Following the Turkish military attacking and killing scores of Syrian military personnel on Monday in northern Syria, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned Syria and declared the US “fully supports Turkey’s justified self-defense actions.“
Syria invaded multiple al-Qaeda-held towns in Idlib, seizing Maarat al-Numaan and approaching Saraqeb before Turkey sent a military convoy to that town to stop them. When Syria hit some Turkish forces, who were inside the Syrian town, they retaliated by attacking.
Turkey’s President Erdogan has threatened more attacks against Syria, and has warned Russia not to interfere. Though the US hasn’t been nearly as enthusiastic about Turkey’s other invasion of Syria, into Kurdish territory, Pompeo made clear that this Turkish intervention, keeping Saraqeb under al-Qaeda’s control, has America’s full support.
Pompeo further said that the US considers Syria’s attempt to take towns from al-Qaeda “unjustifiable and ruthless assaults.” This is in keeping with US policy throughout the Syrian War to support Islamist groups enough that they don’t lose outright.
In reality, “US stands by DAESH”.
That’s new. Syria invading itself…
So Pompeo is saying that AQ needs a safe haven?
It’s great to know that Pompeo is such a compassionate man, and he so much believes in loving your enemies and doing good to those who persecute you (unless, of course, they work for NPR), that he wants AQ to have place where they can be safe.
The only thing I don’t understand is why this safe haven couldn’t be in Afghanistan.
Cause if they had a safe Haven in Afghanistan they could arrange flight training ops from there into Florida and coordinate with their German based operatives, also their is a secret channel to San Diego from Afghanistan. That isn’t possible from Idlib because reasons.
Loyalties are based on interests: supporting fellow -NATO Turkey in North West Syria, opposing it inb North East Syria. Which direction the compass points the final destination seems global conflagration, quite possibly starting in the Middle East.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
*facepalm*
The US defends al Qaeda and uses al Qaeda. It always has, since bin Laden in Afghanistan was the same people.
Sometimes they fight it, when it gets out of line. But that is just to smack it back into line, to do as the US wishes done.
Everything bad said about al Qaeda is true. It is just as true of the US behavior in that region. In fact, they are the same people.
Al Qaida has been the United States ground troop for a long time before 9 /11 . In Yugoslavia it was said the United States furnished the air force for Al Qaida . Milosevic remarked during his trail that 9/11 was so sad . He had them in Jail and you made me let them go . Al Qaida is terrorist Muslims that come from all over the world . We used them to try to topple Assad . We armed and trained the non existent Syrian rebels to only find out we had few soldiers left they had joined ISIS
Let’s see: “We defeated ISIS,” but we approve of al-Qaeda strongholds in Syria?
It’s way too apparent for >40 yr that U.S. “policy” wonks for Central Asia, Middle East completely clueless.
The next time one of our current admin. spox whines about terrorists & our “allies,” recall that al Assad in Syria, Putin in Russia solidly anti-caliphate; Erdogan in Turkey wants to be Sultan of Ottoman Empire Lite.
Erdogan and Trump are daring Putin. Putin is known to take only so much then hit back viciously. This situation can easily get out of hand.
If Pompass and the USA maladministration support it, it is the wrong choice.
Syria unfortunately lost the northern portion. Unless Russia bribes Turkey with favors, Turkey is now the new governor and soon will flood the location with scores of Turks posing as “Syrian” citizens and will retaliate if any more shelling happens.
I guess that removes any doubt about who has been arming terrorists in the region.
Yes, I hope he does. But watch what happens when he figures out the deception. Just what happened when Trump pulled US forces out not only from Turkish border areas to deal with Kurdish militias, but all the way down Euphrates — pulling out from Manbij, Raqqa. Why? Because the assumption was — Turkey will be sucked into the area, and US can be in a happy position to watch Syrian-Russian-Turkish conflict over the territory. In fact — narrative was already circulating, with dutiful EU parroting the sermons. Turkey was to be pilloried over oppressing Kurds. Giving US a platform for bashing Turkey’s territorial ambitions. Not in their wildest dreams did they visualize Turkey-Rusdia-Syria deal that neutralized Kurdish autonomy threat, secured Turkey-Russia joint border patrol of 10 km belt. And letting Syria take over the entire region. Syrian military and Russian police swooped in — securing Kurdish safety by police preventing vigilante justice.
Having consolidated North-East, time has come for Idlib. Turkey has been recruiting from the area fighters for its Libyan force.
The Western element in Idlib knows the score. Turkey has already peeled of all the militants from wider Idlib area and out them under their command. Before long only British funded Helmets and core Nusra would remain. US is already openly cheering for Al-Qaeda — so Turkish actions are seen in their defense.
Trump administration is about to step on that rake for the second time. Al-Qaeda is fed, armed and directed by Western powers — no Saudi money there. Thus — Al-Qaeda is doing everything to stir up the pot. Shelling Russian positions, striking out from their confine — targeting Syrian forces along highway. And putting Turkey in a difficult position. Turkey by law treats Al-Qaeda as terrorist organization — and cannot protect them, but is using a useful fiction that non-Al-Qaeda militants are trapped. Thus check-points, to allow militants to cross over to Turkish controlled region. Since Syria had to respond to latest attacks — the only way to do it us by bypassing check-points, and dealing a crushing blow to Al-Qaeda. Now, Al-Qaeda has some decisions to make. They KNOW now that they cannot double cross Turkey.
Turkey will protect them provided they listen. Syrian army showed how vulnerable they are. What is shaping here is the end-game. This is why Turkish and Syrian intelligence chiefs met — openly, not in secret.
Turkey is now Idlib mediator. As Idlib territory has shrunk, Idlib faces decision. Turkey will not let them strike on their own — and expect Turkey’s protection. They already had a taste of this — Turkey did nothing when Syria took several towns and scores of villages. It came in to address the new reality.
We will find soon enough if Idlib is ready to deal or will attempt to cross Turkey again.
It is utterly foolish to believe that Syria, Turkey and Russia have divergent interests here. Neither one wants foreign paid islamist militia hang on forever in Syria, and none of them want Syria under US or Saudi influence. And the longer US supports militants in Idlib, the longer it will take to reach political decisions and move towards a new constitution and elections. And Assad will remain in power longer. In fact, I do not think he would mind getting someone else to do the job — he has young children and sick wife.
Even Pompeo must grasp this — Idlib has become a burden to Western interests — not an asset any more. Turkey was given a strong hand, and a choreography of Idlib demilitarization can start. And in this choreography you can bet Syrian and Russian choreographers will have a role.