Armenian Bartender Opines
Lost in today's noise of two American proxy wars, one failing - Ukraine, and another just starting, Israel, is the plight of tiny Armenia. Last week, Azerbaijan took military action to secure the disputed Azerbaijani province of Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory sandwiched between tiny Armenia and Azerbaijan, for the last two decades controlled by Armenia. One hundred twenty thousand Armenians lived in the province of Nagorno-Karabakh. Until recently, Armenia's hold over its native population in Nagorno-Karabakh had been guaranteed by the Russians. But, the Russians, distracted by their fight in Ukraine, left open a vacuum in Nagorno-Karabakh for Azerbaijan to fill. Armenia belatedly sought backing from the United States to help maintain the status quo, but, like Russia, the US was distracted by its own priorities in giving support to Ukraine. Azerbaijan has prevailed in its recent offensive foray and a mass exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia has begun - 1917 anyone? In watching the events in the Caucuses play out, I was reminded of a sadly prescient conversation I had with a young bartender at a hotel in Yerevan in June of 2014. Following is an image of the bartender along with my picto diary entry for 22 June 2014.
Above: 23 June 2014. Bar at Tufenkian Hotel, Yerevan, Armenia. Bartender in white shirt.
Bartender Q and A:
The Bishop: Will the border between Turkey and Armenia ever be opened?
BT: (good English, low 30's, married, one child): I don't think so. There is too much bad history. We are Christian and our neighbors on either side of us are Muslim. They want to kill us.
The Bishop: Is there compulsory military service in Armenia?
BT: Yes. Boys must serve three years. Girls can join and do non-combat jobs, but it is not compulsory for them.
We Armenians are always on our guard. We are on edge. Fighting on the border with Azerbaijan could start any time. Regularly there are incidents where they kill our troops.
Bishop: What is Armenia's relationship with Israel, considering Turkey has a strong connection with Israel?
BT: Not good. Israel does not recognize the Armenian genocide. They feel that the Holocaust should be the only genocide that is recognized.
Bishop: How important is the large Armenian diaspora?
BT: The diaspora is very important. Armenians abroad... Charles Aznavour, Kirk Kerkorian and many others contribute to Armenia. We are embarrassed by Kim Kardashian.
The world is full of potential flash points, like the Caucuses, most of which, since the end of World War II, have been kept more or less in check by the use of, or threat of, American power. As the perception of American weakness around the world grows, more of these flash points will erupt in armed conflict. In addition to Ukraine, Israel and Armenia, we now see growing restiveness in North Africa. Conditions seem ripe, considering a troubling display of American weakness, for more international instability. Could China make an attempt to take over Taiwan militarily in this morphing disintegration of Pax Americana? There is a real human side to flash point strife. The Armenian bartender poignantly speaks to his entire country living in constant fear. The videos of Israeli citizens being tortured by Hamas fighters are keenly distressing. It seems the world may be on the point of paying a heavy price for America's leadership vacuum.