Turkish soldiers training Iraqi troops near Mosul: sources

[Jefferson23]

9. Harry Sterling: Turkey’s Erdogan accused of aiding ISIS

snip* Interestingly, when U.S. officials were asked to comment on the veracity of the claim, an American military officer reportedly admitted such massive shipments were known to be taking place.

When asked why the U.S. had not done something about the illegal shipments, the officer said the U.S. had to find a way to adequately warn the truck drivers involved in the shipments — who might be unaware of the shipment’s illegality — that they would be attacked by military aircraft if shipments proceeded.

Many in Canada might understandably find it difficult to believe that Turkey, a NATO ally, might be involved in assisting ISIS, which badly needs the huge revenues from the oilfields it still controls. But those familiar with President Erdogan won’t be completely surprised by his purported involvement in helping ISIS obtain oil revenue to support its control in the region.

In recent times, Erdogan and members of his ruling party, along some family members including Bilal, were accused of involvement in receiving large-scale illegal payments in Turkey from various sources.

Erdogan, then the prime minister, used his office to have almost every important official investigating the corruption scandal either transferred or dismissed, despite seemingly credible evidence of his own involvement in the payoffs.

Many Turks, long accustomed to Erdogan’s determination to use any means to advance his political and other objectives, believe he provoked a crisis with Kurdish guerrilla fighters in order to rally the Turkish population around his ruling party in recent elections.

- See more at: http://www.timescolonist.com/opinion/columnists/harry-sterling-turkey-s-erdogan-accused-of-aiding-isis-1.2126760#sthash.KKncJl4h.dpuf