FOR TURKEY'S PRESIDENT, ISIS IS OPPORTUNITY, NOT THREAT

Jerusalem Journal ^ | August 26, 2016 | Boaz Bismuth

[Lera]

Two days ago, Turkey launched an unprecedented attack on Syria. Ostensibly it is an effort to liberate the town of Jarablus from the clutches of an Islamic Sate stronghold. Ankara also wants to distance terrorists from its borders to prevent future attacks on Turks.

This is the official version. But there are other reasons too. When it comes to Turkish military operations, always look for the Kurdish angle.

Wednesday's military action is Turkey's most significant mission in Syria since the beginning of the civil -- and religious -- war there, a conflict that has now entered its sixth year.

Since Turkey entered the fighting in Syria in the summer of 2015, when it allowed coalition forces to use its Incirlik air base in the country's south, it has been focused on the Kurdish underground fighters.

Islamic State was never a main target. Moreover, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's regime had a perverse policy when it came to Islamic State.

Erdogan never saw ISIS jihadi terrorists as a threat, but rather as an opportunity.

Turkey's President viewed the Islamic State terrorists as mercenaries who would attack the Kurds instead of him. He wasn't even concerned when Islamic State operatives began running around Turkey. The Turkish intelligence services noted that in January, 2015, there were 3,000 of them in Turkey. The border between Turkey and Syria served as a porous sieve for Islamic State members. Ankara turned it into the jihad highway.

[Lera]

Hey maybe they will give him the Nobel Prize for peace this year /s

[WKUHilltopper]

Well, after all, Turkey was buying stolen oil from ISIS. Of course they’re cashing in.

[SandRat]

FOR TURKEY’S PRESIDENT, ISIS IS OPPORTUNITY, NOT THREAT.

Yeah, an opportunity to get a REBUILT Turkish OTTOMAN EMPIRE. With him as the New Emperor.

[Parley Baer]

This is the result of a failed US Presidency. Then again maybe that is Obama’s plan.