Ankara’s twin crisis: Pentagon request rebuffed, PKK returns to insurgency

TURKEY - In Brief 13 Oct 2014 by Atilla Yesilada

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Painful cluster headaches held me back from contributing to the Weekly Tracker hence I’m issuing this brief note on two recent developments in lieu of an apology. On Tuesday, I'll address a conference call through GlobalSourcePartners to articulate my longer-term views and predictions on how the war against ISIS might affect Turkey’s fragile ethnic truce with Kurds and the risk premium in markets. On Sunday, U. S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice announced “That’s a new commitment and one that we very much welcome,” Susan E. Rice, President Obama’s national security adviser, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “They have said that their facilities inside of Turkey can be used by the coalition forces — American and otherwise — to engage in activities inside of Iraq and Syria.” I didn't watch the interview but according to Turkish press Rice added more phrases suggesting that Incirlik, as well as Malatya and Diyarbakir airbases will be made accessible to Coalition Forces raiding ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria. On Monday night Deputy PM Mr. Bulent Arinc rejected the announcement saying that no decision has been taken regarding the use of airbases. Turkish officials meeting their Pentagon counterparts in Washington DC had tentatively agreed to provide training and facilities for 2K “moderate Syrian fighters” who will afterwards take on Assad forces to liberate Syria, but that’s all. The decision to allow Coalition Forces to use the a.m. three facilities will be a monumental step for Turkey and possibly in the campaign against ISIS. Coalition jets will be able to launch significantly more sorties using less fuel, and more squadrons from smaller members of the alliance can b...