Posted on 01/24/2018 7:37:18 PM PST by Texas Fossil
President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. President Trump relayed concerns that escalating violence in Afrin, Syria, risks undercutting our shared goals in Syria. He urged Turkey to deescalate, limit its military actions, and avoid civilian casualties and increases to displaced persons and refugees. He urged Turkey to exercise caution and to avoid any actions that might risk conflict between Turkish and American forces. He reiterated that both nations must focus all parties on the shared goal of achieving the lasting defeat of ISIS. And both Presidents welcomed the return of more than 100,000 Syrian refugees back to their country in the wake of the ongoing defeat of ISIS and pledged to continue to cooperate to help people return home.
President Trump invited closer bilateral cooperation to address Turkey’s legitimate security concerns. The leaders discussed the need to stabilize a unified Syria that poses no threats to its neighbors, including Turkey. President Trump also expressed concern about destructive and false rhetoric coming from Turkey, and about United States citizens and local employees detained under the prolonged State of Emergency in Turkey. The two leaders pledged to improve the strategic partnership between the United States and Turkey, particularly in fostering regional stability and combating terrorism in all its forms, including ISIS, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), al-Qa’ida, and Iranian-sponsored terrorism.
You can make up your own mind what he said.
And what it means for our Syrian Democratic Force allies.
I would say that they forgot to put whatever nice word Trump said that meant “or else”.
That was cleaned up language. smile.
I think it is Trumps very nature to be direct. No sugar coating. Especially one on one.
I’m sure Erdogan got it. But often Erdogan the Islamist only hears what he want to hear and does what he wants to do. That is usually Kill Kurds. One day, the alligator will devour him.
Unfortunately, this is being between a rock and a hard spot and I don't think we have much leverage. I support the Kurds but what are we going to do? Sanctions? Same with Israel, they've been supportive of the Kurds but they are not about to get heavily involved there.
In fact, the SDF is getting American and Brit and other volunteers again, to fight Turkey aided by the FSA.
Forgot to add in the article:
I think there is very little we can do, it’s a cutthroat area of the world.
The United States reiterated its commitment to Turkey that it will take back heavy weapons it delivered to the People’s Protection Units (YPG) but refrained to give a certain time frame during high-level bilateral political and military talks in the Turkish capital Ankara on Jan. 23 and 24.
“We did tell them that we do intend to fulfill that commitment. But I can’t give you a specific time frame,” a senior U.S. official told the Hürriyet Daily News on Jan. 24 about the U.S. promises over the weapons given to the YPG. The official also informed that only heavy weapons delivered to the YPG would be collected.
FWIW.
Well, the subject of refugees is turning up lately.
Turkey may appreciate help speeding them back into Syria.
To put it bluntly, this is a real sucky situation, it's difficult to see a way out and it doesn't look like Erdogan is going to capitulate. We aren't going to take military action against Turkey, we won't even put sanctions in. Maybe this can be taken to the UN or something. Sad situation.
He does not care about the refugees.
Over 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey. They’re probably more trouble than they’re worth.
No way to know what messages are really being sent - we will have to watch the next day or two to see if anything changes.
Destroy Erdogan. Destroy the pig Turks.
Agree.
But there are reports that about a million displaced from Syria have returned to Syria. And that will be a mixed bag too. I have no idea how many million left Syria and how many were killed trying to escape ISIS. All of that is a bad cocktail.
Turkey has sown the seeds of hatred that will haunt them for generations. Brutish dictators have a way of ensuring their own demise. A few are so evil that they survive, but the entire nation suffers long.
The Northern Syria area seems to be stabilizing quicker than most of the nation. I think it is because of the original remoteness and the self sufficient nature of the people living there. That was not by design, but out of necessity.
Hurriyet is historically a Kemalist newspaper. There have been struggles with it and Erdogan.
Since he gained his super powers in the Faux Coup, he has had the upper hand. Suppression of the press is almost total in Turkey. All that is left now is propaganda.
I’ve read recently that the secular appearing Kemalist are somehow aligned with Erdogan now. That is illogical looking at the past because Erdogan is an Islamist. I think the issue is they both realize the danger facing Turkish stability.
This article discusses that conflict and has to do with the “coup”.
This is article (orignally from the Middle East Eye) is a thoughtful snapshot of the situation just before Erdogan won his referendum last year, effectively making him (Fascist) Dictator of Turkey:
IS ANOTHER TURKISH COUP IMMINENT ?
http://blogs.plymouth.ac.uk/dcss/2017/03/13/is-another-turkish-coup-imminent/
So since the referendum, even the Kemalists have been silenced. I don’t think this will remain long term, but the military purge by Erdogan has effectively quieted the Kemalists. Actually the purge is much larger than just the military. He purged academia and the government. Some say 50,000 still in jail and hundreds of thousands removed from government jobs. Is that stability? Hardly.
You are correct.
The local press over there says 260 Kurdish fighters were killed and Texas Fossil says we are suppose to accept this as truth and any MSM are pukes.
They should have said that we will take back our tanks when Erdogan resigns and Turkey holds a free election.
Good site, pics from the 20th
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