Tensions between Washington and Moscow gave way to a fiery exchange at the State Department, with a spokesman accusing a Russian television journalist of asking "absolutely crazy" questions. Spokesman John Kirby chided Gayane Chichakyan of state-backed RT for posing "absolutely ridiculous" questions as she persistently queried him about the US position on Turkey's military deployment in Iraq during the State Department's usually cordial daily briefing. Having waited her turn, the reporter, who attends the briefing on a regular basis, repeatedly tried to discern whether or not Washington approved of the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq, which has taken place without Baghdad's permission and sparked tensions between the two neighbors
