Speaking to reporters today during an official visit to London, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim says that the United States has assured Turkey that even though the Kurdish YPG is being used to invade ISIS’ capital city of Raqqa, they will not keep control of the city after the battle.
These assurances appear to have been made to try to placate Turkish outrage over US plans to arm the YPG with heavy weapons for the Raqqa battle, and for the US choosing to back the YPG in the offensive against ISIS in general, something Turkey has repeatedly condemned.
Kurdish officials have never said anything about conquering Raqqa for somebody else, and it would be unusual for the group to be willing to commit so heavy to the invasion of a city if they didn’t have designs on incorporating it into their self-declared autonomous region.
It’s also not clear how credible the US assurances will be taken, as they made materially the same promise over the former ISIS city of Manbij, just a bit to the west of Raqqa, and Kurdish forces ultimately kept the city under their control, with the US even sending troops to prevent Turkey invading the city.
Since the Executive seems to have problems communicating amongst themselves, it’s almost a guarantee that the US neglected to inform the YPG.
I personally believe that Trump feels sorry for W when Bush the Lesser was labeled the worst President ever and is personally trying to take that honor for himself.
You ask the Kurds to do the dirty and dangerous work for you then demand that they leave Raqqa?
The gift of heavy weapons to the Kurds? Kurds: Beware of Americans bearing gifts!
The Kurds should keep the guns but stay out of Raqqa. I still think the US is trying to goad the YPG into over-extending themselves.
Spot on. Hillary plan, assiduously pursed by the same cadre of military planners, is allowed to move forward. But knowing that YPG is weak, and knowing that between Turkey and Syrian Army, the path of Afrin Kurds has been cut off from Raqqa — so a contiguous state is NOT in the cards. If Hillary plan fails, as it will if Kobani Kurds are the only boots on the ground, and area is too large with unfriendly natives to be occupied by Kurds. If Trump is true to his words, he will have to judge the military actions based on performance, and this plan has many pitfalls. There may be some more “You are fired” moments.
Like Kurds were supposed to leave Manbij, remember? Still remember Biden in Turkey, ordering Kurds to withdraw. And after operation Euphrates Shield, no progress on removing Kurds from the majority Arab and Turkmen towns and villages they conquered before Erdogan took power after the failed coup. The same thing will be in Raqqa, but not just Raqqa city. There are many other towns and villages in Raqqa Governorate that are majority Arab, and are not looking forward to be “liberated” by Kurds. While Saudi Arabia has control over ISIS, as bills and salaries must be paid, and ISIS can be ordered to leave cities, like they left Manbij — the local population is already mounting a force to resist Kurdish advance. This is a mess for US and Turkey knows it. So, if Kurds expel population and make the region Kurds only, something they have been doing under US protection for a long time now — what then? Who is going to take control of the region from ISIS? What will Turkey do if the old story repeats itself, and Kurdish state grows, giving US yet another nation building project? l
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