Erdogan, the despotic ruler of Turkey, appears to be holding 1,500 U.S. soldiers hostage at Incirlik air base in an attempt to pressure Obama to hand over his political opponent who was exiled to Pennsylvania. Erdogan claims that he ordered and organized the failed coup last night.

#Erdogan: "US have to give us #Gulen if we are to cooperate together." In meantime, 1,500 Americans at #Incirlik can't go in, out or fly. — Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) July 16, 2016

Highly possible that Erdoğan has closed #Incirlik as a gambit to force the Obama administration to extradite #Gülenhttps://t.co/CgAiOAklUc — Laura Batalla (@lbadam) July 16, 2016

Where’s Obama? Out getting a few rounds of golf of course!!!

Obama has wrapped up 11am NSC Turkey call, en route, presumably to golf, per pool at 1145. — Laura Rozen (@lrozen) July 16, 2016

OK now look, I think we overdo it on the “OMG Obama is playing golf again” outrage. But in this case, I really am outraged. Shouldn’t that self-centered arrogant moron interrupt his golf game to make absolutely sure that 1,500 out of our troops are released quickly and safely?!?

I guess if you’re gonna let terrorists kill 4 Americans, another 1,500 is just a statistic.

And they’re actually accusing America of being behind the coup attempt!!

Turkish official: Gov't has suspicions Incirlik Air Base, home of US airstrikes against ISIL, used to refuel aircraft used in coup attempt. — Dion Nissenbaum (@DionNissenbaum) July 16, 2016

Labor Minister Soylu: “America is behind the coup. Few magazines have been acting for few months… US has to give F.Gulen to us.” — ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) July 16, 2016







And saying they will be at WAR WITH US?!

Any country that stands by the Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen will not be a friend of Turkey and will be considered at war with the NATO member, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Saturday. The government said that followers of Gulen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the United States for years, were behind the attempted coup by a faction of the military on Friday.

Bay of Pigs notwithstanding, I seriously doubt we would be behind such a poorly organized coup attempt.

John Kerry says they’ll consider handing over Gulen to Erdogan:

John Kerry says U.S. would entertain extradition request for cleric Turkey’s president blames for coup attempt. https://t.co/8i7dlYqWKU — The Associated Press (@AP) July 16, 2016

Uh.. just “consider” it? Doesn’t seem like the government has much of a sense of urgency about 1,500 U.S. military hostages, does it?

I’m not saying we should just hand the guy over to Erdogan without any credible evidence that he’s guilty, but we’re the most powerful damn nation on the PLANET!! Why are we letting this pissant push us around and tacitly threaten our military?!

Turkish government cuts power, closes airspace at Incirlik Air Base https://t.co/fIsCmDSBuH pic.twitter.com/JDf18dYsc8 — ABC News (@ABC) July 16, 2016

From ABC News:

U.S. troops at Turkey’s Incirlik air base were at the highest force protection level, known as “condition Delta,” after the power was cut off at the base and the Turkish government closed the airspace around the site just hours after a foiled military coup attempt, a U.S. official told ABC News today. Turkey allows the United States to use the air base for operations associated with its air campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. There are 2,200 U.S. personnel in Turkey, including 1,500 stationed at Incirlik. A Pentagon spokesman said the loss of commercial power to Incirlik has not affected operations because the U.S. facilities there are operating on internal power sources. U.S. officials are working with their Turkish counterparts to resume air operations at the air base. All U.S. government personnel in Turkey appear safe and secure, he added. “Turkish government has closed its airspace to military aircraft, and as a result air operations at Incirlik Air Base have been halted at this time,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told ABC News. “In the meantime, U.S. Central Command is adjusting flight operations in the counter-ISIL campaign to minimize any effects on the campaign.”

I dunno. This administration seems way too comfy with terrorists attacking an American embassy, terrorist-supporting Iran taking our sailors hostage and humiliating them, and now our supposed ally holding 1,500 U.S. military hostages. Kinda seems like they keep testing us more, doesn’t it?

UPDATE!!

One official is straight up blaming America:

Labor Minister Soylu added: "as long as US doesn't give us F.Gulen, they are responsible of the coup attempt in Turkey."

Serious accusations — ilhan tanir (@WashingtonPoint) July 16, 2016

How is it they feel so comfy with insulting us like this.