Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

forest444

(5,902 posts)
Fri Feb 5, 2016, 09:21 PM Feb 2016

Deal With the Devil: Turkey Props Up ISIS by Buying Its Stolen Oil.

Turkey has no real oil resources. Once upon a time they received the lion’s share of their oil from Russia, but that font has totally dried up after tensions between the two countries. Turkey abuts ISIS and the terrorist group has, and needs to unload, oil. ISIS is so desperate to get rid of its oil that it is practically giving it away, selling at 20 percent below market value. Turkey is stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. They desperately need oil. But how can they prop up its unsavory, dangerous, muredous neighbor that is not even a real country?

Yet ISIS has the oil and needs the cash and Turkey has the cash and really needs the oil. The Turks have made their decision; Israel thinks its sometimes ally made the wrong decision. Israel’s outspoken minister of defense, Moshe Yaalon, is calling Turkey to task for supporting ISIS. The critique was made public at a recent press conference after a meeting between Mr. Yaalon and his Greek counterpart.

Russia, as one might expect, has also announced that Turkey has been importing ISIS oil. Russia has even called for the resignation of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey. In response, President Erdogan said he would resign — but only if there was any evidence of these claims and that the claim are false.

Turkey does get oil directly from ISIS; ISIS steals the oil from Iraq and Syria. The oil is paid for in advance and fuel trucks line up and take the oil to the buyers. There are several additional middle men, and the potential for many hazards, along the way. The oil trucks are sometimes hit by Allied air strikes. All of it is tracked on satellite imagery which means that the United States is totally aware of exactly what is happening and where the oil is going. Eventually, the oil crosses the border and is delivered to a Turkish importer and local supplier. So, yes, it is smuggled, an art Turkey honed over centuries.

The official Turkish attitude toward smuggling has been one of benign neglect. Smuggling is the economy in this region. And because of the nature of the smuggling and the middle men and the smugglers and the merchandise, Turkish leaders have traditionally deluded themselves. Today’s leadership continues that tradition with a laissez faire attitude about the trail of the oil. In essence, they are saying “who knows that this particular liter of petrol came from ISIS.”

Of course Turkish authorities know the real truth just as Israel and Russia and the United States know. There is no doubt about that. But this is about pragmatics, not politics or ideology.

At: http://observer.com/2016/02/deal-with-the-devil-turkey-props-up-isis-by-buying-its-stolen-oil/

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Deal With the Devil: Turk...