The old Cold War web of alliances is badly outdated. Rapidly re-Islamizing Turkey is no friend of the United States. But to admit the patently obvious reality would be “Islamophobic.” Turkey wants to take advantage of the chaos to reestablish its own caliphate, and for that goal the Islamic State may be useful.
“Mideast crisis widens as Turkey bombs Kurdish militants,” by Daren Butler and Humeyra Pamuk, Reuters, October 14, 2014 (thanks to Jerk Chicken):
(Reuters) – War against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq threatened on Tuesday to unravel the delicate peace in neighbouring Turkey after the Turkish air force bombed Kurdish fighters furious over Ankara’s refusal to help protect their kin in Syria.
Turkey’s banned PKK Kurdish militant group accused Ankara of violating a two-year-old cease-fire with the air strikes, on the eve of a deadline set by the group’s jailed leader to salvage a peace process aimed at halting a three-decades-long insurgency.
At least 35 people were killed in riots last week when members of Turkey’s 15-million-strong Kurdish minority rose up in anger at the government for refusing to help defend the Syrian border town of Kobani from an Islamic State assault.
“For the first time in nearly two years, an air operation was carried out against our forces by the occupying Turkish Republic army,” the PKK said. “These attacks against two guerrilla bases at Daglica violated the ceasefire,” the PKK said, referring to an area near the border with Iraq.
The unrest in Turkey raised serious concerns that a peace process between Turkey and its Kurds could be in danger of collapse, a new source of turmoil in a region consumed by Iraqi and Syrian civil wars and an international campaign against Islamic State fighters.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who ordered a bombing campaign against Islamic State fighters that started in August, was to discuss the strategy on Tuesday with military leaders from 20 countries, including Turkey, Arab states and Western allies.
Washington has faced the difficult task of building a coalition to intervene in Syria and Iraq, two countries with complex multi-sided civil wars in which most of the nations of the Middle East have enemies and clients on the ground.
In particular, U.S. officials have expressed frustration at Turkey’s refusal to help them fight against Islamic State. Washington has said Turkey has agreed to let it strike from Turkish air base; Ankara says this is still under discussion.
NATO-member Turkey has refused to join the coalition unless it also confronts Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a demand that Washington, which flies its air missions over Syria without objection from Assad, has so far rejected….
Jay Boo says
Defeat ISIS
bomb Ankara
Bamaguje says
Indeed Turkey is the key to defeating ISIS.
By now it should be pretty obvious that Erdogan’s Turkey is in cahoots with ISIS to destroy any prospect of a Kurdish nation.
That’s why he won’t lift a finger to help Kobane Kurds. Erdogan won’t even allow Kurdish reinforcement or arms into Kobane.
The same ISIS that didn’t hesitate to slaughter and behead religious minorities, American journalists, captured Iraqi and Syrian soldiers – released Turkish hostages unharmed.
There is clearly a pact between ISIS and Erdogan’s Turkey, otherwise ISIS wouldn’t have the guts to brazenly attack Kobane, with Turkish forces (NATO’s second largest military) amassed near by.
ISIS knows Erdogan will not intervene.
TH says
If the Western leaders had a minimum of common sense they would expell Turkey from Nato.
cassandra says
That is the immediate feeling but Turkey sits on such an important geo-political strategic are, there is no way they will. Plus NATO’s new head is Jens Stoltenberg, a supporter of Hamas, like Turkey…
sidney penny says
“The same ISIS that didn’t hesitate to slaughter and behead religious minorities, American journalists, captured Iraqi and Syrian soldiers – released Turkish hostages unharmed.”
add-aid workers
Keith says
What a surprise an Islamic country bombing people who are not considered Muslim by the IS and by Turkey when those people are being attacked by the IS.
Which side do our leaders (Obama/Kerry/Cameron) really think that Turkey would take in the battle against the Kurds?
Nicu says
How true – finally they can fight the hated Kurdish !
Erdogan is the Hitler from Turkey .
Kurdish commit the most crimes here in Germany , so ?
Anonymous says
Why blame Turkey?
Let’s see now…
– Which country supported the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and tried its best to suppress the comparatively less islamic uprising?
– Which country overthrew secular dictators like the Shah of Iran and Saddam Hussein to bring in Islamic regimes (still in progress as far as Iraq is concerned)?
– Which country tried its best (and succeeded) in painting Assad as a vile monster, accused him of using chemical weapons against rebels attempting to overthrow his secular rule?
– Which country tried its best (and is still attempting) to overthrow Assad and hand over the country to islamic rebels?
– Which country has, in the past, supported Pakistan in the past and present with generous aid, supplied it with advanced weaponry and ignored its neighbor, India’s concerns?
– Which country castigated Russia for its actions against the Chechnyan terrorists?
– Which country bombed a WWII ally (Serbia) that was fighting against islamic enemies of its own and split the country handing over large portions to Albanians?
Don McKellar says
Generally speaking, I’m all for moslems slaughtering other moslems over their devotion to the death cult of the moon god — the world just ends up a better place in the long term. However, what kind of evil monsters could sit back with the power to stop what’s happening in that town, literally watching it in your binoculars with the full power to stop it, and do nothing? Who is more evil: the current Turkish government or the Islamic State? It is hard to decide.
Beagle says
Daglica, I checked, is in the far southeastern corner of Turkey. Daglica, actually over northern Iraq, is many miles from Kobani. So while the Turks are duplicitous and would love to see IS destroy the Kurds in Kobani so they don’t have to fight the Kurdish separatists any more, this air strike does not seem connected to the fighting going on in Kobani.
Maybe the Turks had intelligence the guerrilla bases in Daglica were planning something against Turkey itself? It is highly unlikely this will affect the fighting around Kobani. There has been a great deal of Kurdish unrest in Turkey as media record Turkish (originally US, upgraded by Israel) M-60 tanks presiding over, and doing absolutely nothing to prevent, another genocidal satanic blood fest courtesy of IS.
I am not defending Erdogan or the Turks, who I’ve said for a couple months are more likely to side with IS. But this strike was clearly not intended to impact the fighting in Kobani. This is about something else.
Beagle says
Buried in the article (Remember the old “WWWWWH” rule for the opening paragraph in journalism? The good old days.), it says this:
“There was no immediate comment from the military on the report that it bombed Kurdish positions, once a regular occurrence in southeast Turkey but something that had not taken place for two years. The PKK said the strikes took place on Monday, although some Turkish news reports said they happened on Sunday. There was no immediate explanation of the discrepancy.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the Turkish military had retaliated against a PKK attack in the border area. “Yesterday there was very serious harassing fire around the Daglica military outpost. Naturally it is impossible for us to tolerate this. Hence the Turkish armed forces took the necessary measures,” he told a news conference, without referring specifically to air strikes.”
— —
The article still does not explain how far from Kobani this air strike took place. I wonder how many people in the world think the Turks struck Kurds in Kobani today?
If Turkey thinks harassing fire is an issue, this hardly seems like a good way to stop it given the circumstances. The Kurds are watching their friends and family members killed, beheaded, and dismembered. This air strike is far more likely to spark violence than prevent it.
Young Turks, Old Turks, Latest Turks, it never changes. Whether it’s causing genocide, spectating, abetting, or cheering it, Turkey is involved somehow.
ElderlyZionist says
There has been increasing evidence that Erdogan’s Islamized Turkish Republic *is* Daesh. Here is more.
Sam says
Why don’t we send more money from my tax dollars to Turkey as I evidently don’t know how to better spend it myself. Meanwhile Obama why don’t you give a hug to Erdogan from me also.
What is going on in the World, thanks to liberals like OBAMA and his ilk is surreal.
Islamisdeath says
This general says many in the military believe that obama is deliberately losing the battle with IS. http://radio.foxnews.com/2014/10/13/general-mcinerney-there-is-no-question-we-are-deliberately-losing-to-isis/
Aiding his kissy face friend Erdogan?
eib says
History changes, but the Turk remains the Turk. He smells blood and power through violence and must ally himself with ISIS of course.
Truth says
Why does Obama refuse to use the words “Muslim terrorists”?
Edward says
Because of Tribal loyalty! You have to be if your DNA matches.
Champ says
obama is a liar; and his father, the devil, is the master of all lies …
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” — John 8:44
Jerry says
Erdogan is as faithful ally of the USA people
as is the Obamination in the White House.
Impeach, charge, arrest and prosecute the
Obamination.
Edward says
No more buying Ford badged, Transit Connect’s built in Turkey for me!
Why invest in an entity that you can’t trust, especially one that’s always in a self destruct MO! Glenn Beck was right…..”don’t invest capital or be a Muslim nations empire builder for its not worth it; for all your supporting efforts they will always eventually be used against you.” (paraphrased)
They are only loyal to what the Qur’an says……the Qur’an offers more leeway for a world of corruption in many ways. Let them self annihilate themselves for the sake of our world peace!
Edward says
Here’s more of Becks video where he caution’s…..”don’t invest capital or be a Muslim nations empire builder.” (paraphrasing)
http://video.foxnews.com/v/3828935676001/glenn-beck-reflects-on-prediction-about-isis-crisis/?playlist_id=2694949842001#sp=show-clips
gravenimage says
US “ally” Turkey bombs Kurds opposed to the Islamic State
…………………………….
The downward spiral of expectations.
Since the Turks had actually been arming ISIS, I expected their moving against them to me minimal—and that they would probably be doing what the could to undermine the coalition behind the scenes.
But then they actually sat and didn’t even pretend to act as ISIS moved to take Kobani.
And now they are actually bombing the Kurds.
As with Pakistan, why do we even pretend that this Islamic cesspool is an “ally”?
Alarmed Pig Farmer says
There are alliances and defiances. Recep is the latter. Can’t fly through its airspace, can’t transport troops over its sovereign ground, can’t do this, can’t do that, the Turks just can’t be relied upon, as in allied upon.
Then, 45 miles away, Bashir just lost a mountaintop surveillance base that, upon inspection, it turns out several Spetnaz GRU intelligence special ops guys operated the base for Vlad in support of Bashir. They say the data the base got played a big role in the hits against opposition leaders.
Who is our ally over there? Well, there’s one, but it’s held in contempt by Prez Barack, Valerie and John. Hill doesn’t dig the Jews in Israel either, but they are only ones we know can be allied upon.
GP says
The only ones allowed to travel freely in, out, and across Turkey are jihadist terrorist fighters. Perhaps we need to send more “aid” to our trusted NATO ally.
http://www.eucom.mil/Img/22715/HiRes/flag-of-turkey
The present close relationship between the U.S. and Turkey began with the agreement of July 12, 1947, which implemented the Truman Doctrine. As part of the cooperative effort to further Turkish economic and military self-reliance, the United States has loaned and granted Turkey more than $12.5 billion in economic aid and more than $14 billion in military assistance.
epistemology says
I heard it on the radio this morning. It’s outrageous. Instead of bombing ISIS, the Turks bomb their own people who are fighting against ISIS. Turkey wants to be a superpower with Erdogaga as the new sultan, a resurrected Ottoman empire. Never count on the Turks and kick them out of NATO.
salamander says
Friend or foe? I do not have a clue, and neither does O
Kepha says
I’m flattered, but it goes like this:
Who is friend?
Who is foe?
I’ve no clue,
Nor has the O.
Uncle Kepha is nonetheless flattered. 🙂
KenW says
Been commenting for some time now that Turkey is looking to reestablish the Ottoman Empire (caliphate). It hasn’t been 100 years since it was destroyed. Many of these Turks had grandparents who were part of this caliphate. I’m sure they were told stories of how great it was. And just like Putin, who wants to put Russia back into it’s glory days, these Turks want their glorious caliphate returned to it’s supposed grandeur.
dumbledoresarmy says
Of course, one of the main things the Ottoman empire did – besides oppressing and abusing the dhimmi populations, and attacking western Europe, was…make war upon Christian Russia.
Hence the fact that one of America’s very early presidents and great statesmen, John Quincy Adams, in 1829, wrote an essay on “The Russo-Turkish War”.
(And he was firmly on the side of the Russian Christians vis a vis the duplicitous and endlessly-aggressive Turkish Muslims).
Salah says
ISIL recruits come from Turkey. ISIL funds come from Qatar. Both US allies.
They CANNOT do it without a green light from the W.H.
Uncle Vladdi says
Like I always say EVERY time Turkey is mentioned in the enemedia, for whatever reason:
First: Kick Turkey out of NATO. Second, NATO should attack Turkey. The End!
😉
ApolloSpeaks says
DE-NATOIZE TURKEY IF IT DOESN’T DE-ISLAMIZE!
http://www.apollospeaks.com
Judi says
Of course Erogan cannot be trusted. His best friend is Obola. Birds of a feather stick together.
GP says
IS IS the Obama legacy!
GP says
IS IS Obama’s legacy!
Jørgen Moisejeff Berg says
Turkey should be thrown out of Nato. Obama should be removed from office. They are traitors to the civilized world