Posted on 01/21/2019 4:39:20 PM PST by Texas Fossil
WASHINGTON DC (Kurdistan 24) – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on Monday with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and reiterated Washington’s insistence on protecting its allies in Syria, as it withdraws forces from that country.
In a phone conversation with Cavusoglu, Pompeo emphasized “the importance that the United States places on the protection of forces that worked with the United States and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS,” according to a summary of their discussion issued by State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino.
The principle US ally in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria has been the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), led militarily by the People’s Protection Units (YPG.
Thus, Pompeo’s message to Cavusoglu stressed the necessity of protecting the YPG, as well as others who have fought alongside the US-led coalition in Syria, as US troops leave that country.
The conversation is the latest step in an intensifying round of exchanges between Washington and Ankara, following the January 8 visit of White House National Security Adviser Amb. John Bolton to Turkey.
Bolton arrived there with a “non-paper”—a set of ideas to coordinate the implementation of President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US forces from Syria and hand over responsibility to Turkey.
Erdogan had eagerly accepted that decision, but it is not clear that either leader understood what would be involved, including the danger of renewed violence.
On Saturday, following a two-day visit to Ankara, US Senator Lindsey Graham (R, South Carolina) called for a major delay in the pace of the US withdrawal, warning that an unplanned, uncoordinated departure of US forces could lead to a “nightmare” for Turkey, which could face “chaos” on its southern border.
The following day, on Sunday, Erdogan and Trump had another phone conversation.
(Excerpt) Read more at kurdistan24.net ...
Don’t know if it has posted on FR yet, but I see CNN and Politico are reporting that Pompeo is considering a run for the U.S. Senate.
Maybe even Presidential material hiding in plain sight.
“Maybe even Presidential material hiding in plain sight.’
Bingo
10 minutes old, and no one has said
“SCREW THE KURDS WEDONT NEED EM BRING THE TROOP HOME 1!!1. WAIST OF BLOODS AND TRESURE !!!1
Who gives a crap about the Kurds, and when did they become our ‘allies’? America has no stake in this nonsensical War
During the Iraq war, US soldiers were at risk everywhere in Iraq except in Kurdistan area - they could walk around freely.
Definitely need a cooling off period, with a Turkish invasion force already massed on the border of the Kurdish areas of NE Syria.
Lindsay Graham (a big proponent of protecting our Kurdish allies) had a two hour meeting with Erdogan in recent days, and was invited to attend a concert with him that night.
Many key players in the USSecurity establishment signed a letter to Erdogan, emphasizing the need to protect our Kurdish allies - the SecState, SecDef, Chairman of the JCS, NatSec Advisor.
It might be particularly hard for the Syrian Kurds to re-brand/rehabilitate politically with Turkey, as they have with the USA. Turkey bore the brunt of PKK terrorism for a long time - a huge and deep wound. Turkey was much less vested in fighting ISIS (the redeeming act of the Kurds in US eyes). In fact, the Turkish leadership was more on the side of ISIS in many ways. They are going to want/need more assurances that it won’t just be a bigger and better established PKK stretched across 200 miles of its border, launching mayhem.
Unfortunately, it is very hard for Kurdish leadership to extend a hand of reconciliation, after the loss of Afrin. Before the KDP did it, few would have expected that any Kurds could reconcile with Turkey, and enjoy good relations - but it is possible. Oil sales through the Erdogan crime family network might be a useful salve for inflamed feelings. Some moves to allow a multi-party system in the Kurdish area might be viewed as substantial assurance.
He’s only 55.
After being Director of CIA and Secretary of State, U. S. Senator almost seems like a demotion.
I’ll ask again.
How do the Kurds feel about US these days?
The Senate will give him the insight on their workings, who's who and working on Trump's behalf. I believe he's a "mind changer" and I mean that in a good way.
Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. With Pat Roberts retiring, Pompeo would be almost a shoo-in for his seat in 2020.
Take a peak at wiki...he's a smart guy who I believe has not peaked.
Oh, yeah, I’ve been following him since Trump first appointed him He definitely has presidential timbre. He could probably run for President in 2020 if, for some reason, Trump is unable to. Seems like Pompeo for President 2024 is the most likely scenario. And I would be curious to see how he would be as a Senator. It seems unlikely, though, that he will be on The Trump team after he wins the Senate race. Speaking hypothetically, of course.
Has he done anything about cleaning out or at least reigning in the traitors over at Foggy Bottom?
Seems to me like business as usual over there. Why can’t we get a SoS who will do his job and actually fix that hive of anti-American trash?
There are no simple answers to that.
Those is Iraq at the leadership level are not happy with US because of Iranians taking Kurkuk. Those leaders in Iraq are game players with big chips in the oil game. It is tribal. I suspect the average Iraq Kurd has a positive opinion of the United States. The leaders there do also, but they will make deals with Iran and Turkey. Neither is in the interest of Kurds in general.
In Turkey, they would love for the US to free them from Erdogan. They are helpless, except to demonstrate or to leave and join the PKK in the mountains. This is a natural reaction, but very bad as far as influence that comes with that.
In Syria? 99% of them are very pro US. They are quite different from other Kurds in the Region. They are totally secular. Many are however atheist, influence of the PKK. A larger number of Syrian Kurds are Christian, have been for quite a while, and it is a growing number. But they must keep their heads low in the Middle East. Assad/Damascus makes it a point to say they don’t persecute Christians. Which is somewhat true. But they are treated like 2nd class citizens, and because many Christians immigrated during one of the massacres or Genocides from the Turks, a lot of them are not even citizens of Syria. Some towns in North Syria are largely Christian (including Syriac Christians, who are not Kurdish). Most of the N. Syrian Kurds who are Muslim are a moderate form that ISIS hates. Including a large number of Alevi’s in Efrin (Afrin) before the takeover. The Alevi are tacit Muslim, only enough to keep the others from killing them. I know some of them and one here in the US. They are worth reading about.
The Kurds have been betrayed before by other powers. We did not promise them long term support from the beginning. They have been watchful. When Efrin (Afrin) was over run by Turkey and we were not able to intercede because of Russian control over that airspace and the fact that Turkey is NATO, they were very angry. But they soon concluded that Russia was the reason it happened. With Assad’s approval.
The Kurds know that without US pressure, even on Assad, they will not be treated well by Russia and Damascus.
In Iran, the Kurds would love support to free them. My friends in Syria tell me that if Tehran’s Mullahs fell, it would not change the plight of the Kurds in Iran. I don’t really understand that, but they (Kursa) are keenly aware of each other, but not totally united.
Thanks for the observations. All valid.
My problem? I think the real issue is not the N. Syrian Kurds, it is Erdogan the Islamist. His actions speak much louder than his words of propaganda. He will never be an honest player as long as he draws breath. He truly believes he was selected by is “god” to rule the world. THAT is a very stupid and evil thing. There is only 1 cure for what he is. He is EVIL.
If I were a Kurd in N. Syria, I would not allow anyone to disarm me. (For that matter nor would I even in Texas, smile. That is not going to happen in TX, too many like me.)
Would the Kurds unify to take out Turkey after Efrin? I need not answer that. That act is as close as it has come to unifying Kurds. Is it a silly thought to think it possible for them to defeat Erdogan? No. As brutal and cruel as Erdogan has been, he has not been able to defeat the PKK in the mountains. (I don’t cheer the PKK!) I do highly respect the Syrian Kurds. There is no question about whether the Kurds are good soldiers. They have lost thousands of their own people in past 4 years, and just keep on plowing through ISIS. You must respect that resolve.
The bigger question, is not whether N. Syrian Kurds are a threat to Turkey, it is “Is Turkey a threat to the Middle East and to the World”? And is Turkey compatible with NATO? And is Turkey a real threat to the EU? I believe the answer to all those questions is, Yes. Turkey is a huge threat because it is openly allied with the terrorists.
So, which is the larger threat to the world? PKK or Turkey. I’ll let you answer that for yourself.
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