http://lobelog.com/combating-the-islamic-state-turkey-the-spoiler/#more-32150

Combating the Islamic State: Turkey the Spoiler

by Wayne White
Turkey has disrupted efforts to isolate and weaken the Islamic State (ISIS or IS) since last year. Having the longest border with Syria, Turkey has been a serious obstacle in dealing with the military challenge IS poses as well as the consequences of IS brutality and the Syrian regime’s ruthlessness. Some criticism of what the US-led coalition has done has merit (but not by those eager to throw thousands of US combat troops into this complex maelstrom). Regardless of Ankara’s motivations, the net consequence has been to make taking on IS a far more a difficult slog. This must change.
Until only very recently, Turkish Prime Minister (now President) Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to allow his NATO allies to use Turkish facilities such as Incirlik Airbase for anti-IS airstrikes. This forced the US, France, and others to fly instead out of distant bases in the Arab Gulf states (or Mediterranean and Gulf-based aircraft carriers). This meant a drain on resources that limited time over IS territory. Fighter-bombers able to reach IS targets in minutes from Turkey were forced to fly an hour or two between targets and their bases and carriers.
Making matters worse, Turkish smugglers, customs officials, and even intelligence operatives thrived off illicit imports of oil and refined fuels from the Islamic State. Ankara did precious little to interdict this lucrative trade. Although only a small portion of Turkey’s overall oil imports, the trade generated significant funding for IS to meet the basic military and economic needs of its self-styled state.http://lobelog.com/combating-the-islamic-state-turkey-the-spoiler/#more-32150