Turkey sidelines itself in US-led coalition against IS
Turkey prefers to be a "reluctant subcontractor" rather than active participant in the international coalition against the Islamic State; US envoy seems to contradict Kerry on Syria diplomacy; Israel faces possible "diplomatic siege" after election; majority of Americans back US negotiations with Iran; Al-Monitor endorses new global standards to protect freelance journalists.
![Turkey's President Erdogan takes part in a welcoming ceremony in Kiev Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan takes part in a welcoming ceremony in Kiev March 20, 2015. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich - RTR4U5UG](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2015/03/RTR4U5UG.jpg/RTR4U5UG.jpg?h=e92c5d5c&itok=lowExe6a)
Turkey as 'reluctant subcontractor'
Semih Idiz writes this week that Turkey has sidelined itself in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) due to its single-minded pursuit of the ouster of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad: