The Secretary of Defense only came out with this statement after the Secretary of State’s visit to Turkey. I take this to represent the coordinated US position - likely coordinated with other key allies, before putting it to Turkey, or going public.
It seems that the Turkish attack has failed, and that big reinforcements to try again are likely off the table now that International condemnation has solidified into such public statements. Those public statements are no doubt reinforced by “carrot and stick” incentives, which were privately delivered.
The Turks might not stop on their own out of stubbornness or to save face domestically, but their chances of conquering Afrin seem to have dropped into the unlikely range.
Thanks for the assessment.
All quite logical.
It is apparent that SDF in Efrin and the citizens have no intention of allowing Turkey to conquer them. And the same goes for Assad.
The demands required for “protection” have thus far been far too much to accept. (nothing short of total disarmament.)
Turkey would be wise to back off, but I’m not yet sure they will. If they push this much further, there are elements of the Kurds who will step in and Turkey many have more fronts to fight than they can say grace over. Turkey is still a US NATO “ally” (sarcasm), so if they were attacked we are obligated to help defend them. BUT if they attack another country, that deal is no longer obligatory.
I despise what Erdogan the Islamist is and does.