Posted on 05/09/2017 1:18:17 PM PDT by Texas Fossil
The US President Donald Trump has approved a plan to arm the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces as the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future.
The US President Donald Trump has approved a plan to arm the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
The Pentagon said the move is significant because it supports the notion that the Syrian Democratic Force is the fighting force that will eventually go in to Raqqa under ISIS occupation since 2014.
"The Syrian Democratic Forces, partnered with enabling support from U.S. and coalition forces, are the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future," Chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said in a statement.
Trump and members of his Cabinet spoke about it during a meeting late yesterday at the White House with Secretary of Defense James Mattis joining by video teleconference.
The order has been signed and that "allows the process to begin to function," one official told NBC News. Once the order comes to the Pentagon, the U.S. can begin providing the Syrian Kurds with arms and equipment fairly quickly since some equipment is pre-positioned.
The officials could not say what might flow in first or how it would get there, but among the expected options are:
- Breaching equipment bulldozers, engineering equipment
More effective infantry equipment: rifles, ammunition, armor and communication gear (radios)
The officials said the equipment could be delivered by any number of methods: Ground convoys, C-130s, and air drops are all possible, depending on what the equipment is and the area. What's unclear is whether the U.S. may provide bigger equipment.
NBC News stated that the Turks will be notified about the decision on arming Syrian Kurdish forces soon and the Pentagon expects a strong reaction.
About time
Let the Kurds have their way.
Isn’t Congressional authorization required before giving away US property?
How about putting US forces in harm’s way?
You’re going to have to ask a politician about that.
Syria Ping
Yep. It’s going to be different this time. We’re going to have peace in the ME. (Eyes rolling)
Yes, I know. The book says there will always be wars and rumors of wars.
And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
(Matthew 24:6 [KJV])
Yes, well the likely consequence will be that Russia stomps all over Turkey. Turkey alas, does not belong in NATO.
Turkey will not rest with the arming of the Kurds, should have been done long ago.
Erdogan’s Turkey is totally incompatible with NATO objectives.
He actually believes in his own greatness, when none is there.
Erdogan the Islamist has also been a big recipient of Gulf States oil money. Turkey is not in good financial shape and his actions are killing the financial side.
He gutted his military, he ruined the economy, he went after his opposition and put multiple hundreds of thousands of his opposition out of a job, put multiple 10’s of thousands in jail, removed the most experienced military officers, hired al Qaeda, Nusra, ISIS stragglers and other vermin to help with his military effort.
His chickens (turkeys) are coming home to roost.
His chickens (turkeys) are coming home to roost.>>>>>>>>>>>>
For the Russians:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1OfVNr8Mj4
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.