Genocide in the Middle East?

For John, BLUF:  Yes, the questions is, what do we do about it?.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From the magazine First Things we have Professors Cornel West and Robert George (liberal and conservative viewpoints respectively) jointly authored letter calling attention to genocide in Syria.—"Statement on Genocide Against Christians in Iraq and Syria".

In the name of decency, humanity, and truth, we call on President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, and all members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives to recognize and give public expression to the fact that Christians in Iraq and Syria—along with Yazidis, Turkmen, Shabak, and Shi’a Muslims—are victims of a campaign of genocide being waged against them by ISIS.  In pleading that this genocide be recognized and called by its name, we join Pope Francis, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the European Parliament, and many others.  We urge our fellow Americans and all men and women of goodwill everywhere to join us in prayer for those of all faiths who are victims, and in determination to act in the humanitarian and political spheres to aid them and put an end to their victimization.

From Politico and Nahal Toosi we have "House sets vote on ISIL genocide, raising pressure on Obama"

House Republicans will bring to the floor on Monday a resolution that declares that the Islamic State is committing genocide against Christians, Yazidis and other ethnic and religious minorities, congressional aides told POLITICO.

The resolution, which has more than 200 co-sponsors from both parties, is expected to pass.  It will raise the already intense pressure on the Obama administration to make its own declaration that the Islamic State is committing genocide — including against Christians — ahead of a congressionally mandated deadline next Thursday.

Then, from USA Today we have Ms Kirsten Powers asking "How long will President Obama stay silent on genocide?"  The sub-headline is "Administration has failed to call ISIL's systematic elimination of religious minorities by its true name".

Hillary Clinton has said it. Marco Rubio, too. The European Parliament, the U.S. Catholic bishops and Pope Francis have also uttered the important word to describe Islamic State’s systematic elimination of Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East.

It’s called genocide.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the Iraqi and Kurdish governments, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have called what is happening by it’s correct name.

But not so the Obama Administration. The president and his representatives refuse to embrace the word and the attendant responsibilities that come with recognizing the campaign of terror in the Middle East.

It seems pretty straight forward, except for the President's unwillingness to name it.

The thing is, the President seems unwilling to name a number of things, to our detriment.

Regards  —  Cliff