Obama has uses for Turkey-Russia tensions

Asia Times ^ | November 28, 2015 | By M.K. Bhadrakumar

[Brad from Tennessee]

Turkey may have succeeded in scuttling the idea of an international coalition under the United Nations auspices to fight the Islamic State (IS). The talks in Moscow on Friday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and the visiting French President Francois Hollande leave a gloomy impression.

Of course, Hollande conveyed his condolences over the death of the Russian pilot last Tuesday. It was a significant gesture and contrasted sharply with US President Barack Obama’s studied preference to express solidarity with Turkey. Hollande openly supported Russia’s determination to disrupt the nexus between Turkey and the IS in oil trade. He vowed to do what Russia is doing, namely, bomb relentlessly the IS’ convoys heading for the Turkish border carrying oil.

ain, the talks in Moscow signal that Russia intends to launch a sustained campaign internationally to expose Turkey’s covert links with the Islamic State. Putin disclosed that the region adjacent to the Turkish border in northern Syria (which Ankara profiles as the traditional homelands of Turkmen tribes) is actually a beehive of terrorists who have flocked to Syria from many countries, including Russia, and their Turkish mentors.

Importantly, Putin and Hollande reached an understanding that Russia and France will step up joint efforts on the anti-terrorism track. Specifically, they agreed to improve the exchange of operational information regarding terrorist targets, ‘mil-to-mil’ coordination to avoid overlapping incidents, and, to quote Putin, “avoiding any strikes against territories and armed forces that are themselves fighting terrorists”.

[McGruff]

Obama and ISIS sitting in a tree,...

[Dalberg-Acton]

As I understand it, Turkey has been the country buying ISIS oil. I don’t remember any MSM “news” about that before this.

[Bobalu]

[AndyJackson]

As a matter of speculation, one might ask where is the Turkish military which in the past has stepped in on occasion to save the Turkish political process from itself. The notion that Turks are taking sides in a sectarian war of Arabs and, to some extent, Persians must seem anathema to the Turks who have viewed themselves as above these issues.

And, now that we see that the principal motivation is to enrich Erdogan's family - and it is not a stretch to presume well connected cronies - one has to wonder whether the generals stand four square behind all of this. Putting a couple of squadrons of F16's at risk while backing terrorists that have become a thorn in the side of Russia, France, and the American people, if not our government, cannot appear to be a winning position to the military.

But, they could see it differently, I suppose.

[Bogie]

French have been hitting the oil trucks too.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I hate very much to say this, but Russia would be wise to not trust Obama.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

LOL to post 2. I haven’t heard that in years.

[jwalsh07]

Worrying about Erdogan and Putin feuding is like worrying about Obama and Clinton having a duel. I mean, wgas.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Kay-eye-ess-ess-eye-in-gee

[Stepan12]

I can’t see old KGB hand Putin falling for Obama.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I was referring to post 2.

“Obama and ISIS sitting in a tree.”

It’s that old schoolyard rhyme.

“K-I-S-S-I-N-G”
“First comes love”
“Then comes marriage”
“Then comes Obama pushing a baby carriage.”

Just cracked me up.

[clearcarbon]

“never let a good crisis go to waste”

[pieceofthepuzzle]

I'm so happy how more stable the world is now that we have Obama, and how much better race relations are, and how much cheaper health care has become, and how prosperous the nation is, and how much better the world views us, and how we've achieved peace in our time..

[SaveFerris]

[Obama has uses for Turkey-Russia tensions]

Oh, I think there’s no doubt about that.