While Pentagon officials yesterday were bragging up their overflights of warplanes over the ISIS city of al-Bab, being attacked by Turkey, as “a show of force” meant to support the Turkish invasion, Turkish officials clearly don’t see it that way, and are even considering expelling the US warplanes from Inciirlik Air Base outright over the lack of actual help.
Defense Minister Fikri Isik warned that there was “serious disappointment” in the US not providing aerial support for the al-Bab offensive, warning it was harming public support and leading to serious questions among Turkish officials over the status of Incirlik.
Pentagon spokesman Col. John Dorrian said a Turkish expulsion of US forces from the base would be “disastrous” for the war, insisting that “the entire world has been made safer” by US warplanes being able to fly out of Incirlik Air Base.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu echeod the concerns, insisting that while the US is “a very important ally,” there is a sense that Turkey should not give them access to the air base if they are not going to support Turkey in fighting against ISIS or the Kurds.
These guys talk an awful lot. Let’s see some action.
“Turkish expulsion of US forces from the base would be “disastrous” for the war”
Yes. That is why they would do it, their real reason. They are making a peace deal. The US is not participating, and is trying to undermine the deal using Kurds against Turkish interests to do so.
Worse, the US had some role in the coup attempt, and the airbase was where they did that.
There is a significant possibility that they will put the US out of there, at least for the duration of this problem.
The real reason for the threat of expulsion is always the same – the Turks want more military aid..
Trump will be a fool if he gives in..
As you are wasting of the space because of your existing,still wasting space of comments in here.
When 80 million Turks ready to die for Turkey and Turks manufacturing their own weapons you should read what’s going on in Turkey ( not American Media CNN and news subsidiaries of Pentagon ) then perhaps you might be eligible for comments.
Why Anericans should allowed to use Turkey bases since they can’t contribute nothing to Turkey?
Turkey is always one step away from economic and social collapse.. if it were not for the USA propping up your political, economic and military systems – your country would collapse !
Erdgodan is pathetic- he is lying about the influence of Gullen so that he can justify his dictatorship.
The problem is that US officials are always intimidated by Turkish threats and inevitably give in.
The US, not Turkey, is the superpower.
Thus, when Turkey threatens, the US can simply threaten back, and the Turks will back off.
But the US won’t do it because it is afraid of Turkish threats and bluffs, and the Turks know this. Our diplomats are a bunch of cowards.
By the way, Incirlik was built by the US.
Erdogan is playing the “maximum leader” role to the hilt following last summer’s failed coup. Insulting Uncle Sam and purging Turkish society of real or imagined opposition are two sides of the same coin.
Here’s hoping Trump gives him a major slap-down after Jan. 20.