Posted on 06/05/2018 9:43:28 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
The United States is committed to ensuring the exit of Kurdish forces from the area of northern Syria west of the Euphrates river, and will work with Turkey to do so as soon as possible, senior officials from the U.S. State Department have said.
The officials’ statements to press officials seemed rather vague compared to the precisely described plans announced by Turkish officials, however, particularly on the time frame for the withdrawal.
The two unnamed U.S. State Department officials held the press briefing via teleconference on Tuesday, covering in depth the U.S.-Turkish Working Group on Syria and the agreement announced yesterday by the two countries’ top diplomats on a “roadmap” to remove Kurdish militias from the region.
The presence of forces from the predominantly Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) near its border is viewed as a grave security threat by Turkey, which fears the group may launch cross-border attacks or encourage armed struggle for self-rule among Kurds within Turkey.
Ankara launched a military operation against the YPG in the northwest Syrian enclave of Afrin in January, and has pushed the United States to force the YPG and affiliated forces out of the nearby area of Manbij, where U.S. special forces troops are stationed.
Monday’s announcement of a U.S.-Turkish roadmap has been presented as a victory by Turkish officials, who have said that, per the agreement, the YPG will be out of Manbij within six months.
State Department officials, however, have remained elusive on this point, saying that, while the United States will act as quickly as possible and the timeframe given by Turks is “in the ballpark,” they could not set a specific timeframe for the withdrawal.
(Excerpt) Read more at ahvalnews.com ...
Then they hear what they want to hear. And then blame everyone else when things don't work out.
I don't trust them at all.
After reading the headline, I was all set to criticize the posting of a local freeway’s off-ramp problems, but now I see it is even less interesting than that. LOL
Well, it interests me from the standpoint that I watched the progress report on taking Manbij daily when it was going on.
I also watched as the SDF was formed in an effort to satisfy Erdogan. The SDF since before Manbij has been a mixed creed group. Syrian Kurds (all secular, with mix of Christian (Syriac +), atheist, Arabs and various other Muslim).
Of course it never satisfied Erdogan. Nothing ever will, he wants to take over the ME and rule it himself. Only his overthrow or death will stop that.
Nobody can see where this will eventually settle out. Turkey and Iran may be in for some more surprises. There have been huge ones the past month.
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