Special to WorldTribune.com By Norman Bailey The chaotic, not to say anarchic situation in much of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region is often compared in complexity to the game of chess. It is nothing like chess, which has set rules and is governed strictly by rational calculation. No, the situation is much more like […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan surprised Israel on Dec. 14 by saying Ankara has much to gain from “normalization” of relations with Jerusalem. Erdogan has been a harsh critic of Israel and even voiced support for Arab terrorism in the Jewish state. His motive for “normalizing” ties is likely Israel’s vast reserves […]
Special to WorldTribune.com While Russia’s claim that Turkey is obtaining oil from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) may be true, the Assad regime that Russia is backing is buying up far larger amounts of ISIL’s crude, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. “ISIL is selling a great deal of oil to the Assad […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Tensions between Turkey and Russia increased on Dec. 6 when a Turkish TV station broadcast photos of what it said was a Russian soldier holding a rocket launcher on his shoulder as his ship passed through Istanbul. “For a Russian soldier to display a rocket launcher or something similar while passing on […]
Special to WorldTribune.com The United States is involved in a “cover-up” over Turkey’s alleged smuggling of Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) oil, Russia’s defense ministry said on Dec. 5. “When U.S. officials say they don’t see how the terrorists’ oil is smuggled to Turkey… it smells badly of a desire to cover up […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he has warned Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani over accusations that Erdogan and his family are involved in black market oil trading with Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL). In a phone conversation on Dec. 3, Erdogan said he told Rouhani: “You will pay a high […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Baghdad has said Turkish forces are illegally deployed in Iraq and demanded their immediate removal. “We have confirmation that Turkish forces, numbering about one armored regiment with a number of tanks and artillery, entered Iraqi territory… allegedly to train Iraqi groups, without a request or authorization from Iraqi federal authorities,” a Dec. 5 statement from […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Turkey on Dec. 3 offered its “condolences” for the Russian pilot shot down by Turkish F-16s. “We expressed our sadness and expressed our condolences for the Russian pilot who lost his life,” Turkish media quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu as saying after his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Turkey needs to focus its military attacks more on Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) instead of Kurdish opposition forces, U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said. “We need it to do more within its own territory, so it controls its border, which it has not done effectively since ISIL first arose,” […]
Special to WorldTribune.com Russia says it has proof that Turkish President Recep Tayyip and his family “are involved” in the smuggling of oil from Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) territory. The Russian Defense Ministry on Dec. 2 displayed what it said were satellite images showing columns of oil tankers filling up at installations […]