Controversial comments on Thursday by US Central Command Commander Gen. Joseph Votel and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper have caused concern and raised suspicion on whether if the US had a role or knew in advance about the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.
Gen. Joseph Votel speaking at the Aspen Security Forum, a Colorado-based think tank, said some officers whom the US had relationships with have been imprisoned for their role in the coup attempt and added, “We have certainly had relationships with a lot of Turkish leaders -- military leaders in particular. I am concerned about what the impact is on those relationships as we continue.”
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper echoed Gen. Votel’s comments later in the day.
Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. AFP
Mr Clapper said the failed coup and the government’s response to it have “affected all segments of the national security apparatus in Turkey,” and “Many of our interlocutors have been purged or arrested. There’s no question that this is going to set back and make more difficult the US’s Middle East strategy.”
Votel also expressed concerns that in the long run, the failed coup and Turkey’s efforts to clear the military of coup supporters would have an effect on US operations in the region.
“I am concerned that it will impact the level of cooperation and collaboration that we have with Turkey which has been excellent frankly.”
Votel, noting some limitations on US operations in Incirlik Air Base said the electricity problem at the base in southern Turkish city of Adana has been resolved.
Turkish authorities cut electricity to the base after it was discovered that Turkish forces at Incirlik were involved in the coup, and two tanker aircraft took off from the base to refuel F-16’s involved in the coup. The US used an internal power system to launch aircraft from the base until commercial electricity was restored earlier this week.
US Secretary of State John Kerry had said that the difficulty for US planes accessing Incirlik might have been a result of planes flown in support of the coup using the airbase to refuel. Significantly, one of the commanders of Incirlik Air Base, General Bekir Ercan Van, was among those detained over the failed coup.
Turkish President Erdogan has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being the mastermind behind the coup, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that ties with the US will be affected if the US does not extradite him.
The controversial comments come after the US State Department spokesperson John Kirby’s press briefing where he said: "Obviously we had no involvement in this."
US State Department Spokesman John Kirby.
"We've made clear that we understand the Turkish government has a right and a responsibility, quite frankly, to their citizens to get to the bottom of this.”
Turkish President Erdogan during his visit to Police Special Forces Command, which was bombed by pro-coup soldiers resulting in 50 police officers losing their lives, in Golbasi, Ankara responded to the comments made by Gen, Joseph Votel. "A high-ranking US general has said ‘our top close allies in the Turkish military have been placed in jail’. One should be more sensitive, the decision to make this type of comment is above you, know your place, who do you think you are? Instead of congratulating and thanking our government for preventing this coup, you choose to stand with the putschists. After all, you are harbouring and abetting the main putschists in your country. You will never convince my people. The people know who is really behind this plot. With these types of statements, you are making it clear where you stand on this matter."
''TRT WORLD''
No comments:
Post a Comment