| Tango01 | 25 Aug 2016 12:43 p.m. PST |
…Kurds And Not To Battle The Islamic State. "Ankara has sent tanks and commandos across the border, but its primary focus isn't ISIS — it's the Kurds trying to seize territory along its border. Turkey Is Finally Bombing Syria, But It's Not Hitting Who the U.S. Wants Ankara has sent tanks and commandos across the border, but its primary focus isn't ISIS — it's the Kurds trying to seize territory along its border. The assault by about a dozen Leopard tanks, a contingent of Turkish special operations forces, and several hundred Syrian rebels — all backed up by American F-16 and A-10 fighter planes — was touted in a brand-new English-language Turkish government Twitter account: @EuphratesShield. As the Turkish-backed Syrian rebels consolidated their hold on the town, the account posted increasingly anti-Kurd messages, delivering propaganda tying the U.S.-backed Kurdish YPG militia battling the Islamic State inside Syria to the PKK, a Turkish-based Kurdish militant group that has been waging a bloody, decades-long battle with Ankara to gain Kurdish independence…"
Main page
t.co/8c8mPSznkg Amicalement
Armand |
| Garand | 25 Aug 2016 12:56 p.m. PST |
Since when does Turkey operate A-10s!?!?! Damon. |
| Bangorstu | 25 Aug 2016 2:24 p.m. PST |
The US is providing air cover and telling the Kurds to back off. |
| Major Mike | 25 Aug 2016 2:56 p.m. PST |
More confusion as we attack our best friends in the region to prop up Turkish groups and give ISIS a break. |
| The Hound | 25 Aug 2016 2:58 p.m. PST |
USA stabbing the Kurds in the back, how low can one go. |
 Legion 4  | 25 Aug 2016 3:51 p.m. PST |
There are 2 threads on this already … Yes ? TMP link TMP link But I'll bit … From the recent news reports I have heard. The Kurds,the PKK, are attacking the Turks. So that will work out well for the Turks. They now have a reason to do what they have wanted to. They will attack the PPK (or the YPG) ? And Daesh will get a pass … again … |
 piper909 | 25 Aug 2016 3:52 p.m. PST |
"The Sultan is back! Everybody look busy!" Really, why the Kurds would cooperate with the US is beyond me. Haven't they been sold down the river enough by every great power over the last century? |
| Mako11 | 25 Aug 2016 4:03 p.m. PST |
Why am I not surprised? I suspect if true on the aircover issue, congressional hearings might prove entertaining, though nothing will really come of it. |
| VVV reply | 25 Aug 2016 10:30 p.m. PST |
And Daesh will get a pass … again I think the only people on the ground interested in fighting daesh are the Kurds (and Yazhdi). Everyone else is concentrating on the civil war. |
| Legion 4 | 26 Aug 2016 7:08 a.m. PST |
PPK just claimed some terrorists attacks they did in Turkey in the past 24 hours or so … again … The Turks now have the "sanction" to attack them instead of Daesh. Which was just given to them by the PPK. Which may have been the Turks [and PPKs] intent along. We don't have to wonder too much why the region is in the situation we find it in currently. Regardless of GWI or GWII. The region is "ruled" by religious, ethnic, tribal, etc., hatreds that go back many, many decades or more. Until they can over come those "failing", there will be no peace there … The same is said about A'stan … no peace … only bloodshed … |
| VVV reply | 26 Aug 2016 7:22 a.m. PST |
Oh don't worry grudges can be held for many years without armed conflict breaking out. In my area of England, the war of the Roses still can provoke actions. |
| Legion 4 | 26 Aug 2016 8:18 a.m. PST |
I'm not worried. Some Southerners in the USA still don't like "Yankees". But no open conflict has occurred … and probably won't. Too many other reasons for the various US factions to argue about, etc., … |
| Mako11 | 27 Aug 2016 9:02 a.m. PST |
Sounds reasonable, if true. Given Erdie's little "coup", it could be convenient misinformation too, I suspect. Not surprised, VVV. |
| Bangorstu | 27 Aug 2016 9:46 a.m. PST |
Actually to be fair to the US Government, I'm not sure they are stabbing the Kurds in the back. The Kurds have been advancing beyond their historical boundaries, and that has been making all kinds of people nervous for a variety of reasons. I'm not sure the Kurds always play nice when they take over Arab areas. |
| Mako11 | 27 Aug 2016 3:19 p.m. PST |
Nope, just dropping bombs on their heads, if the reports are true – much different (heavy sarcasm intended, in case you couldn't tell). |
| Legion 4 | 27 Aug 2016 3:25 p.m. PST |
I do hope the Kurds actually get a UN, etc., recognized homeland. It may not be as big as its "traditional" borders. But it would be a start. |
| Bangorstu | 28 Aug 2016 6:38 a.m. PST |
It seems the Turks have just killed a few dozen civilians…. not good. A Kurdish homeland is an obvious way forward. The problem being not a single government in the region wants one and will fight to prevent it. Why I've no idea. |
| Legion 4 | 28 Aug 2016 7:51 a.m. PST |
Again, Many in the region hold old habits, distain, etc. that goes back decades and longer. I think one reason the 60% Iraqi Shias don't want to let the Kurds have their own country. Is besides they are Sunni, but different than other Sunni like Daesh(?). Many of the oil fields are in current Kurdish territory. The Iraqi Shia don't want to give up that revenue …  I'd imagine … |
| Rod I Robertson | 28 Aug 2016 1:33 p.m. PST |
Bangorstu mused: Why I've no idea. All states have resources to lose if a Kurdish homeland is established in their hinterlands. Even if such a land is small there will be pressure and likely violence to expand it. Turkey has invested massively in the economic development of Eastern Turkey where the Kurds are claiming sovereignty. Hydroelectricity, mining, and some oil production have been developed in traditional Kurdish lands. Oil and mineral resources in Iraq are at stake for Baghdad. The same is true for Syria. For Iran it is the maintaining of territorial integrity and nationalism coupled with the fear of others non-Persian ethnic minorities wanting to fly off from the Iranian state. This centrifugal worry is true for the other states too. It's a zero-sum game as far as the locals are concerned and the established states are not willing to be on the losing side of that game.
If First Nations Amerindians, Québécois, Albertans, Alaskans, Hawaiians, Shetlanders, Orkneymen, and Faeroe Islanders wanted out, would we act any differently?
Cheers.
Rod Robertson. |
| Timbo W | 29 Aug 2016 6:52 a.m. PST |
Well the Scots,Gibraltarians and Falkland Islanders voted in referenda, so I'd say if the Orkneys, Shetlands etc wanted out they should be given the same. Actually asking people in a region which country they'd like to belong to doesnt sound so ridiculous to me! |
| Legion 4 | 29 Aug 2016 7:32 a.m. PST |
And remember … Iraq is an "artificial" state. Created at the end of WWI. With fall of the Ottoman Turk Empire. And much of the entire region was divided up by the UK and France. To suit their purposes, etc. And "Iraq" was created … At this point … again … it should be or have been sliced up into 3 separate nations. One Shia, one Sunni and one Kurd. But as always hindsight is 20/20. |
looks at a multi-period building.