RantCrush Top 5: May 10, 2017

President Trump has approved a plan to arm Syrian Kurds in the fight against ISIS, despite the harm it could do to U.S.-Turkey relations. Turkey sees the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, YPG, as a terrorist group and officials there reacted to the decision this morning. The Turkish Prime Minister, Binali Yildirim, called it “unacceptable” and asked the U.S. to reverse the plan. But for the U.S., the YPG is a main ally in the area and an important factor in the fight against Islamic terrorism. This renewed tension between the U.S. and Turkey comes only a week before Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s planned May 16 meeting with Trump in the White House. He is expected to pressure Trump to end his support of the YPG.

The Latest: Kurdish fighters welcome US aid, while Turkey says the move poses a threat to them. https://t.co/nEQx9BBakV

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 10, 2017

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.