Obama Gives His Public Blessing to Turkey’s Act of War Against Russia; So Does NATO

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At a joint press conference with French President Francois Hollande following their meeting in the White House today, President Barack Obama fully defended Turkey’s shooting down of a Russian Su-24 bomber, pronouncing that “Turkey, like every country, has a right to defend its territory and its airspace.” Obama then tried to blame the Russian government for the incident, saying that

“this points to an ongoing problem with the Russian operations. They are operating very close to a Turkish border, and they are going after moderate opposition that are supported not only by Turkey, but a wide range of countries.”

He then sanctimoniously urged all sides to show “restraint,” lest the crisis escalate.

After an emergency NATO meeting called today by member Turkey, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also gave full backing to Turkey:

“As we have repeatedly made clear, we stand in solidarity with Turkey and support the territorial integrity of our NATO ally, Turkey. I look forward to further contacts between Ankara and Moscow, and call for calm and de-escalation. Diplomacy and de-escalation are important to resolve this situation,” he said.

In Ankara, a glib Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told Al Jazeera,

“Everyone must know that it is our international right and national duty to take any measure against whoever violates our air or land borders. The Turkish armed forces are clearly instructed. Even if it is a flying bird it will be intercepted.”

Retired U.S. Army Col. Patrick Lang, in his Sic Semper Tyrannis blog, wrote today, “Perhaps the time has come to suspend Turkish membership in NATO before Erdogan drags us all into a war with Russia.”

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