Turkey and the Kurds Hold the Key to Defeating the Islamic State

[Kutnupe14]

The Guardian, so consider the source.

US troops pelted with rotten fruit and stones as they leave Syria

There's video... unless there are a few dozen bearcats at knob creek

 

[ArcadiaGP]

There's video... unless there are a few dozen bearcats at knob creek

Perhaps they were offering them tasty treats.

It's all in how you frame it with the headline

 

[KG1]

Russia and Turkey reach an “historic” deal to secure the northern Syrian border.

https://news.yahoo.com/putin-erdogan-meet-ahead-syria-deadline-075902738.html

 

[T.Lex]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50152235

Looks like Turkey will be able to keep the territory they gained and - with Russia - create a 30 mile buffer zone.

Perhaps related, Iraq says the US forces from Syria can't stay in Iraq.
https://www.apnews.com/825fb065d6f044a590a1fee8101a5a26

Esper is having a rough time.

 

[T.Lex]

It sounds like Trump is lifting sanctions on Turkey because they teamed up with Russia and drove the Kurds 30 miles from the Turkish border.

If that's true, then it is Obama-level nonsensical.

 

[T.Lex]

I guess its still unclear as to whether the sanctions to be dropped are just the most recent ones, or "all" - including the F-35 problem.

There are several layers of cross-talk, including what may have been explained to the Kurds about our ongoing commitment to troops in Syria.

 

[KG1]

I guess its still unclear as to whether the sanctions to be dropped are just the most recent ones, or "all" - including the F-35 problem.

There are several layers of cross-talk, including what may have been explained to the Kurds about our ongoing commitment to troops in Syria.

The way I understood it was the most recent sanctions that were dropped in light of the cessation worked out to end the offensive with the caveat of reinstatement if Turkey did not live up to the deal.

 

[T.Lex]

Fair enough.

 

[BugI02]

Now if we can just get that quality time with an S400 that was the quid pro quo ...

 

[KG1]

Trump outsmarts Putin with Syria retreat.

Interesting take.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/trump-outsmarts-putin-syria-retreat-070024339.html

 

[NKBJ]

The thirty mile zone is reduced to twenty miles, the Rooskies get to watch over the interests of their ally, Syrian citizens are forceably made to sit down in the same room with their legally constituted government and hopefully Netanyahu doesn't opt for a war to divert attention away from his troubles. Oh, and well you know the kicker, US forces have to take control of the source for Syrian revenue, the oil fields.
So, yeah, the parts were practiced and the stage was set before the curtain went up.

 

[DoggyDaddy]

Trump outsmarts Putin with Syria retreat.

Interesting take.

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/trump-outsmarts-putin-syria-retreat-070024339.html

I'm amazed it was allowed to be posted on yahoo. The author makes some good points though.

 

[KG1]

I'm amazed it was allowed to be posted on yahoo. The author makes some good points though.

I thought so too. Trump basically made it Putin’s problem now. Let them expend their capital in the futile tribal shifting sand for awhile.

 

[Kutnupe14]

I thought so too. Trump basically made it Putin’s problem now. Let them expend their capital in the futile tribal shifting sand for awhile.

How is it Putin's problem now? Syria is an ally to Russia, and Turkey is trending that way. The article says:

[FONT=&quot]Sooner or later, al-Qaeda, Islamic State or the next iteration of jihad will break loose in Syria.[/FONT]

That indicates to me, that we dropped the ball, and all our time in the region was for nothing. Unlike us, who have some scruples when it comes o dealing with enemies, Russia has no such inclination. The idea that Putin and Assad care about their people slightly more than Kim. Russia is not the master of the theater, much to the shagrin of our, now, only ally, Israel.

 

[KG1]

How is it Putin's problem now? Syria is an ally to Russia, and Turkey is trending that way. The article says:

That indicates to me, that we dropped the ball, and all our time in the region was for nothing. Unlike us, who have some scruples when it comes o dealing with enemies, Russia has no such inclination. The idea that Putin and Assad care about their people slightly more than Kim. Russia is not the master of the theater, much to the shagrin of our, now, only ally, Israel.

Who will Putin side with in a border dispute between his pals Assad and Erdogan? Putin will have his hands full trying to convince either one to keep the peace when Assad wants to reclaim the northern Syrian border "safe zone" and Erdogan doesn't want to give it up.

As far as the ISIS situation goes if Russia is now the master of the theater in Syria and wants to remain so it will come at a great cost. They will most assuredly have to face the ISIS threat if it reconstitutes. Let them draw the attention and expend their capital. They can be the new "Great Satan" on the block for a change.

Another thing the article mentions is how much capital will the Russian masters of the theater be willing to expend that they can't afford to help their Syrian allies rebuild?

[FONT=&amp]As the big power in charge, Russia also will be expected to help its Syrian client rebuild the damage from the civil war. Physical reconstruction alone is expected to cost $400-500 billion. This is a bill Trump had no intention of paying — and one more reason he was glad to hand northern Syria to Putin.[/FONT]

 

[Kutnupe14]

Who will Putin side with in a border dispute between his pals Assad and Erdogan? Putin will have his hands full trying to convince either one to keep the peace when Assad wants to reclaim the northern Syrian border "safe zone" and Erdogan doesn't want to give it up.

As far as the ISIS situation goes if Russia is now the master of the theater in Syria and wants to remain so it will come at a great cost. They will most assuredly have to face the ISIS threat if it reconstitutes. Let them draw the attention and expend their capital. They can be the new "Great Satan" on the block for a change.

Another thing the article mentions is how much capital will the Russian masters of the theater be willing to expend that they can't afford to help their Syrian allies rebuild?

It won't be nearly as difficult as you think. If we've kept India and Pakistan from wiping each other off the map, how difficult do you think it will be to convince a state that's highly dependent on Russia (Syria), and another who is falling out of favor with NATO, in line?

 

[KG1]

It won't be nearly as difficult as you think. If we've kept India and Pakistan from wiping each other off the map, how difficult do you think it will be to convince a state that's highly dependent on Russia (Syria), and another who is falling out of favor with NATO, in line?

If it's such a cakewalk then let it be Russia's mandate to keep everyone in the Syrian theater in line. That includes ISIS as well.

 

[Kutnupe14]

If it's such a cakewalk then let it be Russia's mandate to keep everyone in the Syrian theater in line. That includes ISIS as well.

Why would Russia do that? Putin has pegged his entire economy on.... oil. A turbulent Middle East is good for business, and good for Russia.

 

[KG1]

Why would Russia do that? Putin has pegged his entire economy on.... oil. A turbulent Middle East is good for business, and good for Russia.

I’ve got some breaking news for you. Incase you haven’t noticed the ME is already a turbulent place.

We’ve helped to inflame that atmosphere ourselves.

I guess the Russians should be thankful to us for keeping their business solvent for decades.

 

[Kutnupe14]

I’ve got some breaking news for you. Incase you haven’t noticed the ME is already a turbulent place.

We’ve helped to inflame that atmosphere ourselves.

I guess the Russians should be thankful to us for keeping their business solvent for decades.

...and I've got some news for you, "turbulence" varies. Bad places are statically bad, they can get worse. Bad is often priced in; worse moves the metrics.... or in this case the money.