Courtesy of Mish.
Theater of Absurd
The tangled web of friend-foe relationships in the Mideast has reached a new high point of circular absurdity.
- The US and Turkey are fighting ISIS (allegedly), as is Russia and Iran.
- Turkey just shot down a Russian plane on the Syrian-Turkey border.
- Turkey freely buys oil from ISIS which gives ISIS the money needed buy weapons.
- The US and France are working with Russia to fight ISIS.
- Syrian rebels, armed with US Anti-Tank missiles just shot down a Russian helicopter.
- The US backs alleged “moderate” Al Qaeda rebels seeking to overthrow Syrian president Assad.
- ISIS also seeks to overthrow Assad.
Turkey Shoots Down Russian Plane
The Financial Times reports Turkey Shoots Down Russian Fighter Jet on Syrian Border.
Vladimir Putin has accused the Turkish government of providing financial and military support to Isis, in a furious response to the downing of a Russian fighter jet near the Syria-Turkey border.
Turkey said it shot down the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 on Tuesday morning after it violated Turkish airspace, escalating tensions between international powers with competing aims in war-torn Syria.
Mr Putin warned that the “tragic incident” will bring “serious consequences” for relations between the two countries, and alleged that Turkey had helped bankroll Isis through oil sales.
Turkey has disputed Moscow’s version of events. A government official said the crew was given “repeated warnings”, beginning from when the jet came within 15km of the Turkish border.
A special meeting of Nato’s North Atlantic Council was called for later on Tuesday at Turkey’s request, prompting further anger in Moscow.
“Instead of immediately getting in contact with us, the Turkish side immediately turned to their partners with Nato to discuss this incident, as if it was us who downed a Turkish jet and not vice versa,” said Mr Putin.
“Do they want to put Nato at Isis’s service?”
…
