Two maps to give just a hint of the complexity.
The extent of "Kurdish areas" shown on maps varies wildly depending on who is drawing the map, and with what motive.
Posted on 11/29/2022 12:23:41 AM PST by Cronos
They are responding to the bombing in istanbul
No. It is the pretense of retaliation for the bombing in Istanbul. Turkey is still supporting ISIS and are still using the background noise to justify taking over N. Syria. Since Erdoo, Turkey is not a reliable NATO ally.
Escobar: Operation Claw-Sword - Erdogan’s Big New Games In Syria
https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/escobar-operation-claw-sword-erdogans-big-new-games-syria
Two maps to give just a hint of the complexity.
The extent of "Kurdish areas" shown on maps varies wildly depending on who is drawing the map, and with what motive.
If Turkey is so concerned about Kurdish militants then why don’t they simply hand over the occupied territory to the Assad government and let him win?
Also: Any accounting of events in “Kurdland” that do not discuss the oil being pumped out of the ground in eastern Syria under American military protection, which is then sent south into Iraq, (and some possibly going by truck convoy to Turkey), is simply not to be taken seriously.
Any accounts that do not discuss Erdogon’s phone cons with Assad last week, not to be taken seriously.
Any accounts that do not discuss the timing of both Turkish and Iranian airstrikes against Kurdish camps, not to be taken seriously.
Any accounts that do not discuss the Turkish interior minister lashing out at the USA, essentially accusing America of complicity in the Istanbul bombing, not to be taken seriously.
I can think of another half dozen conflict vectors, but I don’t want to write an opus.
It’s like the blind men describing an elephant, when none of them can see the totality, or even understand what an elephant is.
You think Turkey can simply "hand over" this area to Assad?
U.S. Army soldiers, supporting Kurdish "fighters" (many are rebranded FSA/AQ/ISIS), control Syria's eastern oil fields. All overseen by Hellfire-armed Predator drones on call.
[The 900 admitted troops are just the token force. What counts are the Predators, and the suitcases full of $100 bills the CIA hands out to various warlords to buy their temporary loyalty.]
It's a very thorny situation. Anybody who tries to explain it from one simple POV is basically a blind man touching just a part of an elephant he's never seen.
This image may be the best way to imagine "the Kurdish question."
Another decent article. Most of the better ones are not in English. This one is very American-centric, but it contains many of the important crisis vectors, even if mostly from an American POV.
[Excerpt] During the meeting, the US ambassador reportedly offered a 30-kilometer pullback of Kurdish forces to prevent Turkey from launching its promised ground offensive. According to a Kurdish media report, however, Ankara has not only demanded a 30-kilometer withdrawal of the SDF from Turkey’s borders, but also that all members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Syria be handed over to Turkish custody.
The report also states that Turkey has demanded “the allocation of partial oil revenues in SDF-controlled areas for the benefit of factions loyal to Ankara [and the areas under their control],” referring to the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Ankara has also requested the establishment of “observation points,” either independent ones or joined by the US coalition, to allow Turkey to “monitor weapons transfers [following the SDF withdrawal].”
The Kurdish report also states that Ankara is willing to “substitute” all of its conditions with a handover “of the entire area” to the Syrian Arab Army (SAA). The report also accused Turkey of having a secret agreement with Russia that would allow it to occupy more Syrian territory. This could be due to Russian pressure on the Kurdish militants to withdraw.
While the US mediates between Turkey and the Kurds, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Friday that a Turkish ground offensive in Syria is still imminent and will begin “when the time comes.”
Yes, Turkey could easily pull out if they wanted to and leave the American military’s illegal occupation of Syria exposed. I would welcome it greatly.
The most oil in Iraq belongs to the Kurds.
I am no fan of erdgon, but turkey were the only ones calming tensions in the black sea, easing things back from ww3.
Then they were bombed,now this whole thing is spinning out of control.
I find honest reports in straits times and hindustan times,never the New York times
Who bombed Turkey?
I doubt very seriously that the Kurds did it.
I know the region.
Erdoo is an Islamist Dictator. There was a time when the Kemalists would have stopped what is happening.
it appears to be a female Kurdish suicide bomber
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