US keeps mum on Turkey hands behind sarin gas in Syria: Analyst

Press TV has conducted an interview with James Petras, a Middle East expert from New York, on the exposure of Turkey’s hands behind the use of sarin gas in Syria.

The following is a rough transcription of the interview.

Press TV: Significant gains taking place in Syria and running away in mass towards Turkey, let’s look at that aspect of things first of all. If the Turks claim that they are actually fighting Daesh and we see know these terrorists fleeing towards Turkey and perhaps inside of Turkey. Could there not to be pressure now put on Ankara from Washington and others who say that they two are fighting the terrorists?

Petras: I think the Western countries are merely paying lip service to pressuring Turkey. There has been no concerted effort to apply diplomatic, economic or political pressure on Turkey.

It’s well-known here in Washington that Turkey is the entry point and the exit point for Daesh, that most of the terrorists have crossed into Syria from Turkey, that they have received arms from the Turks training and they have bases within Turkey.

We know that Turkey has been the main buyer of ISIS (Daesh) oil that has been stolen from Iraq and Syria. In the fact, Erdogan has an alliance with Daesh, because he’s interested in expanding Turkey’s territorial and political and economic power in the neighboring countries.

There’s no question at all that without Turkey’s support, the Daesh would not have a massive entry point to engage in the terrorist activities in Syria and Iraq.   

Press TV: And what about the aspect that in Latakia Province that they also seize equipment that can make chemical and biological weapons? Because we know early on in the Syrian war that the global community, the Western community we should say, tries to accuse the Syrian government of actually using these weapons and of course came very close to war on Syria. So how significant is this now that ... have been evacuated, left by the terrorists that the situation has been found the equipment to make chemical weapons and biological weapons? How significant is that? Are we going to get a condemnation against the terrorists and those who support the terrorists for this?

Petras: Well, so far we have reliable sources within Turkey. Turkish critics of the Erdogan government have exposed the role of Turkey in supplying and shipping sarin gases to ISIS and Daesh.

Now the question of attacks from Turkey’s NATO allies is still up in the air. No formal condemnations have been stated by the NATO powers particularly from Washington.

There is rumors that there is behind the scenes questioning but not in public regarding Washington’s condemnation of Turkey’s transport of sarin gas to ISIS.

And we are shocked and surprised since earlier when Washington suspected that Syria was involved. There was a very public and emphatic condemnation.

Now, when it turns out that the NATO partner is involved in the spread of sarin gas in particular to ISIS there’s a strange silence, which envelops the White House.

Press TV: You think that the strange silence is because, as you said, it was a NATO partner and perhaps the Western powers thought that was unfortunate or is there the silence because the United States knew all along what was going on and was part it at all?

Petras: Well, it’s hard to tell when Washington found out about the sarin gas transfers, but I suspect that’s been known for some time. And I think that Washington was hoping that the Turkish hand would not be exposed, because Washington has very close base relations in Turkey.

Turkey is looked upon as the military force that Washington can manipulate in the area and I think the question of the sarin gas has simply exposed a very negative aspect of Washington’s relations with Turkey and the government is fumbling, trying to cook up a response to these very damaging facts.

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