Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States plans to maintain security exports to Turkey amid massive unrest.

Officials have acknowledged that the administration of President Barack Obama was approving licenses for security equipment to Turkey.

The U.S. security exports, including tear gas, were being delivered to Turkish police
who have been clashing with protesters on a daily basis.

Amnesty International has urged the Obama administration to halt the
sale of tear gas and armored vehicles to Turkey. But Ms. Psaki, in a
briefing on May 22, dismissed such a prospect.

“Turkey is a NATO ally,” Ms. Psaki said.

“We have approved export licenses to allow the Turkish government to
purchase U.S. products, including tear gas,” State Department spokeswoman
Jan Psaki said. “These products are intended for law enforcement to use to
save lives, maintain order, and protect property, and they’re held to a
certain standard as well.”

The U.S. exports continued amid increasing criticism by Western
countries of the Turkish crackdown on dissent. In May 2014, Germany
announced it was restricting security exports to Turkey.

  Jen Psaki, Recep Erdogan, U.S. continues tear gas shipments to Turkey despite crackdown on dissent