Overnight, Turkish warplanes entered Syria, attacking US-backed Kurdish forces. Turkey reported 200 Kurdish fighters killed, though the Kurds insisted the number was somewhat lower. Either way, the US response to an overt attack on their allies was tepid, to put it mildly.
While the State Department refused direct comment on the attacks and would only say they prefer to see the two groups both fighting against ISIS, Defense Secretary Ash Carter followed up on the attack by insisting that the US partnership with Turkey is “very strong.”
With Turkey both a NATO member and hosting the US warplanes active in Syria, naturally the ability of the US to criticize them is limited, but Turkey appeared to have no such compunctions, with Deputy PM Numaan Kurtulmus declaring that Turkey is “displeased” with the US for its long-standing support for the Syrian Kurds.
Kurtulmus centered his comments on the upcoming US election, expressing hope that whoever is elected president in November would understand that retaining close ties with Turkey means not backing “an armed terrorist organization” like the Kurdish YPG.
Turkey has repeatedly chastised the US for supporting the Kurds, and when Turkey invaded Syria in August, it was clear that one of their goals was direct conflict with those same Kurdish forces, despite some US objections to that idea.
As last night’s strike demonstrates, however, US “support” for the Kurds dries up pretty quickly when push comes to shove, and if anyone is going to prevent further Turkish strikes on the Kurds, it won’t be the US.
So far not a word in corporate media. What will be the Kurds response? Less cooperation with Washington is assured.
Of course not, Ash Carter has more important things to worry about. Like paying for sex change operations and acceptance of transgenders in the AF’s.
That’s called “getting fckued over good by the US”. It always happens. Anything the US says is “open to reinterpretation” the next morning.
It also bears reminding people that Turkey is the nation that shoots down Russian planes when they so much as come a millimeter into Turkish airspace while bombing Turkey’s ISIS buddies.
Nothing pleases the US political establishment like a good, old fashioned war crime.
The US told its Kurdish allies to get back behind the river, to have separation from the Turks as demanded by the Turks.
Did they? Was this attack on Kurds who were where we told them not to be, or was it on Kurds who did as we asked and Turkey attacked them anyway?
The US position ought to be rather different, in those two alternatives. However, even in the worst one, killing hundreds of your ally’s friends is a very harsh way to deal with it, and we ought not be just wishy-washy about it.
The US might as well just paint a giant f**king target on Rojava. Here’s your shot to win over the Kurds, Putin. F**king take it already. Erdogan will always be a backstabbing ISIS allie and a Russo-Kurdish alliance is the best shot for lasting peace. Here’s your chance to make up for Kronstadt, Russia. Bet on the anarchists this time.
I am afraid you do not understand what is going on. It is US that wants to give Kurds their state, another version of Kosovo, with NATO flag on it. Just like Kosovo today, NATO is the supreme arbiter of all things political. No, nobody needs to chop up Syria. It is Kurds bad luck, but I sometimes wonder if people do not create their own bad luck due to bad instincts and worse judgment. What made Kurds rely on US to be their ground force, accept the shame of conducting ethnic cleansing along Turkish borders where they ousted some ISIS, and then proceeded to ethnically cleanse Manbij. And it is after ISIS fighters were allowed to leave!
Turkey has said on more then one occasion that it supports Syria’s territorial integrity, it does not want any part of Syria — but will fight Kurdish state that was planned through ethnic cleansing to connect two parts of Rojava. And Turkey said it will fight ISIS. Still, Turkey does not want to step on US toes too much, by pointing out the strength of Al-Qaeda, after it was presumably left for dead, and its leader dramatically killed. So, now not only it is bigger then ever, it is actually having US by the throat, at it put under its command all the “moderates” that US “vetted”, trained and equipped. What a mess.
The major attack on Kurds came as a surprise to many — but it should not have been. Kurds have been playing coy, and not respecting agreements to withdraw. Also, after taking over Dabiq, Turkey was 10 miles from Al-Bab — a way to ISIS stronghold. And what happened? Kurds decided to STOP THEM. Turkey sent advance groups of former Free Syrian Army, and Kurds beat them back. I was wondering two things: why are Kurds standing in the way of Turkey going to ISIS held area? And second, why is US encouraging them to do so. Only one answer comes to mind — by reminding Kurds that Al-Bab may be the only remaining connection of Rojava, but US must have something in it that is larger then that. The goal must be to PREVENT Turkey from reaching Raqqa. Why? Because Turkey’s victory over ISIS in this region between Euphrates and Tigris — would mean that US would not have any reason to go to Syria, and having no reason to go through Al-Bab to “liberate” the brave city of Aleppo, and its defenders, Al-Qaeda. This is why they are all screaming in one voice — stop all action on Aleppo, even the direct fighting with Al-Nusra fighters. Because in Hillary’s movie — the one she announced in the last debate — after Mosul, comes Raqqa. One does not have to be a genius to understand the reason for trying to hold Turkey back. Because from Raqqa, their is a direct and easy road to Al-Bab, and then hop-skip-and-jump to Aleppo. Of course, there are many problems with this attractive movie. First, Mosul is still just beginning. It will be hard to liberate it without some bombing and killing some civilians. But that is no problem — all major media already prepared public for such unfortunate eventuality. It is not clear who will get Mosul in the end, and it is more likely that Turkey will be able to do it — not any other actors with boots on the ground. First, Kurds are not willing and they will not be trusted by the Sunnis of Mosul. Shia militia — even less. Government troops — even with the support of most Sunni tribesman from the area — still not a guarantee of trust of people on the ground. So, Hillary before reaching for that handle on the Door, may want to think one yard at the time. Also, it is not sure that ISIS will en masse go to Raqqa. They may have learned that their usefulness has come to an end, and decided to turn into ordinary citizens of Mosul. Some will want to die for a cause, but why go to Raqqa to fight Assad, if Hillary has already told them that she is coming to Raqqa to kill them? And then — a surprise attack on Kurdish fighters in their own Afrin region, killing about 300, is a reminder to Kurds that Turkey is not joking. So, back to Al-Bab.
There was apparently a prophecy that ISIS believed in, where at Dabiq a decisive battle will be fought between East and West — naturally ISIS imagining that to be them. But they missed the meaning of prophecy — as It was really nothing more then a collective historic experience of thousands of years on the same soil. Dabiq is by itself of no importance, except that whoever holds it has a path to Al-Bab. The Door. It was in ancient times like today, a place through which many ancient trails and today’s roads go. And one of them to Raqqa, with a straight shot to Mosul. And of course, on the other side of The Door, opens a path to Aleppo.
So, we are now observing the ancient prophecy at work, a prophecy that has been true probably hundreds of times. Will Turkey open The Door, and go to kick out ISIS from Raqqa? Now, Turkey has collected quite a few of former rebel groups, those that are now having a lots of negative feelings towards Kurds as well as ISIS. If this happens, Hillary will not be able to plant any roots in Syria, as the security coming after the conflict will be a regional one, plus Russia. Even though Russia can also be a regional country, as it is only one day’s drive by car from Syria.
So, let us see what happens.
I have lost my empathy for Kurdish leaders. Their trying to stop Turkey from going to ISIS territory, and putting their foot down at Al-Bab is rather a dubious political decision. It has been not too long time ago that Kurds paraded dead Free Syrian Army soldiers though Afrin. Syrian Government however did the right thing — for as long as Kurdish areas are part of Syria, attack on them is condemned. But I do believe that it is taken in revenge for Kurdish attempt to stop Turkey at Al-Bab. Just when one thinks it cannot get nastier, it does.
Jesus H. Christ! Another rambling novel from Erdogan’s personal minister of propaganda. Give me a f**king break!
BTW ISIS IS Turkey. In spite of a few false flag attacks to throw off gullible Turks like you, Erdogan is the so called “Islamic State’s” number one fan. Put down the Kool-Aid, sister, and join us here in R-E-A-L-I-T-Y.
US sides with Kurds against ISIS…US sides with Turkey…Turkey attacks Kurds..Turkey and US want Assad out..US continues to support Turkey.. This sums up the insanity of US foreign policy.
Do not think that Turkey wants Assad out now — or ever. Turkey was and is concerned by the same thing: making sure it has a say in post war Syria, as it will have profound impact on its own security, territorial integrity and political stability. Entering “Assad must go” coalition was the means of earning the place at the table, as it looked like US was going to get its way — just like in Libya. But while part of US coalition, Turkey had a very bad relationship with Obama’s administration, as well as Obama himself. He could not get any guarantee from US that there would not be any Kurdish state on its borders. Turkey was and is concerned about the rather transparent way its NATO friends were arming, politically supporting the secessionist ambitions of Kurds. The return of Turkey to its pre-Syria alliances after May 2016 fall of Davutoglu’s government — was imminent, and the split with US policies in Syria, guaranteed. But it was all quiet until teeth came out, and an attempt was made to decapitate Turkey, literally by targeting Erdogan. Since then, gloves are off — and Turkey is sailing into the same direction as Duterte, and if Erdogan gets any lectures, he is quite capable of being as colorful as another guy. So, the best policy is to avoid another Duterte moment. It is not what is the real issue — taking Al-Bab will be. Let us see what happens next.
By the way, the decision by the Human Rights Commission on Aleppo will remain in the anneals of history as the most hypocritical of all decisions ever made by this commission. It actually outlaws the right of a state to defend itself from terrorists, as it mandates essentially that the state will be held accountable for ensuing fight against terrorists. Therefore it is also Russia’s fault for supporting Syria — and the fact that people have been hurt as the result of bombing or shelling terrorists’ location has been essentially declared criminal. All shelling then, resulting in any humanitarian casualties, is than considered deliberate and criminal. The role of terrorists is not even mentioned. Al-Qaeda is now “rebel’ group, and gets only a mention as it shells West Aleppo — even though it is not attacked from the city itself. Army and Russian military are outside Aleppo, and are not using West Aleppo as human shields, yet, such deliberate attack on civilians has been put on equal grounds with the unintentional civilian casualties. Al-Qaeda’s role in preventing population from leaving — has been phrased as if “all” sides are responsible for not allowing population to leave! Shelling of buses with civilians leaving by Al-Qaeda was also blamed on Syrian government, vaguely suggesting that some checkpoints are to blame.
I was amazed at the audacity and arrogance of such Orwellian proportion — that leaves one speechless. Al-Qaeda is brave defender of city, and the Government and Russia, guilty of besieging the city, strangling it, not allowing humanitarian aid. Yet, Al-Qaeda never allowed either Red Cross or Red Crescent in before — this cease fire actually for the first time brought in supplies in Red Crescent trucks. And this was accomplished only because some corridors were opened into the city. And it was accomplished only because Syrian Army attacked on the ground from the north of the city and also from the south.
This kept Al-Nusra occupied — they could not afford to focus on preventing humanitarian convoys via secured corridors. They had to devote a great deal of their force to prevent Syrian Army advance.
Not one word in the report on the treatment of civilians by Al-Nusra. No executions, torture, forced “marriages”, etc. As if none of the barbarism has ever occurred in Syria, only the government is responsible for the “majority” of bloodshed.
All in all — the defense of legitimate governments against anyone that takes arms to vote with bullets — has been abolished.
The good thing is — such idiocies can be ignored. But knowing the way UN has been used and massaged before, I would not be surprised if they do not go further, find a court to prosecute, or go to General Assembly where frightened rabbits that most countries are will either vote for NATO sponsored resolutions or abstain.
In this vote, 24 voted yes — all predictable, including the paragon of human rights, Saudi Arabia, 7 voted against — besides Russia and China a few others that cannot be cowed, and another 16 that abstained — the politically opportunistic ones, knowing they will be on losing side, decided to just stay out of it. So, in fact, it was 24-23. NATO on the Security Council always insures that the roster on any commission contains right amount of “right countries” to control the vote.
What else can they say?