Turkey’s invasion of northern Syria last week added dramatically to the complexity of America’s involvement in the Syrian War, which already saw a substantial number of different “US-backed” groups that are at one another’s throats grow substantially with the introduction of Turkish military forces in close proximity to the Kurdish YPG.
While Turkey, and their affiliated militias, captured the ISIS city of Jarabulus at the border, it wasn’t long before they were sacking Kurdish villages and engaging in direct fighting with the YPG over territory along the Euphrates River. Turkish officials have made no bones about this being the primary goal of the campaign.
Pentagon officials came into Turkey’s invasion trying to be supportive, launching a few airstrikes to support the incursion and demanding the Kurds cede some territory. Now, however, they’re just insisting the clashes are “unacceptable” and demanding that everyone “stand down immediately.”
With the US not wanting to make an enemy of either side, however, the demands are ringing pretty hollow, and no one seems to be prepared to stand down. Turkey still insists they intend to take everything west of the Euphrates away from the Kurds, and the Kurds are still preparing to defend territory the US recently helped them capture from being overrun by the Turkish military.
The Pentagon insists the focus needs to be purely on ISIS, which ironically they weren’t interested in earlier this month when the same Kurdish YPG forces started attacking the Syrian military in Hasakeh. The YPG is giving lip-service to this idea, but the reality is that as Turkey’s gains mount the YPG will have less and less border with ISIS to fight in the first place.
O, yes. Biden flashy smiles in Turkey, and telling Kurds that they have to go back across the Euphrates, has just been replaced with bare teeth, a demand that Kurds and Turkey stop fighting. Let us remind ourselves, it has not been that long time ago, that Kurds with US help — took town of Manbij. And Kurds ethnically cleansed it of non-Kurdish population. US is playing cute — but Kurds, even though present along Turkish border, are NOT a majority there. They are majority only in three areas, two of them across Euphrates river. This is what Turkey is demanding — that YPG takes its fighters back to their region, and not use US help to make themselves a majority along the entire Turkish border. US is not going back on its word — and not asking Kurds to go back. This is a stupid decision, as it will only prolong fighting, many more lives will be lost, and Kurds will have to go anyway. But if they go back to Kobani area, at least the Kurds that have lived along Turkish border will not have to pay the price of being involved in a fight that has nothing to do with them. That will only force all Kurds to flee — in whose interest is that? Kurds and US took those areas by force, committed ethnic cleansing, and some of the worst civilian casualties of the war by bombing Manbij — and now, as Kurds are not willing to leave, US is pleading for fighting to stop? Turkish operation is called Euphrates Shield, and it means just that. YPG will have to go back — or is US prepared to go to war with Turkey to support Kurds. Kurds are their own worst enemy. Always end up at the losing end of a stick, because they get too greedy, and fall for promises by great powers. Then become a disposable toilet tissue — and still cannot figure out why they are not able to get any autonomy?
A fight that has nothing to do with them huh? You’re a moron. This Turkish occupation is in coordination with jihadists. Turkey is the head of the snake and needs to be stopped immediately. The US is obviously being kept outside of Turkish plans. This public show of support is hollow and the US needs to get its senses back and put a stop to this rogue country. They are just as guilty as Assad and other barbarians. Kurds have been chased out of their lands for over a century, they have every right to get it back and connect their lands. You’re just a Turkish troll that can’t stomach seeing Kurds gained self governance.
None of our business, any more than it would be Russia’s or China’s business to make demands and set policy in an invaded country.
But Turkey can invade a country and set realities? The country that has been funding and supplying extremists for several years? The same country that is destroying towns and killing thousands of innocent people in Kurdish areas? The ones doing everything they can to protect these radicals? you’re clueless. Bianca’s propaganda is nothing but that, full of lies and deceit as is and has been Turkish policy. And throw in blackmail too.
It’s not a stupid decision if one of your primary short-term goals is to prolong the fighting.
As Jill so aptly put it, “US foreign policy is a marketing strategy for weapons manufacturers.” jill2016.com
US may offer token protests, but it is not going to kick Erdogan out of bed as long as he is supporting the SHAM rebels formerly known as al-Qaeda.
It has become more and more obvious that the US command structure has no idea what they are doing. How could they not know that Erdogan was eventually going to turn his entire focus on the Kurds which the US is supposed to be supporting, financially and materially.. And this “plan” of supporting radical Islamic terrorists (Sham/al-Qaeda) is criminal – according to US law.
What a mess – or is it?
What skulduggery is the US up to with this?
For a murderous rat, Erdogan plays his cards well.
Golly gee whiz, who’d a ever thunk Turkey would use every way, means and then some .. to kill Kurds..?
FORBIDDEN TALES FROM THE FUTURE
I’m Barry Sotero Junior. Me and III went to the rest home to see gramps, who, as usual, was sitting in his golf pants on the porch, even though he hasn’t been able to golf in years (his daughter-in-law says he never could). I asked him if he had been sleeping any better since we last saw him. “Oh yeah, now I sleep just fine.” Are they doing anything new or different that helps? “They give me a cup of hot chocolate and a little blue diamond-shaped pill at bedtime.” Hmmm, I thought, then said, Hey, III…sit here with gramps, for a minnit, I’m gonna say hello to the nurse. So I go out to the hall and ask the nurse, Hey, what’s this pill you folks are giving gramps at bedtime? “Oh, it’s Viagra.” Well, hot chocolate, I can understand, sure, but…? “Well, the drink helps him to fall asleep, and the Viagra keeps him from rolling out of bed.”
Give the Kurds anti tank weapons and it will end the problem. It is past time That the US acknowledge that the Islamist Erdogań is not an ally.
Oh lord – more weapons to fall into the hands of those we will later be against. Now just what have the Kurds done to help the US and why are you concerned about them?
John wells, do you know anything or do you just like to take the anti-Kurdish view with generalized statements and questions? The Kurds have probably been the best ally in the region to the US. They have risen up multiple times at the request of the US. They are the main reason ISIS doesn’t control all of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and where ever else. The Kurds are the only people in the region that actually take pride in their alliance with the US. The Kurds are examples of the struggle for freedom and democracy, two ideals that have been at the center of the foreign policy of democratic countries. And don’t compare weapons that tyrants like Erdogan get from us to those struggling to control their own destiny. We shouldn’t call it Islamic extremism, it should be called Sunni Islamic Extremism headed by countries like Turkey and Saudi Arabia. And if you believe this has nothing to do with the US, you’re even more naiive. In the future, when commenting, try to actually grasp some information so you don’t look so uninformed.