ISIS are Welcme in Istanbul

Freeyad Ibrahim
2014 / 10 / 2

Turkey Backs ISIS

By Freeyad Ibrahim
In theory, multilateralism is wise because it bestows international legitimacy upon any action takes. In reality, it can backfire. American diplomats are earnest-;- too often, they take allies and adversaries alike at their word. As I had argued after Obama s speech, Turkey will be the Achilles heel to any coalition.
When it comes to the Islamic State, Turkey has long played a double game. Most of the foreign fighters who traveled into Syria transited Turkey with the full knowledge of Turkish authorities. Those who were wounded could receive treatment in Turkish hospitals. Now, it might be humanitarian to treat all wounded regardless of their side. That s not the issue, however: Wounded terrorists might be treated, but they should also be arrested. Arresting terrorists also requires recognizing groups as terrorists, something Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refuses to do in the case of the Islamic State.
It s not simply that Turkey doesn t label ISIS as a terrorist group-;- rather, it continues to encourage the group. ISIS now treats Istanbul as a rest and relaxation post.
Then again, the issue for Turkey is no longer democracy vs. totalitarianism´-or-terrorist vs. victim-;- it is only Sunni Muslim vs. everyone else. It is such a world vision that makes Erdogan s Turkey part of the problem, not part of the solution. Multilateralism might be ideal, but the mission to defeat ISIS cannot be sacrificed at its altar.

Freeyad Ibrahim
23 – 9 – 2014
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