Declaration Of War? Erdogan Says Turkish Forces Are In Syria To End Assad's Rule

Zero Hedge ^ | 11/29/16 | Tyler Durden

[lafroste]

Having stated in the past that the only reason Turkish forces are on Syrian soil is to combat Islamic State terrorists, today Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a dramatic diplomatic reversal and said that the Turkish Army has entered Syria to end the rule of President Bashar Assad, whom he accused of terrorism and causing the deaths of thousands.

“We entered [Syria] to end the rule of the tyrant al-Assad who terrorizes with state terror. [We didn’t enter] for any other reason,” the Turkish president was quoted by Huyrriyet as saying at the first Inter-Parliamentary Jerusalem Platform Symposium in Istanbul. Erdogan said that Turkey has no territorial claims in Syria, but instead wants to hand over power to the Syrian population, adding that Ankara is seeking to restore “justice.”

“Why did we enter? We do not have an eye on Syrian soil. The issue is to provide lands to their real owners. That is to say we are there for the establishment of justice,” he said, taking a page out of the US playbook, which however in recent weeks has been muted following substantial advances by Syrian and Russian forces which as reported last night, have made material gains in the fight against Syrian rebels in east Aleppo.

[lafroste]

OK, now I'm officially baffled. It seems that someone really wants global war, and since Trump is unlikely to oblige them, they'll use other means.

[Uncle Miltie]

Sunni Khalifate, here we come!

[lafroste]

Also this:

The Turkish moral arbiter of all that is right also said that Turkey could not “endure” the unending killing of civilians and “had to enter Syria together with the Free Syrian Army.”

Isn't "Free Syrian Army" a polite way of saying muslim extremists?

[Old Teufel Hunden]

Everyone talks about actions having consequences. Here’s a perfect example of inaction also having consequences. Our feckless, weak President has been the author of the current mess that is Syria....

[xkaydet65]

Did Erdogan by chance run this by Putin?

[Mr. Douglas]

Well, they have until Jan 20 to fish or cut bait.

I honestly think there is a good chance they will choose to fish, and have been planning it for years.

[Mariner]

If Erdogan is serious, he’ll be at war with Russia shortly.

Just how dumb can a Turk get?

[faithhopecharity]

Watch the Turk try to take the pipeline part of Syria so he can control those supplies to Europe etc. Russia won’t like. (Neither would Arabians or Iranians). Boom boom time —

[MHGinTN]

These blood-lusting dictators like Erdogan-Islam must act quickly while L4B is still ruler in America. Look for a few more ‘odd changes’ in Islamicism policy between now and January 2017. Barry has given them a green light to do what they need to to consolidate their murderous regimes.

[ColdOne]

This is interesting...Putin is all about that gas pipeline...which is why he is supporting Assad. I don’t know if Turkey (edergon) will get money from the pipeline. Anyone know?

Then again edergon is all about the caliphate...so money on this may not be the goal.................nah, he has the biggest taxper funded mansion in most the world.

[Mariner]

I expect the Syrian air force to now begin targeting Turkish ground forces.

Russia will keep the Turkish air force out of theater with the S400’s and the Russian air force.

And if Erdogan is counting on US air cover or rescue, he needs to see a doctor.

[ColdOne]

Thanks for that info....I am thinking obama is helping out one way or another. One of our fine military died in Syria I think last week....whose side was he on?

[WENDLE]

That is an invasion by a foreign state and should be denounced and destroyed. It violates every principle on international law. It would be the same a the Chinese invading us because we have Black Lives matter. This must be rebuked with force.

[WENDLE]

The Russians will teach them about international law. It will be fun to watch. This is all Sunni - Shia crap. But turkey is way out of line here and will soon regret this mistake.

[Alberta's Child]

That is an invasion by a foreign state and should be denounced and destroyed. It violates every principle on international law. It would be the same a the Chinese invading us because we have Black Lives matter. This must be rebuked with force.

Turkey is just doing the same sh!t that the U.S. has been doing for years. We destroyed our credibility on this sort of thing a long time ago.

[DoughtyOne]

We back away. Shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

Then let Russia clean Erdogan’s clock!

Erdogan has sent troops in, then griped because Syria fired on them.

Is that guy mentally stable?

[Mr. Douglas]

But turkey is way out of line here and will soon regret this mistake.

---

My concern is that they know that, and that something else is afoot here. Hence my reference to Jan 20.

[InterceptPoint]

Finally, perhaps for the first time in his life, Erdogan speaks a bit of truth.

This could turn out to be Turkey + ISIS vs. U.S. + Russia. Coming soon to an Iraq-Syria Theater near you.

Watch the fireworks. Pick a winner. Try to decide what NATO will think of this interesting development. Then watch Turkey decide if it wants to remain in NATO or not.

Interesting times.

[Alberta's Child]

This could turn out to be Turkey + ISIS vs. U.S. + Russia. Coming soon to an Iraq-Syria Theater near you.

More likely, it will be Turkey + ISIS + U.S. Congress vs. Russia + Syria + Trump Administration. Think about how that will play out.

[Blacklisted]

It's good to know that the socialist dictator and war criminal, Bashar al-Assad, still has enemies.

Kill some Russian barbarians too while you're at it, Turks. Y'all have always been good at that!