WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden has apologized to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (REH’-jehp TY’-ihp UR’-doh-wahn) for saying the Turkish leader had conceded that his country mistakenly assisted foreign fighters, including Islamic State extremists, seeking to depose the Syrian regime.
The White House says Biden spoke to Erdogan on Saturday “to clarify comments” Biden made on Thursday at Harvard University.
The White House says Biden apologized “for any implication” that Turkey or other allies had intentionally supplied or helped in the growth of the Islamic State group or other extremists groups in Syria.
Biden on Thursday said Erdogan had admitted that Turkey made mistakes by helping violent militants in Syria. An angry Erdogan denied saying that and countered that Biden would become “history to me” over the comments.
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Biden is right, though.
Reality check: Biden was 100% correct, Ergogan did in fact help ISIS. I’m not even quite that certain that it was unintentional, although the evidence is thin on that last point.
Too bad. Biden is 100% correct. Turkey has been turning its back as extremist recruits move back and forth across the Turkish border. Erodogan can be as upset as he likes. Me thinks me doth protest too much.
There’s that “angry Muslim” tone again…like Reza Aslan…
As long as IS is a threat to the Kurds, turkey will do nothing top them either.