Differences between Washington and Ankara

Turks are saying, “There are hostages; my hands are tied.”

Americans are saying, “These manslayers are massacring a citizen of mine every week but we do not stop the operations.”

Turks are saying, “This is happening right next to me; there is the risk that they may strike us.”
Americans are saying, “They have already started hitting Europe. In May, they killed four people at a Jewish Museum. This is no longer a risk, it has started.”

Turks are saying, “All right, I have the responsibility to protect the southeast wing of NATO, but let us do it quietly.”

Americans are saying, “We are forming a coalition; at least you should openly declare it so that it has an effect on other Muslim countries.”

Turks are saying, “I did not allow more than 4,000 people to enter the country in 2013. Now, 6,000 people are not allowed to enter.”

Americans are saying, “Again, foreign fighters coming from Turkey to Iraq and Syria are still the biggest problem. More is needed to combat this.”

Turks are saying, “I have 13 border gates with Syria and I am only keeping three of them open. Third country citizens, though, can only use two gates.”

Americans are saying, “When better intelligence sharing is achieved, better results will be obtained.”
Turks are saying, “Do not arm those people in Iraq; no one knows where these weapons will end up.”
Americans are saying, “The ones to be armed in Iraq are settled, institutional structures. The risk you mention is actually in Syria.”

United States President Barack Obama held a press conference in Wales after he met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Out of the four questions asked, two of them were...