This article originally appeared at IN4S translated by Stevo Marjanović exclusively for SouthFront
American magazine “Forbes” published article written by Doug Bandow, former special assistant of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, regarding the downing of Russian airplane. As Bandow wrote, Turkey’s decision was rash, and thus, Turkey sided with Islamic state.
Analyzing the whole situation between Turkey and Russia, Bandow concluded that Turkey was never a US ally, and that the best decision for his country would be to drop Turkey as an ally.
“Turkey’s rash decision to shoot down a Russian plane for allegedly violating its airspace isn’t likely to trigger World War III. But Ankara has demonstrated where it stands. With the Islamic State and against the West.” Bandow pointed out adding that the justification for Turkey’s membership in NATO has passed a long time ago. He also pointed out that the recent irresponsible action proves that Turkey is not U.S. ally.
“The Obama administration’s war against the Islamic State is turning into another interminable conflict that serves the interests of other nations far more than America. U.S. policy has been impossibly incoherent, attempting to do everything: oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, shove aside next door Iran, defeat vicious jihadist insurgents, promote ineffectual “moderate” forces, convince the Gulf States to act against the extremists they’ve been supporting, promote diplomacy without participation by Damascus and Tehran, and convince Turkey to serve U.S. rather than Islamic interests.” – Bandow wrote adding that despite the fact that Washington was furious when Russia started it’s campaign against IS, Moscow showed clarity and realism.
As he says, Russia simply sought to bolster Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad against insurgents dominated by radical Islamists.
“Ironically, this approach was far more likely than the administration’s confused policy to advance America’s core interest of defeating ISIL and al-Qaeda affiliates such as al-Nusra. The U.S. had little choice but to accommodate Moscow, despite nutty proposals from some Republican presidential candidates to shoot down Russian planes.” – he added
In his own words, Erdogan made a fool of himself when his military downed a Russian airplane. The two governments started a conflict, but no one believes that Putin had the slightest hostile intent against Ankara.
“Downing the plane was gratuitously provocative and not necessary for Turkey’s defense. The objectives likely were to interfere with Moscow’s operations against Islamic radicals and/or discourage future Russian strikes against Ankara-backed Islamists. The action obviously was contrary to Washington’s interest, which would be caught in any escalation between Russia and Turkey.” . Bandow points out in his analysis adding that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that they “stand in solidarity with Turkey and support the territorial integrity of our NATO ally, Turkey.”
On the other side, Obama insisted to “discourage any escalation”, which is not enough. Washington should learn from the bitter lessons of Turkey’s perfidy and drop the alliance.
In his conclusion he states that Turkey is a growing threat to Western interests and values.
“Ankara never has been a true friend of the West. Turkey was a useful ally during the Cold War, though it always seemed readier to go to war with Greece than the Soviet Union. In those years Turkey was only vaguely democratic.” – said Andrew
In his conclusion he also wrote about Turkey’s president Erdogan. Bandow points out that in the beginning Erdogan played the role of liberator. But after he won his third election, he pushed the military back in its barracks and he dropped the liberal gloss. Erdogan sacrificed most of Turkey’s human rights advances, and thus gained control of the police and judiciary; conducted multiple mass conspiracy trials; and attacked independent journalists, opposition politicians, and business critics.