EDWARD SCHWEIKERT: Will a Clinton election drive Turkey from NATO?

Clinton in; Turkey out. So what happens if Hillary Clinton is elected President of the United States? Why do I assert Clinton in; Turkey out? Turkey will exit NATO the same way Brexit left the European Union. My conclusion is based on three principles.

First, the Turkish government has requested the return of an individual it claims is responsible for the recent coup attempt. We refuse.

Second, Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 all-weather attack aircraft killing one of the two pilots, Turkey claimed self-defense, and expected NATO governments to support them equally as NATO supported the Ukraine when Putin and the Russian government annexed the Crimea and eastern Ukraine. They received no support from Europe or North America. The Turkish government found itself hanging; then, Turkey backed down and apologized. “Back down” and “apologize” are two words never spoken by international politicians.

Third, the junior senator from the Great State of New York introduced legislation charging Turkey with genocide over acts committed during the WWI. The prime minister at the time condemned the Senate’s action. Fast forward a decade and the old prime minister is the president. Our government wonders why Turkey has halted our ISIS bombing campaign?

EDWARD SCHWEIKERT

Albany