with Turkeyread more
  • TCA Congratulates President ObamaTCA Congratulates President ObamaThe below letter was sent to President B...read more
  • The US Can Help End Extremism in GreeceThe US Can Help End Extremism in Greece“In recent months, Greece’s ...read more
  • TCA Commends National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Resolution Supporting Trade with TurkeyTCA Commends National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Resolution Supportinread more
  • TCA Celebrates the 89th Anniversary of the Turkish RepublicTCA Celebrates the 89th Anniversary of the Turkish Republicread more
  • 1912-1913 Balkan Wars: Death and Forced Exile of Ottoman Muslims An Annotated Map1912-1913 Balkan Wars: Death and Forced Exile of Ottoman Muslims An Annotated read more
  • TCA Commemorates the 59th Anniversary of the Korean War ArmisticeTCA Commemorates the 59th Anniversary of the Korean War Armisticeread more
  • TCA Celebrates the 89th Anniversary of the Treaty of LausanneTCA Celebrates the 89th Anniversary of the Treaty of Lausanneread more
  • Turkish Cypriots Celebrate Anniversary of Cyprus Peace OperationTurkish Cypriots Celebrate Anniversary of Cyprus Peace Operationread more
  • Turkey Provides Safe Haven to Syrian RefugeesTurkey Provides Safe Haven to Syrian Refugeesread more
  • Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Calls for Mending Ties with TurkeyIsraeli Deputy Prime Minister Calls for Mending Ties with Turkeyread more
  • President Obama and Turkish PM Erdogan at G-20 SummitPresident Obama and Turkish PM Erdogan at G-20 Summitread more
  • Israeli Watchdog Harshly Criticizes Netanyahu over Gaza Flotilla RaidIsraeli Watchdog Harshly Criticizes Netanyahu over Gaza Flotilla Raidread more
  • Spanish Senate Committee Rejects Labeling Ottoman-Armenian Tragedy as GenocideSpanish Senate Committee Rejects Labeling Ottoman-Armenian Tragedy as Genocideread more
  • Remembering the Circassian Deportations and MassacresRemembering the Circassian Deportations and Massacresread more
  • 68th Anniversary of Sürgün, the Mass Deportation of the Crimean Tatars68th Anniversary of Sürgün, the Mass Deportation of the Crimean Tatarsread more
  • Commemorating the Centenary of 1915: Learning from GallipoliCommemorating the Centenary of 1915: Learning from Gallipoliread more
  • Greek Supreme Court Denies “Turkish” IdentityGreek Supreme Court Denies “Turkish” Identityread more
  • Russian Expat Invasion of Cyprus Has Sinister OvertonesRussian Expat Invasion of Cyprus Has Sinister Overtonesread more
  • Gloomy Greeks Forget Woes with Turkish TVGloomy Greeks Forget Woes with Turkish TVIt all began when crisis-stricken Greek ...read more
  • Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen Meets Turkish Relatives in IstanbulChairwoman Ros-Lehtinen Meets Turkish Relatives in Istanbulread more
  • Turkey Renovates Armenian ChurchTurkey Renovates Armenian ChurchAn opening ceremony was held on December...read more
  • When Special Interests Block National InterestWhen Special Interests Block National Interestread more
  • TCA Denounces Passage of H.Res.306TCA Denounces Passage of H.Res.306The Turkish Coalition of America strongl...read more
  • Turkey’s Growth Ranks Second WorldwideTurkey’s Growth Ranks Second WorldwideThe Turkish economy expanded 8.2% in the...read more
  • Squinting at Religious DiscriminationSquinting at Religious DiscriminationIs the United States Commission on Inter...read more
  • Turkish-Native American Investment Bill Passes House CommitteeTurkish-Native American Investment Bill Passes House Committeeread more
  • Istanbul Conference on Afghanistan CommencesIstanbul Conference on Afghanistan Commencesread more
  • TCA Congratulates U.S. Ambassador to TurkeyTCA Congratulates U.S. Ambassador to Turkeyread more
  • Senate Committee Supports U.S. Ambassador to TurkeySenate Committee Supports U.S. Ambassador to Turkeyread more
  • The Real Billy Hayes Regrets Midnight Express, Apologizes to TurksThe Real Billy Hayes Regrets Midnight Express, Apologizes to Turksread more
  • Turkey Spearheads Major Regional Energy and Transportation Projects Turkey Spearheads Major Regional Energy and Transportation Projects read more
  • Not only a Bridge between East and West - But the Birthplace of Western CivilizationNot only a Bridge between East and West - But the Birthplace of Western Civiliread more
  • Home
  • About US
  • Support TCA
  • Contact
  • Internships
    • TCA Washington Summer Internship Program
    • Previous Programs
  • Youth Congress
    • 2019 Youth Congress Application
    • 2018 Youth Congress
    • 2017 Youth Congress
    • 2016 Youth Congress
    • 2015 Youth Congress
    • 2014 Youth Congress
    • Turkish-Canadian Youth Congress
  • Turkish American Women’s Leadership Initiative
  • Grants
    • Turkey Study Tour Grants
    • Academic Grants
    • Public Awareness / Grassroots Grants
    • Heritage Grants
    • Humanitarian Grants
  • Issues & Information
    • U.S.-Turkey Relations
    • PKK Terrorism
    • Turkey and Europe
    • Armenian Issue
    • Cyprus Issue
    • Turkish History
    • Turkish Minorities Abroad
    • TCA Issue Papers
    • Reading Lists and General Resources on Turkey
  • Turkish American Community
    • Turkish American Appointed Officials
    • Turkish Americans Elected to Political Office
    • Elected Officials with Turkish Heritage
    • Turkish American Organizations
    • Turkish American Publications and Broadcasts
    • Turkish American Online Services
    • Prominent Turkish Americans
    • Turk Evleri
  • U.S. Congress
  • The Turkey Caucus
  • Outreach to Heritage Communities
    • African American Outreach
    • Native American Outreach
    • Hispanic American Outreach
  • Scholarships
    • Study Abroad Scholarships for American Students of Minority and Heritage Communities
    • Scholarships by Other Organizations
    • Previous TCA Programs
  • News & Events
    • News and Events
    • TCA Issue Papers
    • TCA Newsletters
  • Media
    • TCA in the News
    • Posters and Advertisements
    • Submit a Media Request
  • TAKE ACTION
  • LEGAL RIGHTS
  • CULTURE
Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Donate
  • Support the Turkish Coalition of America by Shopping at AmazonSmile
  • Turkish Coalition of America on YouTube
Turkish Coalition of America
Amerika Turk Koalisyonu
  • Boston
    P.O. Box 611
    Bedford, MA 01730
    Phone: 978.318.0047
    Fax: 978.318.0037
  •  
     
     
  •  
     
     
  • Copyright © 2023 Turkish Coalition of America. All rights reserved.
    Site Map