By Brett Daniel Shehadey
Special Contributor for In Homeland Security
For the past week, the American coalition has been pressing Turkey to play a more active role against the Islamic State. Turkey has withstood an estimated 180,000 incoming Kurdish refugees fleeing in the wake of the Islamic State, but then sealed its border, lining them up with tanks and armored vehicles and refusing to engage their attackers head-on. UN officials warned a massacre in the nearby town of Kobane was imminent if no military action was taken to defeat them and even Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that a ground force was necessary.
The U.S. and coalition increased airpower pressure and helped prevent a total infiltration. The Islamic State appeared to be halted from strong Kurdish resistance and coalition airstrikes on two of three fronts, but one penetrated the city toward the Southeast, where they raised the black flag of ISIL.
After two days of negotiations in Ankara, American and coalition troops succeeded in getting permission to use Turkish military bases and offering training on their soil. Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL, U.S. Marine General John R. Allen (ret.) led the negotiations and coordinates the American response. Working alongside General Allen was Brett McGurk, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq and Iran in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
Turkey has agreed to “support, train and equip” the moderate rebels against the Islamic State, according to US state department spokeswoman Marie Harf. The prior uncertainty was whether Turkey would allow them to be trained within its borders. Previously, Ankara hosted and trained defectors of the Syrian Army to defeat the Bashar al Assad regime and Western support dropped off as the extremists penetrated the opposition forces. Now they are starting to catch on that the bigger threat is the Islamic State but still demand as a priority the removal of Assad.
There are also territorial gains to be made, at least in the eyes of Turkey. The Tomb of Suleyman Shah who was the grandfather to Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, as well as others in Syria are claimed to be Turkish. The Islamic State also threatened the tomb back in March and less than two weeks ago, Turkish lawmakers voted 289-98 for the use of military force against the Islamic State in part because of the tomb.
No doubt all of turkey’s moves are a prelude to their: national interest, national gain and regional influence. A safe-zone between Turkey and Syria was also on the table for discussion heading into the talks which makes reasonable and strategic sense but who gets it when the war’s over?
Turkey has clearly been holding out for a better deal overall. A senior U.S. official, speaking of turkey said last Wednesday, “Of course they could do more, they want the U.S. to come in and take care of the problem.” They were hoping to avoid unilateral action.
Soon Turkey will have no excuse but to use its ground forces with others. They will have American and coalition forces stationed in their bases, a stronger commitment from NATO allies in helping to train Syrian rebels and more incentive to combat the Islamic State on its end (i.e. preventing the flow of international jihadists; targeting domestic cells, oil revenue and finances). Some 4,000 rebels will be screened by Turkish intelligence before training.
Tippy-toeing into war with the Islamic State has been a gradual process for Washington. U.S. General Martin Dempsey, Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of State, gave clues when asked if American ground troops will be used in limited combat advisory roles. He said, “This Week…There will be circumstances when the answer to that question will likely be yes.” He mentioned a “different” kind of advising, offering hints and has been stressing a recommendation to the President for the need of residual American troop presence in Iraq since American troops were ordered to be withdrawn and has been an advocate for American ground troops in Iraq if airstrikes and other means fail.
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