Two days of talks between the US and Turkey have ended without an
agreement, leading Defense Secretary Mark Esper to promise that the US would prevent any Turkish invasion of northwestern Syria.
Turkey has long had a problem with the Kurds in northwestern Syria, and
has been threatening an invasion for the past 18 months. The US has
tried to prevent this by keeping troops in the area, but it seems that’s
not going to work forever.
Indeed, while Esper says he expects an arrangement can be made to
prevent Turkey’s invasion now, it’s not at all clear what that is, and
Turkey’s President Erdogan said the operation would go ahead “very
soon.”
Analysts expressed doubt about the US willingness to confront Turkey militarily over the invasion, and while the US insists that they are determined to stop the invasion, their options are limited.
Crush those cruddy Kurds, Force all American “troops” out of Turkey. Strike Saudi Arabia hard & fast. Go, Team Turkey.
Except that the hated MBS gets along with Turkey just fine. We still do not know who should take credit for the intelligence that resulted in the most detailed record of a murder in Saudi Consulate in Turkey EVER. Turkey clearly had their spooks involved, and the thorough recording devices inside the Consulate — just first class. The complete information on the arrival and departure of the execution team — precise and clear. So, it did not take long before Saudis knew exactly the depth and the breath of the intelligence infiltration. In the basis of that evidence, MBS got support from Allegiance Council to clean up intelligence agencies and reorganize. Two senior officials are gone.
There is no Turkey-Qatar and Saudi rift any more. This is now a performance to keep US/UK policymakers confused. With UAE and Bahrain in Damascus — and Bahrain being very vocal in support of Assad — what do you think, MBS is not aware of it? Bahrain’s Foreign Minister pointedly hugged Syrian counterpart in UN. In response to journalists question about his support of the Assad regime, he retorted that Bahrain supports legal governments not armed terrorists trying to take them down. The move is significant on many levels. Saudis still have tanks in Bahrain since they came to support Sunni rulers against their Shia majority subjects swept into Arab Spring fever. This move — in concurrence with Saudis clearly — is to heal the rift between Sunni rulers and Shia population. With Assad having a hero status among Bahrein Shia — rulers decision to support Assad politically and financially has been widely popular. Bahrain will provide conditions for its Shia businesses to be involved in reconstruction, and its Shia journalists and NGO present in Syria. This will take Shia population back into mainstream if economy, not shunned. This will facilitate Saudi tanks quiet withdrawal.
It was also clear that in post -Kasgoggi world, UAE move into Damascus and reopening of Embassy was not an accident, and must have had Saudi approval.
There are so many coordinated moves, it is hard to keep track off. Take the absence of Turkey from the meeting of The Organization of Islamic states in Mecca. The purpose was to discuss Iran. With Turkey being Iran’s partner in Syria — the failure of the meeting would have been laud at its door by the MSM. By not being present, no scapegoat could be easily found among participants. The meeting’s final statement dud not even mention Iran. Nice coordination.
Like Saudis inviting the presumed enemy, Qatar to the meeting of GCC. Knowing full well that Qatar has good relations with Iran, and will not agree to any military option. USCus stuck here, cannot say anything to Qatar with US base sitting there.
The newest brainless idea is sending navies to the Gulf. If they do, China is sending its navy also to protect its ships, and guarantee freedom of navigation. Guaranteed. There are many more such provocations coming — but ill not result in regional states participating in war with Iran.
UAE move in Yemen signals end game is approaching. With focus on Straits of Hormuz — can US mobilize anyone to get out of the closet and support its attempt to control Arabian side of Bab al-Mandeb? Saudis are hoping to have that one end in their victory, with UAE support. This is an opening to get South remain independent, and revert back to Sana’a being independent. This solution worked well before, even under Cold War conditions. It is the only one that will work again. Saudis did not want to end the war until they get the control of the SOUTH. North never was nor will be a problem once it gets its freedom back.
The Kurds are the largest ethnic group without a country . They have been the United States best helpers . Assad might help the Kurds . As Kurds have always got along best in Syria .
but… but, if there were a Kurdistan with Kurds, where would all the great “strength thru diversity” come from?
STength thru diversity is not often true
exactly!!
Actually the Jews , Muslim and Christian people should be united as believers in God they should be opposed to the people that don’t believe in God But they are too diverse . They may some day discover the God deniers will soon claim he is God .
Lots of people who aren’t Jews, Muslims or Christians believe in god. Maybe not the god that you believe in. Maybe more than one god. Maybe some goddesses, too.
True they may also believe in a higher power O.K. But God deniers don’t believe in any God or higher power they believe they are God .
Don’t know any atheists who believe they are God. Now there may be a few loony tune batsh*t crazy lunatics who believe that, but never met one.
Both Syria and Iraq would be willing to talk about this from a position of peace and stablity.. but the US is against peace and stability, so…
Entangling Alliances,,just ignore the Founders stern warning. Will the SHTF soon?
Just wanker talk from Esper.
So we’ll see NATO nations slugging it out over…. Syria? LOL You just can’t make this stuff up.
In the mean time the Kurds sell oil and gas extracted from areas they now control east of the Euphrates and make a profit, refusing to share those profits with the Syrian people. They’ve even sold oil and gas from these Syrian lands at high rates back to the Syrian people whose economy is being strangled by US and EU sanctions that disallow oil getting to that country. I’ve lost all respect for them. They refuse to work with the Syrian government and compromise and are only looking out for themselves. They have no right to control all of Syria east of the Euphrates, most of which has been traditionally arab land which has the largest oil and gas deposits in Syria. That’s 1/3 of Syria! They want it all, like the Zionists, and refuse to compromise. I’m no fan of the vicious Turks, but i no longer care about the Kurds either.
This is becoming a “waiting for Godot” situation. I’m been waiting for Erdogan to do his “invasion” for literally years now.
My guess is that whatever is holding this up is…Russian negotiations in the background. My guess is Putin wants Erdogan to abandon the jihadists in Idlib and in return Russia and Assad will turn a blind eye to whatever Turkey wants to do with the Kurds – up until the moment Idlib is freed, then Russia and Assad bring the hammer down on the Turks, at least diplomatically, and get the Kurds to come back into the Syria fold. A win-win for everyone – except the US. Of course, Trump could spin that as a win if he gets US troops out of Syria, against the neocons wishes.
what a ridiculous situation this is.
Not sure strength threw diversity is true . It only would be true if the diverse groups formed a new united group .
What makes you think that being “unified” is the only source of strength?