President Obama routinely issues condolences in the wake of major terrorist attacks around the world, but not all condolences are equal.
The White House’s response to 41 deaths at Turkey’s major airport Tuesday night stood in marked contrast to those after Islamic State struck at the heart of France in November and struck transit hubs in Brussels, Belgium in March.
“This is an attack not just on Paris, it’s an attack not just on the people of France, but this is an attack on all of humanity and the universal values that we share,” Obama told the American people hours after 130 Parisians were murdered in coordinated attacks.
After 35 people died in triple bombings in Brussels, Obama issued a proclamation, ordered flags flown at half-staff for four days, called Belgium’s prime minister and opened his historic address in Havana with comments about Belgium.
“We stand in solidarity with them in condemning these outrageous attacks against innocent people,” he told the world. “We will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally, Belgium, in bringing to justice those who are responsible.”
When news of Tuesday’s suicide bombings at Ataturk International Airport broke, the White House issued a statement from Obama’s press secretary.
“The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms today’s heinous terrorist attack,” Josh Earnest stated. “We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, our NATO Ally and partner, along with all of our friends and allies around the world, as we continue to confront the threat of terrorism.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t mean it but from the outside, it sounds like the president don’t care about the lives of people outside of the West,” said Hassan Hassan of the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy.
“The language is different,” Hassan added. Obama makes “more effort to emphasize that this is a war against the free world” when the carnage is in the West.
Obama condemned the bombings in Turkey in his first public remarks Wednesday from Ottawa, where he was attending the North American Leaders’ Summit. But unlike Paris, which also happened the evening before Obama was slated to make an international trip, he did not first deliver a public address.
“Let me just publicly extend my deepest condolences to the people of Turkey for the terrible attack that took place in Istanbul,” Obama said after his meeting with Mexican President Enrique Nieto. Obama relayed that he called Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier Wednesday “to discuss with him not only how heartbroken we have been by the images of the injured and those killed, but also to reaffirm our strong commitment to partner with Turkey, with NATO, with the broad-based alliance that we have structured around the world to fight ISIL.”
Obama did not call Erdogan Tuesday night.
Hassan said Obama is not the only world leader guilty of appearing to care less about terrorist violence in the Middle East.
Underscoring his point, Obama was the only of the “three amigos” to mention Istanbul during Wednesday’s press conference with Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Hassan said leaders are improving, as “more than before, they’re recognizing it as a ‘heinous’ attack.”
But he said many experts also maintain a double standard, he said. “At the same time, there’s a cynical tone … like Turkey deserved it,” for not doing enough to fight the Islamic State, Hassan said.
The administration has struggled so far to explain the different reactions it has to different terrorist events.
In March, the State Department was asked why the Obama administration flew its flags at half-staff for the Brussels victims, but not for a separate attack in Istanbul.
“Partly that’s a decision I believe made by the White House or by the senior leadership of a country,” answered spokesman Mark Toner. “It in no way should be interpreted as showing any disrespect.”
