I’ve written this before, and I’m writing it again. Ira Hirschmann, the WRB’s rep in Turkey, had balls.

In this case, he’s probably not wrong, but it’s still a lot of hubris for someone who never held an official diplomatic position and was on leave from Bloomingdales Department Store.  Hirschmann is basically asking for more power. He’s concerned that negotiations with the Turkish government is being hampered by pleas for humanitarianism when he should rightfully be able to make diplomatic decisions and threats.