"CHANGE" - U.S. Bipartisan Policy Center: 'Turkey: An Increasingly Undependable Ally' asks for removing PKK from terror list.

"CHANGE" - U.S. center: 'Turkey: An Increasingly Undependable Ally'asks for building airbase in Erbil and removing PKK from terror list.(Kurdpress).

Bipartisan Policy Center has stated that Turkey is not a trusted U.S. alley as it did not allow anti-IS coalition forces to use Incerlik airbase and offered the creation of an airbase in Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan Region in the north of Iraq.

The center studied the relation between Ankara and Washington in a 36-page report and asked the U.S. to reconsider its policy with Ankara in the wake of crises in Iraq and Syria and Ankara's denial to cooperate with the White House in the two states.

The center said the U.S. is better to replace Turkey by Kurdistan Region and build and airbase in Erbil and send arms and weapons for Kurds that are at war against the IS jihadists and also make Turkey know that Washington can follow its policies without Turkey's approval.

The center, led by senators from the Republican and Democratic parties also said the U.S. is better to remove the PKK from the U.S. and Europe terror list as the party is fighting against the IS.

Full report here: U.S. Bipartisan Policy Center: 'Turkey: An Increasingly Undependable Ally' .

Recommendations.

To communicate to Turkey that the United States will act in its strategic interests, with or without Turkish support or permission, there are several actions the United States could take:

Seek a base in Kurdish Regional Government territory. Turkey’s continued refusal to allow access to its Incirlik airbase has forced the United States to fly missions out of the Gulf, dampening the effectiveness of the U.S. air campaign against ISIS. Seeking an alternative to Incirlik in KRG territory would reduce U.S. reliance on Turkey while also providing similar geographic advantages for operations in Iraq and Syria to combat ISIS.

Organize more airdrops to Syrian Kurds. Organizing more airdrops when the United States has the best possible intelligence to ensure that supplies will not fall into the hands of extremists will have two benefits: first, the United States will be able to support and resupply Kurdish fighters on the front lines in Iraq and Syria; and second, it will communicate to Turkey that the United States is determined to support its partners in the fight against ISIS, with or without Turkish permission or use of Turkish airspace and bases.

Discuss delisting Kurdish groups. With the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) engaged in a political-solution process with the Turkish government and emerging as a viable partner against ISIS, there is a growing chorus suggesting that the United States and Europe delist the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Look to other regional players. Beyond Turkey, there are several other nations that are playing and could play larger roles in regional politics, such as: Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Jordan.

Stress shared values. Seeking new partners should not mean, however, turning a blind eye to developments in Turkey or remaining silent as Turkey’s democracy continues to unravel.

Focus on electoral fairness. With important parliamentary elections about to take place against a backdrop of tension and political uncertainty, U.S. policymakers should urge the Turkish government to invite international observers to assess the fairness and security of the vote.