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U.S. Begins Providing Weapons To Syrian Kurds
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:33 pm
LINK
quote:quote:
(Via Reuters) The United States has started distributing arms to Syrian Kurdish fighters battling to help retake the city of Raqqa from Islamic State, a U.S. official told Reuters on Tuesday, as the United States moved ahead with a plan despite concerns by ally Turkey.
The official said distribution of the arms had started in the past 24 hours, based on authority given by President Donald Trump earlier this month. (read more)
This is a very strategic move. The primary goal of the Trump Administration is the destruction of ISIS. The Kurds are currently the only fighting force, and a very good fighting force, with no ulterior motive other than the elimination of ISIS and the opportunity for peace, safety and security. Hopefully leading to a future creation of an independent nation of Kurdistan.
Recep Erdogan (Turkey) views the Kurds as a threat to his ability to recreate the Ottoman Empire. Turkey is a NATO member and view the Kurds as Erdogan’s political opposition. Erdogan wants Assad gone, but wants the space for himself. Erdogan will not be happy.
Bashar Assad (Syria) also views the Kurds as his political opposition. Assad benefits from keeping ISIS terrorists around as his enemy while he kills his political opposition. Kill off ISIS and Assad will have regional political governorship to contend with. He will not be happy.
Vladimir Putin (Russia) supports Assad, is generally ambivalent to the Kurds and holds a view of Erdogan as a useful part of NATO that he can manipulate. Putin cannot appear upset about this because he has optically presented himself as willing to aid in the elimination of ISIS; albeit aligned with Assad. He will be looking to navigate geopolitical leverage with this development.
All of the angst from those with vested adverse interests can be defrayed by Defense Secretary Mattis, Secretary of State Tillerson and President Trump, because the elimination of ISIS is job one and all regional participants have agreed in principle with this objective.
13
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:35 pm to GumboPot
About time.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:36 pm to GumboPot
5 1 4 2 3
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:36 pm to GumboPot
1st and 2nd pics, IWHI
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:39 pm to GumboPot
Selling more guns to the Middle East has always been a productive and effective remedy for their problems, so I'm glad we are staying the course
This post was edited on 5/30/17 at 4:40 pm
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:40 pm to GumboPot
Knocking on the door of Raqaa too 
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:41 pm to ILeaveAtHalftime
Yep, no chance these weapons end up used against the US
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:42 pm to JuiceTerry
No shot!
Until 2030 or so
Until 2030 or so
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:42 pm to Gaspergou202
I wonder if the longer term objective is to have the Kurds take out Assad after they eliminate ISIS? After all the Kurds don't have an evil objective like the caliphate. However once the Kurds destroy ISIS and form Kurdistan they may be content and have no motivation to remove Assad.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:43 pm to GumboPot
And what makes you think anyone involved is going to give them Kurdistan?
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:45 pm to GumboPot
Is this what Trump campaigned on, I can't tell?
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:47 pm to ILeaveAtHalftime
quote:
And what makes you think anyone involved is going to give them Kurdistan?
No one is giving them anything. They are fighting for it.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:48 pm to GumboPot
And at the end of this you think either Turkey, Syria, or Iraq are going to allow a Kurdistan to exist?
Or Iran for that matter. IMO none of those countries are going to allow it.
Or Iran for that matter. IMO none of those countries are going to allow it.
This post was edited on 5/30/17 at 4:54 pm
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:50 pm to GumboPot
I hate war 
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:53 pm to ILeaveAtHalftime
quote:
And at the end of this you think either Turkey, Syria, or Iraq are going to allow a Kurdistan to exist?
Or Iran for that matter.
Kurdistan will likely consist of northern Iraq and northeastern Syria once ISIS is eliminated. Turkey and Iran won't be affected.
ETA: albeit the Kurds have lots of support in southeastern Turkey and western Iran.
This post was edited on 5/30/17 at 4:56 pm
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:55 pm to GumboPot
That's overly simplistic. Both Turkey and Iran have large Kurd populations that border those regions. They would absolutely be opposed to an independent Kurdistan. It would give their own Kurds inspiration to either join the new state or fight for their own. Turkey especially, they do not take kindly to their Kurdish minority.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 4:56 pm to GumboPot
It's about time that the Kurds get treated with respect and that their potential is recognized.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 5:06 pm to ILeaveAtHalftime
quote:
Both Turkey and Iran have large Kurd populations that border those regions.
Right. I edit to add this in my previous post.
This Kurdish support in southeastern Turkey and western Iran would provide a good buffer from Iran and Turkish forces.
I could see the U.S. establishing an air base there. Now that I think about it, if the Kurds do take out ISIS I do see them moving forward and removing Assad (with our help). They would be too land locked and surrounded by enemies otherwise. They need access to the Mediterranean to access trading markets for long term viability. Then Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates would be really happy...they would get to build the pipeline from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean to access European markets.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 5:23 pm to GumboPot
They aren't as trustworthy as Iraqi Kurds.
Muslims do believe if they are killed in combat by women they don't go to heaven.
Muslims do believe if they are killed in combat by women they don't go to heaven.
Posted on 5/30/17 at 6:08 pm to ILeaveAtHalftime
Kurds will never be given their own country. The only thing they can do is fight and occupy land until the day a political solution arises.
This post was edited on 5/30/17 at 6:09 pm
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