The Last Days on Mars

The Turkish president has said he has proof that Russia is involved in the illegal oil trade with Isil in Syria as he attacked Russia’s claims that Ankara buys oil from Isil. After Russian military chiefs publicly accused the Turkish government of funnelling millions of dollars in illicit oil revenues to Isil terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned as “immoral” Russian claims that his own family was importing oil from the jihadists. “We have the proof in our hands. We will reveal it to the world”, Mr. Erdoğan said in a televised address in Ankara. [Read more].

• By Roland Oliphant, Moscow and Raziye Akkoc, Turkish president says he has proof Russia bought oil from Islamic State, The Telegraph, December 3, 2015

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan speaking in Ankara on Thursday
Photo: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/AP

Rockin’ in the Free World

• Carlo Renda, Turchia, Russia accusa: “Erdogan e famiglia fanno traffici con l’Isis”. Petrolio e armi. Le prove mostrate al mondo, L’Huffington Post, December 2, 2015

Russia’s top military officials holding a press conference
Photo: AFP

At a briefing today the Deputy Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation Anatoly Ivanovich Antonov unveiled satellite image proof that Turkey is benefiting from ISIS oil trade and vehemently accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s family of being involved in the “criminal business”. “We know the price of Erdoğan’s words. Turkish leaders won’t step down and they won’t acknowledge anything even if their faces are smeared with the stolen oil”, Antonov said. Instead, Erdoğan denied any involvement in oil trade with the ISIS, and said earlier that he would resign if Russia prove its accusations.

Nella lotta all’Isis tutto sembra chiaro: da una parte la civiltà moderna, dall’altra il terrore oscurantista. Nessuna via di mezzo. Ma è veramente così? Per esempio ci si può fidare fino in fondo delle intenzioni di Turchia e Qatar? E non è che gli stessi Stati Uniti abbiano in qualche modo concorso ad armare formazioni terroristiche in Siria? [Read more].

• Claudio Gatti, I C-17 del Qatar, le coperture di Ankara, l’“agente di viaggio” della Cia e le armi destinate ai ribelli in Siria, Il Sole 24 ORE, December 2, 2015