Columbia University Researchers Confirm Turkey’s Links to ISIS

Armenian National Committee of America ^ | 3-12-17 | HARUT SASSOUNIAN

[Texas Fossil]

A team of Columbia University researchers from the United States, Europe, and Turkey confirmed last week that the Turkish government has provided to ISIS: military cooperation, weapons, logistical support, financial assistance, and medical services. This detailed investigation was headed by David L. Phillips, Director of the Program on Peace-building and Rights at Columbia University’s Institute for the Study of Human Rights. He had served as Senior Advisor and Foreign Affairs Expert for the U.S. Department of State.

Here are brief excerpts from the extensive research documenting the direct links between Turkey and ISIS:

1. Turkey Supplied Military Equipment to ISIS

• An ISIS commander told The Washington Post on August 12, 2014: “Most of the fighters who joined us in the beginning of the war came via Turkey, and so did our equipment and supplies.”
• Kemal Kiliçdaroglu, head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), disclosed on Oct. 14, 2014, documents from the Adana Office of the Prosecutor, revealing that Turkey supplied weapons to terrorist groups. He also produced transcripts of interviews with truck drivers who delivered the weapons to the terrorists.
• According to CHP Vice President Bulent Tezcan, Turkish agents drove three trucks loaded with rockets, arms, and ammunition to ISIS in Syria, on January 19, 2014.
• Cumhuriyet newspaper quoted Fuat Avni as stating that Germany and the United States had audio tapes confirming that Turkey provided financial and military aid to terrorist groups associated with Al Qaeda on Oct. 12, 2014.
• Documents made public on Sept. 27, 2014, revealed that Saudi Prince Bandar Bin Sultan financed the transportation of arms to ISIS through Turkey.

2. Turkey Provided Logistical Assistance to ISIS Fighters

• According to a June 13, 2014 article in Radikal newspaper, Turkish Interior Minister Muammar Guler issued the following directive: “Hatay is a strategic location for the Mujahidin crossing from within our borders to Syria. Logistical support for Islamist groups will be increased, and their training, hospital care, and safe passage will mostly take place in Hatay.”
• The Daily Mail reported on August 25, 2014 that many foreign militants joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq after traveling through Turkey.
• Britain’s Sky News obtained documents showing that the Turkish government stamped passports of foreign militants seeking to cross the Turkish border into Syria to join ISIS.
• A senior Egyptian official indicated on Oct. 9, 2014 that Turkish intelligence is passing to ISIS satellite imagery and other data.

3. Turkey Trained ISIS Fighters

• CNN Turk reported on July 29, 2014 that in the heart of Istanbul, places like Duzce and Adapazari have become gathering spots for terrorists.
• Turks who joined an ISIS affiliate were shown on July 28, 2014, at a public gathering in Istanbul.
• A video showed an ISIS affiliate holding a prayer-gathering in Omerli, a district of Istanbul.
• According to Jordanian Intelligence, Turkey trained ISIS militants for special operations.

4. Turkey Extended Medical Care to ISIS Fighters

• An ISIS commander told The Washington Post on August 12, 2014, “We used to have some fighters — even high-level members of the Islamic State — getting treated in Turkish hospitals.”
• On Oct. 12, 2014, Taraf newspaper reported that Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat, a founder of Pres. Erdogan’s ruling party (AKP), divulged that Turkey supported terrorist groups and still supports them and treats them in its hospitals.

5. Turkey Supported ISIS Financially Through Purchase of Oil

• On Sept. 13, 2014, The New York Times reported on the Obama administration’s efforts to pressure Turkey to crack down on the extensive network of oil sold by ISIS.
• Fehim Taştekin wrote in Radikal on Sept. 13, 2014 about illegal pipelines transporting oil from Syria to Turkey.

6. Turkey Assisted ISIS Recruitment

• Kiliçdaroğlu announced on Oct. 14, 2014 that ISIS offices in Istanbul and Gaziantep are recruiting fighters. On Oct. 10, 2014, the Mufti of Konya stated that 100 men from his city had joined ISIS four days ago.
• OdaTV reported that Takva Haber served as a propaganda outlet for ISIS to recruit Turkish-speaking men in Turkey and Germany.
• Minister of Sports, Suat Kilic, an AKP member, visited Salafi Jihadists who are ISIS supporters in Germany. These Jihadists recruit supporters by distributing free copies of the Quran and raising funds to sponsor suicide attacks in Syria and Iraq.
• OdaTV released a video showing ISIS militants riding a bus in Istanbul.

7. Turkish Forces are Fighting Alongside ISIS

• American investigative journalist Seymour Hersh asserted in the London Review of Books that “Prime Minister Recep Erdogan was known to be supporting the al-Nusra Front, a Jihadist faction among the rebel opposition, as well as other Islamist rebel groups.”
• On Sept. 20, 2014, Demir Celik, a Member of Parliament representing the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), stated that Turkish Special Forces had joined ISIS in the battlefield.

8. Turkey Helped ISIS in Battle for Kobani

• Anwar Muslim, Mayor of Kobani, revealed on Sept. 19, 2014 that trains full of Turkish forces and ammunition were delivered to ISIS. On September 30, 2014, a CHP delegation visited Kobani, where locals declared that everything from the clothes of ISIS militants to their guns comes from Turkey.
• A Nuhaber video showed on Sept. 25, 2014 Turkish military convoys, carrying tanks and ammunition, moving freely under ISIS flags in the Jarablus region of Syria and the Karkamis border crossing.
• Salih Muslim, PYD leader of Kurdish fighters, reported that 120 militants had crossed into Syria from Turkey on Oct. 20-24, 2014.
• According to an op-ed written by a YPG Kurdish commander in The New York Times on Oct. 29, 2014, Turkey regularly allows ISIS militants and their equipment to pass freely over its border.
• Diken reported on Oct. 1, 2014: “ISIS fighters crossed the border from Turkey into Syria in full view of Turkish soldiers.”

9. Turkey and ISIS Share a Worldview

• RT reported on Oct. 3, 2014 on Vice President Joe Biden’s remarks detailing Turkish support to ISIS.
• Hurriyet newspaper quoted a Turkish civil servant on Sept. 26, 2014: “I was shocked to hear words of admiration for ISIL from some high-level civil servants.”
• An AKP council member posted on his Facebook page: “Thankfully ISIS exists…. May you never run out of ammunition….”
• Erdogan’s son Bilal and Turkish officials met with ISIS fighters, according to Sariyer Gozlem.

It is absolutely unacceptable that while ISIS is committing mass murder in Paris and other European cities, its NATO ‘ally,’ Turkey, is continuing to aid and arm these terrorists. It is high time that Turkey is expelled from NATO and its leaders are indicted and brought to justice for their role in these heinous crimes.

[Texas Fossil]

Of course Obama, Hillary and Erdogan supported forces that became part of ISIS.

But this is a step further in connection of Erdogan and Islamist Terrorists.

[ClearCase_guy]

NATO, like the UN, is a sad joke.

[Texas Fossil]

It once was not. Today probably. We shall see what Pres. Trump does for it.

[Dogbert41]

A picture worth a thousand words...

[Texas Fossil]

Yes.

“And that which has been seen, cannot be unseen.”

May we always remember the ObamaNation and the consequences.

[lee martell]

Erdogan is an ISIS enabler. A willing tool of Soros and the EU.
He needs to be weeded out.
At least now, he is being called out.

[Texas Fossil]

His true colors are certainly exposed now. Many already knew, but the illusion is gone.

[InterceptPoint]

Erdogan is an ISIS enabler. A willing tool of Soros and the EU. He needs to be weeded out. At least now, he is being called out.

I've been posting similar thoughts about Turkey and Erdogan lately but without the details given in this report.

What I would like to see is a little verbiage out of Trump. He is a poker player so we cannot expect much but we do need to hear at least some hints of Trumps views on Turkey/Erdogan. I suspect that watching Trump+Russia+Syria+Kurds is going to tell us a lot. I just don't see Turkey every seriously cooperating with that Quorum. Fingers crossed.

[9YearLurker]

Then there was the report of Mattis meeting with the heads of the Turkish and Russian armies, wasn’t there? With the idea of their partitioning areas of control in Syria?

What do we think of that in this context?

[Lurkinanloomin]

Of course Obama, Hillary and Erdogan supported forces that became part of ISIS.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As did McCain, Graham and Rubio.
The treason was bipartisan.

[null and void]

muslims helping muslims kill muslims?

Some things never change...

[Wuli]

No surprises, but there is enough here for Trump to:

1. Demand all European Nato members vote with the U.S. to sever Turkey’s membership.

2. Strongly encourage the EU members to quit the pursuit of Turkey gaining EU membership.

3. Build air bases in the Kurdish region of Iraq and move all U.S. Military operations in Turkey to those bases.

[gandalftb]

Nothing new here.

Look at a map. ISIS is geographically surrounded by Kurds, Iraq, Israel, Assad controlled Syria, and Hezbollah controlled Lebanon, and.............. Turkey.

Now, everyone but Turkey officially wants ISIS exterminated.

Hmmmm. Turkey says they want ISIS defeated, yet, other than Turks, whom could ISIS have sold all their oil in order to finance themselves?

What other pathway could ISIS fighters get in and out of ISIS territory to the rest of the planet, but through Turkey?

What other country surrounding ISIS has been relatively terror-attack free from ISIS, but Turkey?

Earth calling Captain Obvious......

[Texas Fossil]

Yes, sir. It does not even require Captain Obvious to figure that one out.

[Texas Fossil]

Good moves.

[Texas Fossil]

Correct, bipartisan Treason.

[timestax]

ping

[Texas Fossil]

I’m for Kurds having their own nation.

They have long lived in Semi-autonomous zone in all 4 countries.

Assad will not want that.

Russia? I think they have some sympathy toward the Kurds. But they have been loyal to Syria.

Assad is not a good guy. (I still remember Lebanon) But he was not as brutal as Saddam. He should appreciate Kurds for saving the Northern portion of Syria from Turkish takeover, but he probably won’t.

I’m not sure how Trump views this.

[9YearLurker]

And of course Turkey is most interested in Syria as an excuse to kill Kurds.

[gandalftb]

Agreed, the Kurds need their own nation. They could be a great stabilizing force for the mideast and Islam.

Turkey would exterminate the Kurds just like they did the Armenians. Iran would treat them no better. Shia Iraq hates them.

They could be a great ally.

I dearly hope our incursion into Syria has that endgame and maybe will unite Syrian Kurds and Iraqi Kurds.