Russian-Turkish Tensions Heating Up: Erdogan Says He'll Resign if Putin Proves Turkey Buys ISIS Oil

PJ Media ^ | 12-01-2015 | Michael van der Galien

[Michael van der Galien]

Tensions between Russia and Turkey continue to rise. Their relationship suffered a deadly blow when Turkey shot down a Russian jet last month. Ever since, Russia's President Putin and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan have gone after each other, both in public and privately.

In the last few days, Putin has accused Turkey of buying ISIS oil. The Russian president is convinced that the terrorist group is shipping massive amounts of oil to the Turkish black market, where it's then sold for a relatively low price.

Putin's accusations are backed up by Mowaffak al Rubaie, a former Iraqi Governing Council member and national security advisor. He says:

"In the last eight months (alone), ISIS (sold) $800 million dollars worth of (stolen) oil on the black market of Turkey." Al Rubaie continues:

"This is Iraqi oil and Syrian oil, carried by trucks from Iraq, from Syria through the borders to Turkey and sold (at) less than 50 percent of the international oil price. “Now this either gets consumed inside, the crude refined on Turkish territory by the Turkish refineries, and sold in the Turkish market or it goes to Jihan and then in the pipelines from Jihan to the Mediterranean and sold to the international market.

“Money and dollars generated by selling Iraqi and Syrian oil on the Turkish black market is like the oxygen supply to ISIS and it’s operation. Once you cut the oxygen then ISIS will suffocate.”

President Erdogan realizes that this is a very serious accusation, especially so since the EU seems willing to fast-track Turkey's membership. If European voters believe Turkey is dealing with ISIS, they'll pressure their governments into opposing this deal. And so Erdogan is passionately defending himself...

[Pearls Before Swine]

“Prove?” Like in a Court of International (cough, cough) Law?

[Diogenesis]

Erdogan’s son is ISIS oil minister.
Is that close enough?

pRes_ _ent Obola the Moslem and Ergodan the Moslem
have worked to create, arm, and protect ISIS.
Obola even released their Generals to them.

[McGruff]

If European voters believe Turkey is dealing with ISIS, they'll pressure their governments into opposing this deal.

What more proof do you need?

[The_Reader_David]

As I have observed on other threads about Erdogan's vow: I suspect he knows his seat is safe because he knows that Turkey is not buying Daesh oil. How does he know this? Simple, his son's shipping company has a monopoly contract to trans-ship Daesh oil through Turkey to non-Turkish buyers from which it profits handsomely.

It is absolutely clear that the Daesh's oil is being shipped through Turkey: it can't be being shipped west through territory controlled by the Syrian government, it can't be shipped east or southeast through Shi'ite or Kurdish controlled lands, leaving only Turkey or Jordan. Jordan is a non-starter (pro-Western, a monarch who has a better claim to be a successor to Mohammed than the upstart Daesh "Caliph", good security services, very little port capacity, and to top that off, the Daesh earned the undying emnity of Jordanians by burning their pilot alive), leaving Turkey. However, Turkey is not buying the Daesh's oil, just serving as a conduit and profiting from the trade.

[pepsionice]

I would agree....it’s nickels and dimes on Turkey’s back...they just take the pay-offs and allow a conduit to exist. But these are all relatives or friends of Erdogan who profit off this.

[mikey_hates_everything]

In their heads, the middleman doesn’t actually “buy” it.

[Sacajaweau]

Erdogan's win was highly unlikely...but...it happened. He's set himself up for assassination.

Don't be surprised if he quits and goes into exile.

[null and void]

Methinks his mouth just wrote a check he can’t honor.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Once oil leaves its production area it becomes fungible, that is, it loses its “origin” compared to other oil. From that point, its origin can only be determined by detailed chemical forensic analysis.

This means Turkey might very well be using ISIS oil, but not directly, but so could Europe, yet it is unlikely that the US gets any, because we get only a small amount from the Middle East, and most of our oil imports from Canada.

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_ep00_im0_mbbl_m.htm

[null and void]

(pro-Western, a monarch who has a better claim to be a successor to Mohammed than the upstart Daesh "Caliph", good security services, very little port capacity, and to top that off, the Daesh earned the undying emnity of Jordanians by burning their pilot alive)

This is Iranian-born Valerie Jarrett the very next day:

[kjam22]

For the little people over there dying as terrorists or the victims of terrorism.... it’s about religion. For the leaders of those countries and the power people... it’s always about “follow the money.”

[Darksheare]

Gee, the convoys of tankers going from ISIS held territory to turk run dropoff isn’t good enough?

[exit82]

Erdrogan is the Alec Baldwin of Turkey.

All talk, no action.

[Tau Food]

Well, they may never prove that "Turkey" (as in Government of) is buying the oil, but ISIS oil is getting out somewhere and there is nearly 100 kilometers (60 miles) of the border between Syria and Turkey that is very weak. And, the problem is not just the transport of oil. It also allows for the travel of ISIS screwballs back and forth between Europe.

There will be an effort to tighten things up, but as our border experience in the US shows, there will continue to be some level of leaks/smuggling that can never be completely eradicated. That is why it will be important also to attack the oil production facilities in ISIS controlled areas until those areas can be retaken.

[Darksheare]

Then there’s the “little” matter of Turkey arming and supporting ISIS.

[Tau Food]

If we want to defeat ISIS (Sunni), we cannot completely trust any of the Sunni countries that surround this area, including Saudi Arablia. None of them want to see a Shiite strip of land between Iran and the Mediterranean controlled by Iran (Shiite). At the bottom of all of this is a war between Shiites and Sunnis that has gone on for more than 1,000 years. I am not sure that the best interests of the US will be served by locking ourselves into a choice between these two groups of nut jobs.

We cannot completely trust Turkey or Saudia Arabia and we cannot completely trust Russia and Iran. Our immediate goal has to be to defeat ISIS and one of the things that will require is that we do what is necessary to both tighten up the borders between Syria/Iraq and Turkey and also destroy the oil production facilities in Syria/Iraq.

Russia is coming around. They are now promising greater cooperation with the West. Hopefully, someday, Iran may also come around, but that will not be soon.

We need to defeat ISIS, but we should not be attempting to turn this large geographical area over to Iran in the process. I recognize that all of this is complicated, but no one should assume that Russia/Iran has the best interests of the US in mind.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Putin should meet with his old KGB Buddies—Maybe a poison cup should be employed—A bit of Polum in the Turkish Presidents Tea might be called for. Maybe an outbreak of Ebola in Turkey (You know those refugees are from Africa?) might take the wind out of their sails? Maybe a few dollars to rebels, and there is always the Kurds who hate Turkey. They could blow up an airliner perhaps? Ot a train could be derailed—or several. Maybe a few “Accidents” on Turkish Pipelines? Maybe contact the Turkish Military and see if they might take over the government? Maybe follow the ISIS fighters if they cross into Turkey??? A Blocade could help—no Turkish oil to leave port? Lots of dirty trick and bloody tricks the Russians could use.