Posted on 11/11/2018 6:22:17 AM PST by Texas Fossil
On Nov. 6, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara posted a notice that “The Department [of State] has authorized rewards for information leading to the identification or location of the senior Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) members: Murat Karayilan (up to USD $5 million), Cemil Bayik (up to USD $4 million), and Duran Kalkan (up to USD $3 million).” Such bounties are not uncommon when it comes to master terrorists. In years past, the U.S. government, for example, issued bounties for Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, Islamic State head Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and Boko Haram head Abubakar Shekau.
But the three men just named are hardly in the same league.
Not only have they never targeted Americans, but it is not even clear that they are truly terrorists. Karayilan was a PKK cofounder and now leader. Bayik was also a PKK cofounder and is also head of the group’s civic organization. Kalkan, meanwhile, was both a PKK bookkeeper and an executive council member for its civil society umbrella. Rather, it seems their inclusion is a poorly thought-out effort to appease Turkey.
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has become increasingly transactional. It takes American interests hostage — both literally and figuratively. It seizes U.S. citizens (pressure may have forced Erdogan to release Pastor Andrew Brunson, but he still holds NASA scientist Serkan Golge) and holds other U.S. interests hostage such as NATO functionality, access to the Incirlik Air Base, and cooperation in the fight against ISIS.
Erdogan has become increasingly obsessed about the Kurds, less because of Kurdish insurgency, more because Turkey and Syria’s Kurdish communities consistently prioritize ethnic, cultural identity above religion.
Just as many American/European diplomats once believed Erdogan’s rhetoric about commitment to democracy despite all contradictory evidence, today they convince themselves that Erdogan is more nationalist than Islamist.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Now, the PKK is Leftist. FACT. They are not anti Western and the Syrian Kurds are the most compatible of all the groups with Western values. They have been the best ally we have ever had in eliminating the Islamist Terrorists group know as ISIS. (and others allied with it) ISIS and similar groups are a real threat to all nation in the World.
Erdogan's Turkey is aligned with ISIS and employed 3,000 of them in Turkey's assault upon Efrin (Afrin) Syria. Displacing hundreds of thousand of citizens, killing thousands of citizens and soldier. Many women and children. Turkey and their jihadi's pillaged, murdered civilians and took their property, kidnapped, raped and terrorized over the entire region. And Erdogan called it returning the area to it's rightful owners? (Ottoman)
Truthful examination of this is necessary. I know the geo political effect of a break with Turkey must be considered. But I don't believe we can appease Erdogan. It simply will have no affect on his aim, his neo Ottoman wet dream. He wants to rule the Middle East just like Hitler did Europe. (No I don't exaggerate.)
Neither the State Department or the CIA can be trusted. They were (and are) willing participants in Obama’s Arab Spring. It just shows how far the Left is willing to go with their islamophilia. You know it’s bad when they side with Turkey (and ISIS) against a (socialist) group.
The factions are hard to keep straight, but the Kurds are the only honest players in the region. The US has no business siding with Erdogan against the PKK. This action is equivalent to putting a bounty on the head of the Green Party because of the actions of Earth First. We have every reason to ally with the Kurds in Syria as they are the only ones willing to fight the Islamists.
So is Mike Pompeo signing off on these bounties?
I have no idea, but if he is, he is seriously wrong. (I hold him in high respect).
Me too, and I agree with you, that targeting them with rewards, is something I disagree with too. Which is why I wondered if Pompeo was onboard with the rewards.
It has been a very long time since I respected our US State Department.
Pompeo’s recored speaks for itself. It is likely he did not make the decision.
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