[xzins]

So, you know, some have said this will force the Kurds to decide who their allies are. But I guess that's kind of what they have got to decide. It's definitely not going to be Turkish allies.

So the question is, do they have more in common with Syria? And could there be some unification of causes there to try to find stability in Syria?

The Kurds could have more in common with Syria than Turkey. Perhaps some arrangement could be made with Assad.

[gandalftb]

We closed down and left 4 observation posts, not “garrisons” as some have said.

They were in a DMZ along the Turkish border, east of the Euphrates. SAS and French troops have agreed to man 2 of the posts.

Turkey is not going to “invade” there and have agreed to honor the no-fly zone there.

Turkey doesn’t need another fight with the SDF/Kurds. They are very busy with Assad’s SAA W of the Euphrates in Manbij, etc.

At some point we have to let the indigenous forces and politicians settle Syria for themselves. Turkey used to have borders farther south and there are a lot of Turkic peoples there.

[gandalftb]

We are not getting out of Syria. Look at this fuel requisition for our Iraqi bases:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=e7b21313e672333316a20f6a07503e23&tab=core&_cview=1

Click on SPE605-19-R-0212

That requisition also happens to include 19 bases in Syria.......