Genocide: Why Now?

Why is the United States Congress suddenly concerned with alleged genocide that happened almost one hundred years ago?

The government, and citizens, of Turkey are up-in-arms over a House of Representatives resolution that would label the death of 1.5 million Armenians, during World War I, as genocide by the Ottoman Empire (which was centered in modern day Turkey).

One Turkish general says the measure amounts to "shooting [oneself] in the foot," considering that a vast majority of Iraqi logistics and cargo are routed through Turkey. It stands to reason that the Turkish government would become uncooperative with the United States if such a resolution were ratified.

Why is Congress so concerned about this event from the past?

Reason would dictate that such a resolution might be best served in the United Nations, or even leave it to the government of Armenia to determine whether or not genocide occurred in their nation. I have not heard from the Armenians on this issue. They seem more relaxed than the American government. (Maybe we should take a lesson from them.)

Some argue that the resolution comes on the heels of a possible Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq to root out Kurdish rebels. The United States could use its resolution as a bargaining chip to get the Turks to stand down from their military invasion of northern Iraq.

Of course, I believe the two are wholly and systematically unrelated.