A 2016 GOP US presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said that US should thank Russia for its actions in the Middle East.

The US should welcome Russia’s efforts in fighting the Daesh military group, also known as ISIL/Islamic state, he said. If Putin wants to get rid of Daesh, America shouldn’t hinder his endeavor.

“If Russia is willing to help us kill some of these savages, then I’m more than willing to at least recognize that on this issue…they are with us, not against us” Huckabee said.

As for the allegations that Turkey’s top political leadership, including President Tayyip Erdogan and his family are directly involved in Daesh’ illegal oil trade and personally benefit from it, the candidate said that he trusts Turkey less than he trusts Russia.

“Erdogan is one of those people that has said one thing publicly but done something else privately. If we find out that in fact he is helping to finance ISIS, then he’s got to go,” the candidate said. “We are not going to be partners with and be a part of helping to arm him to protect him if he in turn is loading barrels of guns pointed at us.”

Huckabee believes that Islamic Jihad is the primary threat for the US, and it is essential to focus on Daesh, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram and domestic terrorism, putting differences with Russia on hold.

He added that if he were president of the US, he would increase air strikes on Daesh supply lines.

“You don’t go over and fly over and just wave,” Huckabee said, as cited by Breitbart News, arguing it is important to stop terrorist supplies from moving and to shut off their access to social media.

According to the politician, Bashar Assad’s presidency isn’t what America should be concerned about at the moment, for he is not the one who kidnaps and kills US citizens.

Source: sputniknews.com