EU tells Turkey to forgo move in Syria

The Japan News (from AFP) ^ | 7:15 pm, December 16, 2018 | BRUSSELS (AFP-Jiji)

[Texas Fossil]

BRUSSELS (AFP-Jiji) — The European Union’s foreign policy chief on Saturday asked Turkey to forgo any unilateral military action in Syria, where Ankara has threatened a fresh offensive against a U.S.-backed Kurdish militia.

“The statements of a possible Turkish military operation in northeast Syria are a source of concern,” Federica Mogherini said in a statement.

“We share the goal of ending violence, defeating terrorism and promoting stability in Syria and the wider region. We expect the Turkish authorities therefore to refrain from any unilateral action likely to undermine the efforts of the Counter-Daesh Coalition or to risk further instability in Syria,” she said, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant militant group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that Turkey will launch a new operation in Syria within days against Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) militia, which has Washington’s support, but which Ankara considers a terrorist group.

The Pentagon warned Wednesday that any unilateral military action in northern Syria would be “unacceptable.”

[Texas Fossil]

I've read what I consider credible descriptions of US and Coalition Force regrouping in NE Syria. And discussion of efforts by (Pro Turk) RojPesh (Syrian Kurds consider them traitors) to take a position on Iraq/Syria border.

Turkey is again threatening Syria with invasion as the SDF prepares to make the final assault on ISIS in East Syria.

[familyop]

Turkey should stand fast. A movement against the Kurds would be suicidal with President Trump in office.

[Texas Fossil]

Yes, with Trump and the Coalition.

Now, the issue is the quasi alliance between Turkey and Russia.

[familyop]

Well, hopefully, Russia won’t launch those small, fiberglass, nuclear powered missiles. ;-)

[Texas Fossil]

Russia will avoid a direct conflict with the US and the anti ISIS coalition.

[Nextrush]

The Turkish pro-government outlet “Yeni Safak” in English says the US has “given an observation post” on the border to the Kurds implying the US forces pulled out of it.

[Nextrush]

The propaganda war heats up with this latest story in the Turkish media

https://www.yenisafak.com/en/news/us-colonel-calls-turkish-soldiers-terrorists-spreads-pkk-pyd-propaganda-3469417

[saywhatagain]

Yeah, twitter is coming alive on Turkey massing troops.

Colonel is correct, but why give the other side something to rally over. Actually I think the tweet might have been much more effective had he not used the word "terrorist." and just said Turkish Army!

Am scrambling to catch up and see who the parties are involved in this mess. Seems we have a merger of several groups. SDF members made up mostly of YPG soldiers backed by the PKK. Its the PKK Turkey is using as an "excuse"

Ethnically speaking, all groups are Kurds. However the PKK is the communist wing.

PKK's have been fighting Turkey almost 40 years and is listed as a terrorist group by NATO, US et all. So, yeah its a mess. Turkey needs to stand down, but they have their own politics to deal with. Argh.

[EQAndyBuzz]

Funny how the headline and the first sentence do not reconcile. “Tells Turkey” and “Asks Turkey.”

[Socon-Econ]

Can somebody explain why the USA is backing the people whom the Turks want to attack?

[jdsteel]

Can somebody explain why the USA is backing the people whom the Turks want to attack?

The Kurds are a nation-less people who have helped the US in the Middle East for decades. Of all of the non-Israel jerks in the ME the Kurds are by far the least bad, even after getting a raw deal from the US at times. They want to carve out pieces of 3 countries, including Turkey, to have their own Kurdistan.

[bert]

A new nation is being established along the euphrates in what was once Iraq and Syria.

Turkey opposes the effort because it will be outside the new Ottoman hegemony

[Texas Fossil]

All media in Turkey are pure state run Propaganda Agencies.

Nothing else is possible there now. The legit media are all in jail, in exile or dead.

Anyone who criticizes Erdogan the Islamist is potentially exposed to personal and/or family threat, intimidation, and murder.

[Texas Fossil]

I do not believe anything the Turkish media says. It is 100% Propaganda.

Period.

[Texas Fossil]

“Can somebody explain why the USA is backing the people whom the Turks want to attack?”

Because the YPG/YPJ and later the SDF have been the force that has ended ISIS in Syria with our help.

Turkey under Erdogogan the Islamist has sided with ISIS, al Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorists. FACT.

Turkey wanted us to commit 10,000 US troops at one point to take over Syria. We balked with cause.

Turkey had centuries old history of unrepentant genocide. FACT. That cannot be denied if any honest evaluation is made.

They are prepared to do it again. They ethnically cleaned 400,000 people from Efrin (Afrin) Syria as recently as last year. They are pure evil.

Turkey is clearly not a NATO ally, even though they are a NATO member.

There is more, but today I cannot spend the time to expand on that.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

What will the EU back it up with, US troops. Against a fello NATO member. European diplomacy, all messed up.

[monkeyshine]

If true that sounds like they are giving Turkey enough rope to hang themselves.