A Strategic Partnership with Turkey

Rachel Washburn and Lieutenant General Robert Walsh discuss the partnership between the United States and Turkey.  Recent escalations between Turkey and the Kurds in northern Syria has many Americans questioning the motives and thoughts behind the US reaction to the conflict. Table of Contents: U.S.-Turkey partnership history: 00:00 – 5:19 Turkey’s cultural shift and relationships: 5:20 – 22:39 Next steps: 22:40 – End Lieutenant General (Ret.) Robert S. Walsh is an Academy Securities' Advisory Board Member. Lieutenant General Walsh served in the Marine Corps for over 35 years, completing his career as the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command and the Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration. In his last assignment, he was responsible for strategic planning and executing the reorganization of the Marine Corps to meet the new National Defense Strategy roles and missions.  His responsibilities included integrating multiple warfighting functions and domains across all military services and the Department of Defense.   Previously, he served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration, and the Director of Expeditionary Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.  In these assignments he was responsible for managing numerous vital warfare systems.  Lieutenant General Walsh’s operational and joint assignments included serving as the Commanding General, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) Iraq and the Director of Operations, United States Northern Command. Lieutenant General Walsh has served as the Co-Chairman of both the Navy-Marine Corps and Army-Marine Corps Boards along with being Co-Chairman of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) – Marine Corps Investment Board and the Office of Naval Research – Marine Corps Investment Board. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Lieutenant General Walsh is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds a Master of Science in National Security Studies from the National War College.  He served as an F/A-18 pilot at all levels to include commanding Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Aircraft Group 31, and 2d Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward) during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.  He was an instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as TOPGUN.  He has received several writing awards. Additionally, Lieutenant General Walsh has testified before Congress on subjects such as modernization, acquisition, readiness and training of the Navy and Marine Corps.