Turkey’s repeated escalations in Syria’s Idlib Province came at least in part with US officials endorsing them and the idea of confronting Russia. But as Turkey risks blowing this up into a whole new war, it’s a war that they’ll be fighting alone.
US officials are making clear they aren’t considering joining the war in any real way. Defense Secretary Mark Esper in particular said that “I don’t see any likelihood that we would be back along the border.“
There were few reasons to think the US would want to get sucked back into a war in Syria, particularly one against Russia. This is likely why Turkey, in the recent flare-up, was trying to play this up as a fight against the Assad government, and not Russia.
That makes sense, of course, because Turkey’s military is in a decent position to fight a one-on-one conflict with war-weary Syria over Idlib Province. Fighting Russia is something else entirely, especially with the US not interested in getting sucked in.
Erdogan’s bellicose threats against Syria, however, are going to make it difficult for his military to keep this conflict limited. To hear Erdogan tell it, he is willing to risk everything over Idlib, and that doesn’t sound nearly so good if they are at serious risk of a big, costly war.
The US government has a dilemma: if it lets Russia win against Turkey it loses the confidence of other allies. Logic and interests are compelling factors for catastrophic wars.
https://www.ghostsofhistory.wordpress.com/
At this particular moment, our other allies suck ass, for the most part. I’m not concerned if we lose them.
I think you mean the US government sucks ass.
I generally expect I’m speaking to adults who understand common English usage, without me having to attach a flood of qualifiers to all my statements.
The NATO article 5 does not say other members should help one member who is invading another country. Sorry, Turkey.
“US officials are making clear they aren’t considering joining the war in any real way. Defense Secretary Mark Esper in particular said that “I don’t see any likelihood that we would be back along the border.“”
Again and yet again: the biggest mistake is to ever consider whatever the US says as reliable in any way or wise.
There is always the possibility of US/NATO saying that and then, once the warring starts in earnest, joining the Turks directly or under their Zionist entity identity. Never say never and be ready for all things and don’t underestimate the willingness of US-Zionist crazies to provoke a world war.