Expressing alarm over Russia’s troop buildup on the Syrian border, 61-year-old Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan telegraphed his concerns to NATO, hoping for backing from the beleaguered Western alliance. Shooting down a Russian fighter jet Nov. 24, 2015 for “straying” briefly into Turkish air space, Erdogan showed he’s not worthy of NATO membership, acting recklessly, expecting the Western alliance to bail him out. Erdogan and his Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu offered no apologies, only more excuses why Ankara was within its rights to shoot down a Russian fighter jet. “We have said this from the beginning : We won’t tolerate such formations on [in northern Syria] along the area stretching from the Iraqi border up to the Mediterranean,” Erdogan told the press after Friday prayers in Istanbul. Erdogan’s veiled threat won’t go over well with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When the shoot down happened Nov. 24, 2015 Erdogan got mixed messages from NATO allies. Saying Turkey was within its rights to defend its air space, NATO expressed regrets over the incident, pointing out that frequent violations of territory and air space happen in war zones without incident. Erdogan finds himself to big for his britches, dangerously provoking Russian, expecting NATO’s defense. Russia’s presence on the Turkish border has more to do with Russian air strikes on Turkish oil tankers heading from Iraq and disappearing into Turkey. Putin accused Erdogan of personally profiting from buying cheap oil from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS] and reselling it on the global market. Erdogan rejected Putin’s charges, calling for proof of illegal activity. Putin put Russia’s credibility on the line accusing Erdogan’s family of profiting from illicit ISIS oil.
Erdogan’s Salafist regime finds itself allied with his Wahhabi brothers in Saudi Arabia. While the U.S. and other Western powers battle ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Turkey’s more focused on attacking its old Kurdish enemy the PKK, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and other Kurdish group battling ISIS. Partnering with YPG, Kurdish Protection Groups, the U.S. finds itself at odds with Ankara, more concerned about battling its old enemy than ISIS. Any hint that Erdogan profits from ISIS or plays Russia against the Western alliance, NATO won’t be inclined to defends Ankara if it makes another reckless move. “We maintain our sensitivities on the issue,” said Erdogan, referring to the Russian buildup on the Turkey-Syrian border. Erdogan, a strong ally of Saudi Arabia, knows that Russia and Iran back the Shiite regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, opposing the Saudi proxy war in Syria.
Digging trenches near the border with Syria, won’t stop a Russian advance if Erdogan acts aggressively again. One more reckless act toward Russia and Erodgan will face the full force of Putin’s air force and land army. NATO’s Secretary-Gen., Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, won’t commit NATO troops against Moscow for another provocative act by Erdogan. “I can say that Turkey is closely watching every military movement on its border and especially the border with Syria,” a Turkish government source told the French AFP news agency. Turkey’s alliance with Saudi’s proxy war against al-Assad isn’t reason enough for NATO to defend Ankara. Saber-rattling won’t solve the border dispute with Russia, only provoke Putin into putting Erdogan in his place. After downing the Russian fighter jet Nov. 24, 2015, Putin’s ready for any provocation.
Accusing Russia of arming the Kurdish Democratic Union Party [YPD], Turkey’s Education Minister told parliament about Russian sabotage. Battling ISIS in Iraq and Syria, there’s no more reliable fighting force than the Kurds. Turkey’s continuing war with Kurds proves it’s more concerned about settling old scores than battling ISIS. If you believe Putin, Erdogan protects his economic interests with ISIS over his commitment to NATO. Almost coming to blows with Russia Nov. 24, 2015, Erdogtan exposes deep divisions in NATO. No current NATO country wants to confront Russia, let alone commit troops to conflicts in the region. Working feverishly against the Kurds, Erdogan exposes his backing of Saudi’s Syrian proxy war. “For us, there is no difference between PYD, YPG, PKK or Daesh [ISIS], said Erdogan, exposing his open conflict with NATO and the West.
NATO must put Erdogan on notice than any provocation toward Russia won’t be backed by the Western alliance. Lumping the Kurds with ISIS reveals Erdogan’s undisclosed motives in the region. Battling the Kurds works exactly at cross-purposes with U.S. and European Union policy against ISIS. Turkey’s tone deafness to geopolitical realities, like the battle against ISIS, masks their self-interest, running counter to the U.S., EU and NATO. Arming and planning for a monumental battle against ISIS in Mosul, the Iraqis and Kurds face untold losses driving ISIS from Mosul. Turkey’s public and private policy reveals personal ambitions and national interests that don’t match the U.S., EU and NATO. “We will discuss this with Biden tomorrow . . . I hope that the joint stance will be aimed at preventing this wrong Russian formation in Northern Syria,” said Erdogan, displaying how he’s out for himself.
