‘A war would trigger devastating consequences’: Turkey and Russia try to avoid clash as Erdogan hammers Assad......

washingtonexaminer ^ | 3/2/2020 | Joel Gehrke

[caww]

Turkish forces have targeted the Syrian regime’s military repeatedly over the last several days..Erdogan blamed Assad for the strike, which U.S. officials said was likely coordinated with the Russian military.

Russian military officials aren’t ready to allow Erdogan to target Assad’s military, which relies on Russia for air support.

“In this situation, the Russian troops’ command can’t guarantee security of flights of Turkish aircraft in the skies over Syria,” Russian Rear Adm. Oleg Zhuravlev, one of the top commanders for Russia’s operations in Syria...

Erdogan and Putin are expected to meet Thursday in Moscow to discuss the crisis and a potential cease-fire.

[Darksheare]

Toy Yip Erdogan has designs on being the return of Enver Pasha.
One would hope that he vanishes sometime soon.

[GreyHoundSailor]

The Turkish military blew their chance 13 years ago.

[thoughtomator]

So Turkey is simultaneously invading Syria and unleashing a migrant invasion on Greece.

Maybe they’re the bad guys and we should break this alliance.

[boycott]

“Maybe they’re the bad guys and we should break this alliance.”

—

Agree. Turkey has no business being in Syria. Obama’s pal Erdogan wants to restore the caliphate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLsLfYjIWe8

No way we should ever support Turkey. I trust the Russians more than Erdogan. Turkey is the invader here.

[caww]

Yep and Erdogan is just one nasty character ....Putin likely will handle him as they're meeting Thursday. He doesn't like Erdogan and the two have butt heads throughout the negotaions on Syria prior. Erdogan habitually breaks his end of the agreements. I often think Erdogan creates chaos so he looks like the tough guy on the hill and gets the photo ops with leaders. Phone calls are never enough....

[caww]

Turkey never should have been allowed in Nato in the first place....Erdogan is absolutely one of the bad guys in the middle east. They tried to keep him out of the Syria coalition but he inserted himself into it anyway.

[BTerclinger]

““In this situation, the Russian troops’ command can’t guarantee security of flights of Turkish aircraft in the skies over Syria,” Russian Rear Adm. Oleg Zhuravlev, one of the top commanders for Russia’s operations in Syria...”

RUH-ROH!

I’m wondering if this was in the back of Israeli’s mind as they voted to keep Bibi instead of the not so in the closet commie Gantz.

[Kaisersrsic]

“‘The overall offensive [was launched] with the specific purpose of driving the refugees into Turkey, the ones that aren’t bombed,’ a senior State Department official told reporters last week.”

If the USA’s official view that Assad is trying to push millions of refugees into Turkey is correct, then Erdogan’s aggression in Syria and threatening to let refugees through to the EU makes a lot more sense.

I would be surprised if Turkey was asking the Russians to ensure the safety of their forces. I wonder if Putin will ask Erdogan to ensure that Russian troops in Syria can be resupplied?

[SmokingJoe]

There is no maybe about it. Turkey are the bad guys.

[SmokingJoe]

Erdogan is a power mad ergomaniacal lunatic.

[Kaisersrsic]

It is far more likely that Russia breaks its alliance with Assad than the US chooses to walk away from Turkey.

When Russia wanted the US out of Syria, they gave Turkey a deal on S400 air defenses. Russia can’t offer enough to make Turkey willingly accept another million refugees. So, Putin’s best move on Thursday would be to offer Turkey control over all of Syria, except for the Russian naval and air bases, in exchange for leaving NATO and becoming best friends. Even if Erdogan is an SOB, that would not be good for the USA.

[SmokingJoe]

So, Putin’s best move on Thursday would be to offer Turkey control over all of Syria,

What?

[Kaisersrsic]

Compared to Turkey, Syria is strategically worthless. Too many people here seem to underestimate Putin. If I was Russian, I would find all the love here insulting (or hilarious). Putin is looking out for Russia and Russia taking Turkey away from NATO would provide some balance after Poland and Ukraine joined the West. It is the best possible result for Russia and the worst result for the USA.

[SmokingJoe]

Russia is not “giving” Syria to Turkey. Period.
It's not theirs to give to anybody. And Syria is a very strong ally to Russia. Nobody likes Erdogan. You are living in fantasyland.

[Ymani Cricket]

i agree. never should have been in NATO

[GreyHoundSailor]

You think Turkey will walk away from $3.5 billion worth of contracts with US military manufacturers? Not likely.

[mosesdapoet]

Kick Turkey out of NATO

[SunkenCiv]

• Russia to Turkey: We cannot guarantee safety of your planes over Syria - TASS
• Turkey Announces its Intention to Go to War with Russia
• The Greeks tow a boat of migrants out of the territorial waters of Greece and leave them for dead.
• Netanyahu calls win biggest victory of his life
• Benjamin Netanyahu defeats Benny Gantz with larger bloc

[Ymani Cricket]

The Kurds are Syria’s “illegal aliens”. What about the dreamers there? Funny how our politicians are for open borders...except when it is someone else’s borders.
How bizarre. The whole thing is a mess. The Kurds should have had their own nation a long time ago. What is Turkey going to do, Genocide them? Don’t answer that. What a huge chaotic mess.