From Ashley Killough, CNN Political Ticker: Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry on Tuesday stood by his comment that Turkey’s regime is led by "Islamic terrorists" and called on the U.S. government to cut all foreign aid to its NATO ally.
"This is a country that’s got some explaining to do to the United States," Perry said on CNN’s "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer."
Citing an increase in violence against women in the country, the Texas governor argued that Turkey has moved from "its pro-Western stance" to a society driven by extremist views.
Perry first made the comments during Monday night’s South Carolina presidential debate, in which he questioned whether NATO should revoke Turkey’s membership. . . .
Perry argued the U.S. should ends its aid to a country that he said has seen a rise in "honor killings," a violent act in which family members kill a relative, almost always female, because they feel the relatives’ actions have shamed the family. . . .
"The idea that (Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan’s regime has somehow or other earned our respect is not correct," Perry said. (photo: Getty)
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