U.S. May Halt Delivering F-35s To Turkey

Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs, assigned to the 4th Fighter Squadron from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, conduct flight training operations over the Utah Test and Training Range on Feb 14, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee)

Reuters: Exclusive: U.S. may soon pause preparations for delivering F-35s to Turkey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States could soon freeze preparations for delivering F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, officials told Reuters, in what would be the strongest signal yet by Washington that Ankara cannot have both the advanced aircraft and Russia’s S-400 air defense system.

The United States is nearing an inflection point in a years-long standoff with Turkey, a NATO ally, after so far failing to sway President Tayyip Erdogan that buying a Russian air defense system would compromise the security of F-35 aircraft.

“The S-400 is a computer. The F-35 is a computer. You don’t hook your computer to your adversary’s computer and that’s basically what we would be doing,” Katie Wheelbarger, acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told Reuters.

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More News On Reports That The U.S. May Halt F-35 Deliveries To Turkey

Sale of F-35s to Turkey in Trouble, Dunford Confirms -- DoD Buzz
Joint Chiefs chair warns of tough decision ahead with F-35 delivery to Turkey -- The Hill
U.S. Concerned Sale of American Warplanes to Turkey Could Boost Russian Intel Ops -- Washington Free Beacon
US 'Reconciling' Presence of Russia-Made S-400, F-35 in Turkey - Top General -- Sputnik

The U.S. Shutdown Of The Visa Program With Turkey Is Causing Chaos For Turkish Travelers

The United States Embassy in Ankara has been a flashpoint for a visa row with Turkey

AFP: Turks seeking US visas left reeling by diplomatic row

Turkish students, business executives and travel operators have been left reeling by the country's dispute with the United States that has led both to suspend visas.

Last year, 313,654 Turks went to the US while 459,493 Americans came to Turkey, according to figures provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute.

But the decision to charge a US consulate staffer with links to the American-based preacher Fethullah Gulen, accused of launching last year's failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has thrown ties into turmoil.

In response, the US embassy in Ankara said it would suspend non-immigrant visas including those for tourism and work. Turkey then halted all visa services at its US missions for American citizens.

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WNU Editor: This dispute .... started by Turkey when it arrested a Turkish citizen who works at a U.S. consulate .... was (and is) so unnecessary, but typical on how Turkish President Erdogan and his supporters now rule Turkey. My prediction .... Turkey will bend down, the country is losing too much in terms of tourist revenue, convenience of travel, and the image that the country tries to project.

Turkish President Erdogan Accuses The U.S. Of Mistreating Turkey

Reuters: Erdogan says U.S. sacrificing strategic ally Turkey

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan accused the United States on Thursday of mistreating a strategic ally, in a blistering speech which appeared to rule out swift resolution to a dispute between two NATO members jointly fighting Islamic State.

Hours after Ankara announced officials would meet soon to settle differences, Erdogan accused the U.S. consulate in Istanbul of hiding an individual with links to a network he blames for last year’s failed coup.

He also condemned U.S. support for Kurdish fighters in Syria and separate U.S. court cases against a senior Turkish banker and the president’s own security guards, mocking what he said was Washington’s claim to be “the capital of democracy”.

Turkey’s relations with the United States and many Western countries have been strained since last year’s failed military coup against Erdogan, in which more than 240 people were killed.

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More News On Turkish President Erdogan Blaming The U.S. For The Current "Tense" Relations Between The Two Countries

Erdogan: US "Sacrificing" Ties with Turkey -- VOA
Erdogan Says US Is Sacrificing Turkey as an Ally Hours After Diplomatic Rapprochement Announced -- Haaretz
'We don't need you': Erdogan accuses Washington of 'sacrificing' relations with Turkey -- RT
Why Turkey-US tensions have come to a boil -- Local 10
Ties between Turkey and America are near breaking point -- The Economist
Why Erdogan Doesn't Care About U.S. Good Will -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

US Has Suspended All Non-Immigrant Visa Facilities In Turkey Due To Security Reasons

Bloomberg: U.S. Suspends Non-Immigrant Visa Services in Turkey After Arrest

* Turkish currency drops as relations with U.S. deteriorate
* Embassy says reassessing Turkey’s commitment to its safety

The U.S. suspended visa services for visitors from Turkey in a sharp escalation of tensions between the countries, sending the lira down as much as 1 percent against the U.S. dollar.

“Recent events have forced the United States Government to reassess the commitment of the Government of Turkey to the security of U.S. Mission facilities and personnel,” the U.S. Mission to Turkey said Sunday in a statement posted on the embassy’s official Twitter account in English and Turkish.

“In order to minimize the number of visitors to our Embassy and Consulates while this assessment proceeds, effective immediately we have suspended all non-immigrant visa services at all U.S. diplomatic facilities in Turkey.”

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WNU Editor: This is going to create a big-stink in U.S. - Turkish relations. Hundreds of thousands of Turks and Turkish expats in the U.S. use these facilities every year .... no more now.

More News On The U.S. Suspending All Non-Immigrant Visa Facilities In Turkey Due To Security Reasons

U.S. suspends non-immigrant visas in Turkey -- PBS News Hour/AP
U.S. mission to Turkey suspends visa services for security reasons -- Reuters
US stops non-immigrant visa services in Turkey, citing security -- Deutsche Welle
US Halts Nonimmigrant Visa Processing in Turkey -- Wall Street Journal
US suspends all non-immigrant visa services in Turkey -- Al Jazeera
US Mission Suspends Visa Services in Turkey to 'Reassess Commitment to Security' -- Sputnik International

Turkey Blames The US For Being Aggressive Against President Erdogan's Body Guards When They Attacked Demonstrators Protesting Outside The Turkish Embassy

Washington Post: Turkey condemns U.S. over ‘aggressive’ acts against its bodyguards during Erdogan’s visit to D.C.

ISTANBUL — Turkey’s Foreign Ministry lodged a formal protest Monday with the U.S. ambassador over “aggressive” actions by American security personnel during violence between Turkish guards and protesters as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Washington earlier this month.

The summoning of the ambassador to Ankara, John Bass, sharply escalated a diplomatic rift between Turkey and the United States after the violence. Footage of the brawl that was widely circulated on social media prompted outrage in the United States, calls for the prosecution of the Turkish guards and even the expulsion of Turkey’s ambassador to Washington.

American and Turkish officials have provided directly contrasting versions of how the violence unfolded. Local police said the Turkish guards savagely attacked a peaceful protest outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence as Erdogan was visiting. The footage of the melee showed what appeared to be Turkish security guards kicking and choking protesters as police struggled to contain the unrest. It also showed Erdogan watching, from a distance, as the fighting raged.

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WNU Editor: The New York Times has the best video on what happened (the link is here). What's my take .... as I explained in this post .... New Video Emerges Showing Turkish President Erdogan Observing Clashes in DC (May 19, 2017) .... it started when President Erdogan talked to his bodyguard and within 20 seconds his security detail began attacking the demonstrators. Diplomatically speaking .... there has to be consequences for this. Expelling Turkish officials that were present when this happened .... and curtailing Turkish diplomatic activity is a must. Will the U.S. State Department do anything about this .... they should but I suspect that they will not.

Turkey Blames The US For Being Aggressive Against President Erdogan's Body Guards When They Attacked Demonstrators Protesting Outside The Turkish Embassy

Turkey Chides U.S. Envoy Over Handling of Brawl at Washington Protest -- NYT
Turkey accuses US of 'aggressive actions' over embassy brawl -- BBC
Turkey condemns U.S. over ‘aggressive’ acts against its bodyguards during Erdogan’s visit to D.C. -- Washington post
Turkey Angry at US For Stopping Erdogan's Goons From Beating Up DC Protesters -- Foreign Policy
The violence of Erdoğan’s bodyguards in Washington DC is Turkey's new normal -- Ahmet A Sabancı, The Guardian

New Video Emerges Showing Turkish President Erdogan Observing Clashes in DC

CNN: New footage shows Erdogan watching Washington brawl

(CNN)New video footage has emerged that shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looking on as Turkish security officials beat up protesters outside the country's embassy in Washington earlier this week.

Erdogan, who met with US President Donald Trump at the White House just hours before the fighting broke out on Tuesday, briefly witnessed the brawl in which nine people were left requiring hospital treatment.

A video shows the Turkish President standing near his car as the fighting ensued, before turning his back and walking into the embassy.

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WNU Editor: What's my take. He goes to see President Trump .... and he does not get what he wants (a stop in U.S. military support for the Kurdish Syrian military force YPG ). He goes to the residence of the Turkish ambassador, talks to the security guard for a few moments, the security communicates to the guards watching the demonstration, a few seconds later the protesters are attacked and Erdogan steps out of his car to watch the fighting. I could be wrong .... but when you looked at what happened, the context, and the timetable .... you can tell that Erdogan was furious that his meeting produced nothing, and he unloaded on the Kurdish demonstrators.

More News On A New Video Emerging That Shows Turkish President Erdogan Observing Clashes in DC

Erdogan Watched Guards Beat Protesters -- VOA
State Dept. summons Turkish ambassador over DC brawl -- The Hill
State Department Summons Turkish Ambassador After Bloody Brawl in D.C. -- NBC
'I could have died': how Erdoğan's bodyguards turned protest into brawl -- The Guardian
How the US Could Prosecute the Turkish Guards Who Beat Protesters in Washington as Erdogan Watched -- Newsweek

President Trump Meets Turkish President Erdogan -- News Roundup

Washington Post: Trump, Erdogan commit to cooperation despite tensions over Syrian militias

President Trump on Tuesday pledged continued support for Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting the importance of the U.S.-Turkish alliance despite mounting tensions over Washington’s support for Kurdish rebels in Syria.

Speaking alongside Erdogan at the White House, Trump said Turkey and the United States would act together against extremist groups including the Islamic State. “Again, we seek to face this threat together,” he told reporters.

Trump welcomed Erdogan, fresh off a narrow electoral victory that granted him wide-ranging new powers, to Washington just a week after the Pentagon announced a plan to directly arm Kurdish militiamen in Syria for the first time.

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WNU Editor: This meeting could have ended badly .... but it did not. Both sides need each other .... despite the differences.

President Trump Meets Turkish President Erdogan -- News Roundup

Trump Praises Erdogan as Ally in Terrorism Fight, Brushing Aside Tensions -- NYT
U.S., Turkish leaders put best face on ties amid tensions -- Reuters
A distracted Trump greets Turkey’s Erdogan as both ignore nations’ strained relations -- Miami Herald
Despite sharp differences, Trump and Erdogan clasp hands after cozy meeting -- ABC News
Trump, Erdogan Avoid Discord Over Kurds in White House Talks -- VOA
Syria war: Turkey will never accept US alliance with Kurds - Erdogan -- BBC
Turkish Leader Calls Trump His 'Dear Friend,' Despite Decision To Arm Syrian Kurds -- NPR

President Trump Getting Ready To Meet Turkish President Erdogan On Tuesday

NBC: Trump Set to Welcome Turkey’s Leader Erdogan to White House

It was never going to be the easiest encounter, but President Donald Trump's planned meeting with Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan this week has gotten even more awkward.

The pair will sit down at the White House on Tuesday to discuss how to "deepen our cooperation to confront terrorism in all its forms," according to a Trump administration statement announcing the event.

That promises to be a tough challenge after Trump gave the Pentagon authorization to arm Kurdish militias in Syria to help drive ISIS out of Raqqa, a Syrian city which has been under the terror group's control since 2014.

Read more ....

More News On Tomorrow's Meeting Between President Trump And Turkish President Erdogan

Donald Trump, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan face crisis in first meeting -- UPI/Arab Weekly
Erdogan to Visit Trump Amid Rising Tensions Between the U.S. and Turkey -- Time/AP
Erdogan Welcomes 'Decisive' Trump Meeting Amid Tensions on Syria -- Bloomberg
Erdoğan to urge Trump to ditch deal to arm Kurds in Syria during US visit -- The Guardian
Erdogan to discuss Syria, Iraq and Gulen's extradition with Trump -- TRT
Turkey's Erdogan and Trump: Kindred spirits, divergent agendas -- The Hill
Setting low bar for Trump-Erdogan meeting -- Al-Monitor
Erdogan Wants to Change Trump’s Mind on Arming Kurds, But Will it Work? -- Sputnik
Why Trump will likely leave Erdogan empty-handed -- Nil Köksal, CBC News

Should The U.S. Abandon Incirlik?

File photo of U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter jets are pictured at Incirlik airbase in Adana. Reuters

Charles Wald, Defense One: Get Ready to Walk Away from Incirlik

As U.S.-Turkey relations cool, retaining access to the air base will require ending our dependence on it.

Turkey’s Incirlik airbase has supported America’s most vital strategic needs for more than a half century, first during the Cold War and more recently in the fight against terrorists. Now, as its host country becomes less stable and less friendly to the United States, the best way to ensure continued access to this large and well-located base is to prepare to do without it.

In July, the Turkish government publicly accused the U.S. of backing a failed coup. More recently, Ankara pledged to deepen military cooperation with Russia, bombed U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish units fighting ISIS, then complicated the war against ISIS by picking a fight with Baghdad over Mosul. After Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s recent tense trip to Turkey, there is no better time for Washington to rethink its reliance on Incirlik.

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WNU Editor: The U.S. is not going to abandon Incirlik. Turkey is an important ally, and member of NATO .... and while there are problems with the Erdogan government, it has not risen to the level where the U>S. must now look for alternatives.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Is Snubbed In Turkey

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (right) meets with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on August 24

Bloomberg: Biden Met by Snubs as He Seeks to Mollify Turkey’s Angry Erdogan

* Junior officials met the U.S. vice president at the airport
* Turkish government-linked newspaper calls trip a waste of time

From the minute he stepped off the plane on Wednesday, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to Turkey seemed ill-fated.

Intended to smooth relations frayed by last month’s botched coup, Biden’s visit instead showcased acrimony with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey sent low-ranking officials -- including Ankara’s deputy mayor -- to greet Biden at the airport. And even before the vice president’s visit ended, the Daily Sabah, a pro-Erdogan newspaper, declared that "Biden wasted a trip, Turkey wasted time."

Biden -- the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Turkey since the coup -- was apologetic and conciliatory during his joint news conference with Erdogan. As the vice president spoke, the Turkish leader sat back in his chair, stone-faced.

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WNU Editor: This was never going to be an easy trip .... Biden’s Nearly Impossible Task in Turkey (Politico).

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Visits Turkey

Reuters: With Biden visit, U.S. seeks balance with truculent Turkey

When U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited Turkey in January, he struck a difficult balance between showing support for a NATO ally faced with multiple security threats while criticizing its record on free speech and dissent.

Now, with relations between Washington and Ankara going through one of their testiest periods in recent memory, he may find it even tougher to get those dual messages across when he visits on Wednesday.

Biden will be the most senior U.S. official to visit Turkey since the failed July 15 coup, when a group of rogue soldiers tried to overthrow the government and killed at least 240 people.

Turkey says the failed putsch was orchestrated by the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who has lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania for 17 years. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has called on the United States to extradite Gulen.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's Visit To Turkey

US, Biden face tough task to mend relations with Turkey -- AP
US and Turkey to navigate differences in Ankara -- DW
Biden to meet Turkish officials to discuss Gülen case, anti-terror fight -- Hurriyet Daily News
Joe Biden's Turkey visit: Fethullah Gülen, Syria and the other issues on the table -- First Post
Erdogan to Complain to U.S. Over Gulen Extradition Delay -- Bloomberg
Is Biden's Visit a Last Chance for Turkey and America? -- Kemal Kirisci, National Interest
Anti-Americanism surges in Turkey, fueled by politicians and a fervent press -- Scott Peterson, CSM

White House Tells Turkish President Erdogan To 'Back-Off'

President Barack Obama walks along the Colonnade at the White House with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Dec. 7, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) December 7, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Politico: U.S. to Turkey: Back off

As anti-U.S. allegations swirl following a failed coup, skepticism about Turkey's reliability is hardening in the Obama administration and Congress.

The Obama administration has a message for Turkey: Tone it down.

A day after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed frustration that Secretary of State John Kerry had yet to visit his country in the wake of a failed coup attempt, a State Department official said the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the language emanating from its longtime NATO ally.

Much of that language has been deeply anti-American, with Turkish media peddling allegations that the Obama administration was behind the coup attempt and even suggesting a Washington think tank had a role. Erdogan has, to some extent, fanned the flames, while simultaneously reaching out to U.S. rival Russia, which he visited Tuesday.

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Update: Obama tells Turkey’s Erdogan to BACK OFF over coup accusations (Express)

WNU Editor: Expect relations to get worse before they get better.

President Obama Denies Reports That The U.S. Had Advance Knowledge Of Turkey Coup

Bloomberg: Obama Rejects Claims U.S. Had Advance Knowledge of Turkey Coup

Turkey submits request for U.S.-based cleric’s extradition
Obama says extradition must follow U.S. legal process

President Barack Obama rejected claims that the U.S. had prior knowledge of last week’s attempted coup in Turkey and urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to tamp down any rumors of American involvement.

Any suggestions of early U.S. knowledge of the rebellion by a faction of the Turkish military “are completely false, unequivocally false,” Obama said at the White House on Friday. He said he spoke this week with Erdogan, who “needs to make sure that not just he but everybody in his government understand that those reports are false.”

Read more ....

More News On President Obama Denying Reports That The U.S. Had Advance Knowledge Of Turkey Coup

Obama Denies U.S. Involvement in Coup Attempt in Turkey -- NYT
Obama: US Not Involved in Turkey Coup Attempt -- VOA
Obama: US was not involved in Turkish coup attempt -- CNN
Obama: US had no role in Turkish coup -- The Hill
Obama says the U.S. had no involvement in Turkish coup -- Politico

Are Turkey's Military Bases Safe For U.S. And Western Forces?

Inside Story: Are Turkey's military bases safe after the failed coup?

Several high-ranking officials from the Incirlik airbase were arrested over alleged involvement in the failed coup.

The Turkish government says it has regained control of the country and the army after Friday's failed coup. But its effects are still being felt in the region and beyond.

Turkey is a long-time ally of the United States and an important member of NATO. And the impact of the attempted coup was felt almost immediately by the US military when Turkey cancelled its air operations at the Incirlik airbase.

It's located just over 100 kilometres from the Syrian border. And is used by US forces to launch air strikes against ISIL in Syria.

Those flights resumed by Sunday. But the attempted coup has raised bigger questions about the security of that base - which the US uses to keep some of its nuclear arsenal.

Should Turkey's allies and NATO be worried?

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WNU editor: I found it astounding that the electricity is still being cut-off to the Incirlik Air base .... Incirlik Air Base: Post-Coup Power Cut Remains at U.S. Site (NBC). Even though the U.S. is being told to not be worried .... Turkish defense chief assures Pentagon it will remain 'committed' to ISIS fight (The Hill). If this continues .... this power cut-off is certainly not a good sign. On a side note .... I am willing to bet that the plans on what needs to be done to remove U.S. nuclear weapons from Turkey have been "dusted-off".

More News On Concerns That Turkish Bases Are No Longer Safe For U.S. And Western Forces

Base in Turkey Used for US-Led Missions Still Without Power -- AP
Turkey's power cutoff to Incirlik Air Base a problem for Pentagon -- CNN
Failed coup in Turkey threatens military ties with key U.S. ally -- Andrew Tilghman, Military Times
How safe are US nukes in Turkey? -- Barbara Starr and Ryan Browne, CNN
The U.S. stores nuclear weapons in Turkey. Is that such a good idea? -- Dan Lamothe, Washington Post
Should the U.S. Pull Its Nuclear Weapons From Turkey? -- New York Times

American Nuclear Weapons Are No Longer Safe In Turkey

Approximately 50 B61 nuclear bombs inside an igloo at what might be Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. (Photo courtesy Federation of American Scientists)

Jeffrey Lewis, Foreign Policy: America’s Nukes Aren’t Safe in Turkey Anymore

But is there anywhere else in Europe that would take them?

Among the candidates for most iconic image of this past weekend’s attempted coup in Turkey has to be the many videos of Turkish F-16s, hijacked by the mutineers, flying low over Istanbul and Ankara. Eventually, those planes seem to have bombed the parliament. There were rumors that they considered shooting down the plane of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

What’s clear is that mutineers managed to keep the F-16s in the air only because they were able to refuel them mid-flight using at least one tanker aircraft operated out of Incirlik Air Base. Eventually Turkish authorities closed the airspace over Incirlik and cut power to it. The next day, the security forces loyal to the government arrested the Turkish commander at the base. (The images of him being escorted away in handcuffs are in the contest to qualify as the weekend’s most iconic.)

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More News On The Debate over U.S. Nuclear Weapons In Turkey

The U.S. stores nuclear weapons in Turkey. Is that such a good idea? -- Dan Lamothe, Washington Post
Attempted Military Coup in Turkey Puts American Nukes at Risk -- Sputnik
Turkey coup attempt raises fears over safety of US nuclear stockpile -- The Guardian
Dependents and Possibly Nukes Staying Put in Turkey: Pentagon -- Military.com
After Turkey coup, Pentagon says nukes are safe -- Washington Examiner
The H-Bombs In Turkey -- Eric Schlosser, New Yorker

US, EU Warn Turkey On Coup Crackdown

Reuters: EU condemns Turkey coup bid, warns Erdogan on death penalty

European Union foreign ministers urged Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday to respect the law and human rights in dealing with defeated coup plotters, warning that reinstating the death penalty would likely end Ankara's EU membership bid.

After a breakfast in Brussels with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the ministers condemned the weekend coup attempt in a common EU statement, but expressed alarm at Erdogan's public comments on Sunday that there could be no delay in using capital punishment.

"The EU recalls that the unequivocal rejection of the death penalty is an essential element of the union acquis," ministers said, referring to the body of EU law that underpins the bloc.

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More News On The US And The EU Warning Turkey On Coup Crackdown

Europe and US urge Turkey to respect rule of law after failed coup -- The Guardian
'No excuse' for Turkey to abandon rule of law: EU's Mogherini -- Reuters
U.S. backs justice for coup plotters but urges Turkey to keep rule of law -- Reuters
Kerry urges Turkey to maintain democratic principles after coup attempt -- Washington Post
Turkey coup could threaten country's Nato membership, suggests John Kerry -- The Independent
Kerry: Turkey's coup response to be scrutinized by NATO -- The Hill
EU critical of Turkey's post-coup crackdown -- DW
No excuse to abandon rule of law, EU warns Turkey - as military raid homes and Erdogan's warplanes patrol the skies -- Daily Mail
Turkey government seemed to have list of arrests prepared: EU's Hahn -- Reuters
‘Yes’ to death penalty will mean ‘No’ to EU membership, EU warns Turkey -- RT
Death penalty would prevent Turkish EU membership: German Foreign Minister -- Reuters
If you reinstate the death penalty it will kill your chances of joining the EU, Germany tells Turkey -- Daily Mail

US Rejects Asylum Request From Incirlik Base Turkish Commander

Daily Sabah: US rejects asylum to Incirlik base commander detained for complicity in failed coup attempt

The commander of the Incirlik airbase arrested for plotting the failed military coup in Turkey has sought asylum from the United States but was denied, the New York Times reported Sunday.

According to the report, General Bekir Ercan Van approached American officials seeking asylum but was refused, a person with knowledge of the matter who spoke anonymously because of the sensitive nature of the subject said.

Air force brigadier general Bekir Ercan Van was detained at the key Incirlik air base used by US forces for raids in Syria, along with a dozen lower-ranked officers.

The suspects are being charged with "membership in an armed terrorist organization" and "attempting to overthrow the government of the Turkish Republic using force and violence or attempting to completely or partially hinder its function."

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WNU Editor: Who in the U.S. made the decision? The Pentagon? The State Department? The White House? No one is talking.

Incirlik Base In Turkey Has Re-Opened. Air Strikes Against The Islamic State Have Resumed

US airforce F-16 warplanes lining to take off from the Incirlik Airbase in Turkey. Photo: AFP.

Military Times: Turkey re-opens airspace for U.S. base, strikes against ISIS resume

Turkey has re-opened airspace for Incirlik Air Base, allowing the U.S. to resume airstrikes against the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.

An MQ-1 Predator was the first aircraft to take off from Incirlik after the airspace was reopened, followed by a KC-135 tanker, said Lt. Col. Christopher Karns, a spokesman for U.S. Air Forces Central Command.

The U.S. has both manned and unmanned aircraft at Incirlik, which is about 100 miles from the border with Syria, but operations had been halted there after Saturday’s attempted coup by elements of the Turkish military.

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Update: Turkey allows US to resume Syria and Iraq airstrikes from Incirlik airbase (The Guardian)

WNU Editor: The Turkish government wants to show everyone that the situation is coming back to normal, and to quell any concerns like this one .... France says question marks over Turkey's role in fight with Islamic State (Reuters)

How Secure Are The 50+ U.S. Nuclear Tactical Weapons At Turkey's Incirlik Air Base?

Incirlik air base in Adana, Turkey © Murad Sezer / Reuters

RT: Local authorities block access to air base in Turkey that houses US nukes

Movement in and out of the Incirlik airbase in southern Turkey was blocked on Saturday by local military authorities. The NATO base stores US tactical nuclear weapons.

Access to the base has now been restored and flights are again allowed in its airspace, Daily Sabah reports, citing the US consulate in Turkey.

"Local authorities are denying movements on to and off of Incirlik Air Base. The power there has also been cut," the US consulate in Adana said in a message.

"Please avoid the air base until normal operations have been restored," it added. No further details were provided.

According to CNN, power to the facility was also cut.

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WNU Editor: There are approximately 50 U.S. nuclear weapons at Turkey's Incirlik Air Base .... Reports: US nuclear 'upgrades' in Europe (DW), others are saying that the number is higher. Should we be concerned .... yes .... especially after reading this .... Turkey's Incirlik Airbase Left Without Electricity - Reports (Sputnik). Not surprising .... U.S. forces are now operating under "Operation Delta" .... U.S. Troops at Turkish Air Base on Highest Force Protection Level (ABC News). The White House is clearly concerned .... Obama urges rule of law in Turkey, U.S. warns of damage to relations (Reuters).

Update: Here is an old post on the status of U.S. nuclear weapons in Turkey .... The status of U.S. nuclear weapons in Turkey (Alexandra Bell and Benjamin Loehrke, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

Update #2: I hope this is not true from VICE News on U.S. nuclear weapons in a host country ....

.... Only the US president can approve their use, but the host nations have to approve the bombs leaving the country. Thus the weapons can serve as a deterrent while also being virtually unusable.

Does this mean that if the U.S. wants to move these weapons out of Turkey they must get Turkish President Erdogan's permission .... or does this apply only for wartime conditions? And what happens if he says no?

U.S. - Turkish Relations Are Deteriorating After Friday's Failed Coup Attempt

Turkish PM: Any country that stands by cleric Gulen will be at war with Turkey https://t.co/1JPi1nUTeO pic.twitter.com/VJcTrtVi6M

— Reuters World (@ReutersWorld) July 16, 2016

Quartz: Turkey threatens war on “any country” supporting exiled cleric Gülen—like the US

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim has threatened war against any country that would “stand by” Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen.

This is a pointed threat towards the United States, where Gülen has been living in self-imposed exile since 1999. The implicit demand, according to BBC’s Turkey correspondent Mark Lowen, is that the US must extradite Gülen.

Gülen is the leader of a movement called Hizmet, and has been called Turkey’s second most powerful man. Hizmet is estimated to have the support of 10% of Turkey’s population, and Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan claims Gülen was behind the recent attempted coup.

But the cleric has strongly denied that this is the case and the US has asked Turkey for evidence to support the accusations

Read more ....

More News On The Deterioration Of U.S. - Turkish Relations

US-Turkish tensions rise after failed coup attempt -- AP
Turkish PM: Any country that stands by cleric Gulen will be at war with Turkey -- Reuters
Turkey accuses U.S. of harboring coup mastermind -- Politico
Turkey says US is 'no friend' for harboring 'coup planner' Gulen -- RT
Kerry Blasts Turkey for Insinuating that Washington Plotted Coup of Erdogan -- Sputnik
U.S. relationship with Turkey ‘is only going to get more complicated’ -- Greg Jaffe, Washington Post