Russia and Turkey are ratcheting up the rhetoric and the possibility of accidental war. That's not surprising given that Turkey shot down a Russian bomber that flew into Turkey (something the Russians deny) and then Syrian rebels shot down a Russian helicopter trying to rescue the pilot of the downed plane.
Another thing that is not surprising is the reaction from president Obama to all of this. Please understand that the president has already been told whether or not the Russian plane violated Turkish airspace. Obama knows who is telling the truth and who is not. Indeed, if the Russian plane flew over Turkey and ignored repeated warnings, it would make sense for Obama to announce that and to make clear to the world that the Russians were at fault. Instead, Obama urged Russia and Turkey to stop any escalation. The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, however, announced the alliance’s support for Turkey. Obama even had the US military announce that the incident involved only Turkey and Russia and does not affect the US-led campaign in Syria, which will continue “as planned”.
Why is it that our president cannot bring himself to announce support for Turkey or, alternatively, announce that the plane never entered Turkish airspace? Either announcement would reduce the chance of further conflict. The former would tell the Russians that all of NATO would support the Turks in any confrontation. The latter would tell the Turks that they are exposed and had better make a hasty retreat. Rather than action, however, we get diplomatic-speak and nothing more.
I know that Obama never acts to solve a problem when he can wait to see if it will go away. When that problem is a potential war, however, even someone like Obama needs to act.
Another thing that is not surprising is the reaction from president Obama to all of this. Please understand that the president has already been told whether or not the Russian plane violated Turkish airspace. Obama knows who is telling the truth and who is not. Indeed, if the Russian plane flew over Turkey and ignored repeated warnings, it would make sense for Obama to announce that and to make clear to the world that the Russians were at fault. Instead, Obama urged Russia and Turkey to stop any escalation. The NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, however, announced the alliance’s support for Turkey. Obama even had the US military announce that the incident involved only Turkey and Russia and does not affect the US-led campaign in Syria, which will continue “as planned”.
Why is it that our president cannot bring himself to announce support for Turkey or, alternatively, announce that the plane never entered Turkish airspace? Either announcement would reduce the chance of further conflict. The former would tell the Russians that all of NATO would support the Turks in any confrontation. The latter would tell the Turks that they are exposed and had better make a hasty retreat. Rather than action, however, we get diplomatic-speak and nothing more.
I know that Obama never acts to solve a problem when he can wait to see if it will go away. When that problem is a potential war, however, even someone like Obama needs to act.
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