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US envoy hints at UN enforcement of no-fly zone in Syria like ‘90s in Iraq
Rudaw ^ | yesterday at 11:47 | none stated

Posted on 12/05/2018 5:55:27 AM PST by Texas Fossil

ERBIL — US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey urged other countries to share a larger burden in facilitating the conditions for peace in Syria, while floating the idea of the United Nations enforcing a no-fly zone for parts of Syria.

"Remember we were present not in northern Iraq but over northern Iraq in Operation Northern Watch for 13 years. That can be a UN force," he said on Tuesday, referring to the joint US-UK-Turkey no-fly zone in the late 1990s that protected Kurdish areas from the air force of Saddam Hussein.

Jeffrey briefed reporters in Washington, D.C., after meeting with the "small group" for Syria — an informal group of European states – Germany, France, and Britain – and Middle Eastern states – Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt.

He said a "UN force" or others could play a role in such an endeavor.

"That can be a UN force. Under 2254 there is language on a UN-managed and operated ceasefire. That can be partner forces. That can be other countries’ forces," he said.

The US presence in Syria is without a direct UN mandate. Washington argues that its presence was necessitated to protect the sovereignty of Iraq when ISIS threatened to overrun the country in 2014.

Washington has maintained that its presence in Syria is solely to defeat ISIS, but Jeffrey indicated that if needed the presence could be through various aforementioned options.

"When we say we’re going to be present not forever in Syria but present until our conditions – enduring defeat of ISIL, as was said earlier, the withdrawal of all Iranian-commanded forces from the entirety of Syria, and an irreversible political process," he said.

The US-led international anti-ISIS coalition has primarily been supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in clearing operations in the Hajin pocket..

(Excerpt) Read more at rudaw.net ...


TOPICS: Egypt; Foreign Affairs; Germany; Israel; News/Current Events; Russia; Syria; United Kingdom; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: djibouti; egypt; erdogan; eritrea; france; gaza; germany; hajinpocket; hassannasrallah; hezbollah; iran; iraq; isis; israel; jamesjeffrey; jerusalem; kurdistan; lebanon; letshavejerusalem; nofly; putinsbuttboys; receptayyiperdogan; saudiarabia; sdf; sinai; sudan; syria; turkey; unitedkingdom; waronterror; yemen; zone
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This had earlier been suggested to the US by N. Syrian forces. The suggestion was complicated by Russia's control over portions of the air space over Syria. The Russian control of the Efrin (Afrin) air space is what lead to the Turkish invasion and ethnic cleansing (and many crimes against humanity) of that region.

Turkey has used fighting ISIS (they actually did very little of that) to invade Iraq and Syria and maintain hold on territory there.

Now, such a no-fly zone might lead to expulsion of hostile forces protected by Turkey.

1 posted on 12/05/2018 5:55:27 AM PST by Texas Fossil
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To: Texas Fossil

How soon can this man be fired?


2 posted on 12/05/2018 5:58:28 AM PST by thoughtomator (Number of arrested coup conspirators to date: 2)
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To: thoughtomator

Why would he be fired for suggesting this?


3 posted on 12/05/2018 6:10:13 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: BeauBo; Candor7; ColdOne; Navy Patriot; caww; huldah1776; dp0622; Gene Eric; Freemeorkillme; ...
Syria Ping
4 posted on 12/05/2018 6:10:59 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: Texas Fossil

The United Nations can’t admit that they’re all out of ideas. Better to call upon the Hell’s Angels MC than to leave it up to the UN.


5 posted on 12/05/2018 6:14:57 AM PST by equaviator
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To: equaviator

I accept that statement.

But it mentioned it need not be UN forces to enforce it.

UN is not prepared to put in place a No Fly Zone.


6 posted on 12/05/2018 6:27:24 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: Texas Fossil

> Why would he be fired for suggesting this?

Because the last time we did that, it ended in a complete catastrophe, perhaps?

No-fly zones are acts of war. He is asking that we commit to a war. Americans have made clear in no small way that we do NOT want to commit to another war in Syria or anywhere else in the Middle East.


7 posted on 12/05/2018 7:05:42 AM PST by thoughtomator (Number of arrested coup conspirators to date: 2)
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To: thoughtomator

Not soon enough.
Preferably he should be fired out to sea, from a canon on board a ship inmthe Antarctic.


8 posted on 12/05/2018 7:08:07 AM PST by MrEdd (Caveat Emptor)
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To: MrEdd

When they say UN enforced, they mostly mean USA. It’s not like the congo republic is going to be sending their air force. And the no fly zone is to keep out russian aircraft. Well the russians have veto power at the UN and I believe they would use it.


9 posted on 12/05/2018 7:18:00 AM PST by ozarker
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To: Texas Fossil

He stated that the goal was regime change, and backing up the SDF head choppers. And his method of doing that is a no fly zone that could cause a shooting war with Russian jets.

Fire this idiot.

Mostly fire him for being stupid. He blurted out the REAL neocon military and intel agency agenda when the company line is “we are only fighting ISIS” (who we created with the Saudis to take down Assad)


10 posted on 12/05/2018 7:41:24 AM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: Texas Fossil

“UN is not prepared to put in place a No Fly Zone.”

And has no desire to. There is no UN action and Assad’s government is the recognized government there. How exactly do the US/Brits/Turks and UN tell a leader he may not fly his air force to attack mostly foreign terrorists inside his own country?

The creation and support of the Syrian rebels has been one of the most shameful episodes in our history.


11 posted on 12/05/2018 7:44:55 AM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: Texas Fossil
UN is not prepared to put in place a No Fly Zone.

Yet, the UN is fully prepared to force migrate 3rd world “migrants” all across the planet.

12 posted on 12/05/2018 7:47:34 AM PST by TADSLOS (I wish Adam and Eve had been Cajuns. They would have ignored the apple and ate the snake.)
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To: DesertRhino

I’m not defending his position.

The the SDF has never been head choppers. Nor have the YPG/JPJ, they killed ISIS. PERIOD.


13 posted on 12/05/2018 7:48:50 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: TADSLOS

Unfortunately that is correct.


14 posted on 12/05/2018 7:51:41 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: Texas Fossil
"That can be a UN force," he said on Tuesday, referring to the joint US-UK-Turkey no-fly zone in the late 1990s that protected Kurdish areas from the air force of Saddam Hussein."

Only one problem. Enforcing a no-fly zone against Iraq was easy, and they pretty much allowed it to happen. Enforcing a no-fly zone against Russia would be essentially impossible unless the Russians agreed to join in.

Does anybody seriously think that the Russian military couldn't, if they wanted to, create a giant mess in the middle east? What would the UN do if, for example, Russia declared a no-fly zone over the area itself? Or perhaps a no-ships zone off the coast of Syria. Short of a war how would the UN stop them?

For that matter Russia could just turn off the natural gas pipelines to Europe and leave the UN and EU trying to figure out how to keep their citizens from freezing to death.

The whole idea is crazy.

15 posted on 12/05/2018 7:55:55 AM PST by freeandfreezing
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To: Texas Fossil

We have two semi-rational choices:

(1) Topple Assad if we have a better option, or
(2) Leave Assad in charge of a unified Syria.

I don’t see a third option that has any merit at all. A no-fly zone is too weak to topple Assad, although it is likely to extend their civil war.


16 posted on 12/05/2018 8:02:10 AM PST by Pollster1 ("Governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed")
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To: freeandfreezing

Russia and the US coexisted with US Military presence in N. Syria for a number of years. The only incidents (one was extremely bad) were caused by Iranian Quds forces and Russian Contractors (Wagner Group). Would not have happened with Russian intent.

We had de-conflict arrangements with the Russians that largely worked. Turkey did shoot down a Russian jet (again) during that.

Turkey has never had any intent to take out ISIS. They employ them. That became crystal clear during the Efrin takeover. That was a deal done with Russian permission. We did not act to protect the Syrians then.

Turkey under Erdogan has never been ally of the US or the West.

The EU? Headshake. They have already taken the poison pill.
We will see if they survive it.


17 posted on 12/05/2018 8:10:10 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: DesertRhino
The creation and support of the Syrian rebels has been one of the most shameful episodes in our history.

Well, we totally agree on that. But THAT had nothing to do with the SDF or the YPG/YPJ. That was a collection of McCain and Cornyn's Jihadi's. Trump quickly ended all funding to them and helped the N. Syrian Kurds take out ISIS.

18 posted on 12/05/2018 8:14:30 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: Pollster1

Few are talking about Syria without Assad. The issue is the form of government in Syria. And the presence of Iranian forces in Syria.


19 posted on 12/05/2018 8:17:22 AM PST by Texas Fossil ((Texas is not where you were born, but a Free State of Heart, Mind & Attitude!))
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To: thoughtomator
How soon can this man be fired?

That was my take as well...who is this idiot?

20 posted on 12/05/2018 8:38:33 AM PST by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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