Even though the U.S. considers Turkey an ally and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a terrorist organization, Washington soon may be forced to play the role of mediator, effectively giving legitimacy to the PKK, an Al-Monitor piece states. The Turkish military is so focused now on its battle with the PKK that it is probably not even capable of being an effective coalition partner in the U.S.-led war against ISIS. Likewise, the PKK is closely affiliated with Kurdish militants in Syria, the YPG, who are a U.S. ally in the fight against ISIS. If Washington continues to stand with Ankara, it will weaken the fight against ISIS.