Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trump’s withdrawal and Erdogan’s invasion put a genocidal Turkish army on one side and the Russian-backed Syrian regime on the other side of Rojava, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria. Thus, the Syrian Kurdish commander in chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, stated on Sunday that: “The Russians and the Syrian regime have made proposals that could save the lives of millions of people who live under our protection. We do not trust their promises. To be honest, it is hard to know whom to trust…”

It’s unclear if the EU’s UN Security Resolution would have achieved anything, but it is telling that both Russia and the United States blocked it.

Last Thursday, Russia and the US scuttled an EU resolution on the Turkish invasion, which called “upon Turkey to cease the unilateral military action“. After Russia and the US blocked the EU’s UN Security Council resolution, diplomats from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Poland, and the UK spoke to the press (EU Observer). This was Russia’s 14th veto at the UN Security Council on the Syrian war. The EU Observer notes that the while the “Kurds had fought against Isis… They had also fought against the Russia-backed Syrian regime.” The Russian envoy Nebenzia “mocked” the Kurds “for having been abandoned by the US: ‘As you know they [the Kurds] preferred other protectors [than Russia]. And now – well, you see what is happening,’ he said“. See: “EU stands alone against US and Russia on Syria“, By Andrew Rettman, Brussels, 11. OCT, 2019, 09:31, EU Observer: https://archive.li/q2UjQ

“If We Have to Choose Between Compromise and Genocide, We Will Choose Our People The Kurds’ commander in chief explains why his forces are finally ready to partner with Assad and Putin.”, by Mazloum Abdi, October 13, 2019, 1:27 pm, Foreign Policy, Excerpt: “When the whole world failed to support us, the United States extended its hands. We shook hands and appreciated its generous support. At Washington’s request, we agreed to withdraw our heavy weapons from the border area with Turkey, destroy our defensive fortifications, and pull back our most seasoned fighters. Turkey would never attack us so long as the U.S. government was true to its word with us.

We are now standing with our chests bare to face the Turkish knives….

We, however, are not asking for American soldiers to be in combat. We know that the United States is not the world police. But we do want the United States to acknowledge its important role in achieving a political solution for Syria. We are sure that Washington has sufficient leverage to mediate a sustainable peace between us and Turkey.

We believe in democracy as a core concept, but in light of the invasion by Turkey and the existential threat its attack poses for our people, we may have to reconsider our alliances. The Russians and the Syrian regime have made proposals that could save the lives of millions of people who live under our protection. We do not trust their promises. To be honest, it is hard to know whom to trust…” Please read the entire statement here: https://archive.li/WJBU7

Russia-Turkey Nuclear Power Station deal moving forward: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akkuyu_Nuclear_Power_Plant

“What Turkey’s S-400 missile deal with Russia means for Nato“By Jonathan Marcus Diplomatic correspondent 13 June 2019 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48620087

“In a Washington Post opinion piece published late Wednesday, Hemin Kobane, the SDF’s liaison with the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, accused the United States of casting aside the Kurds and “leaving them to their fates at the hands of their mortal enemies.” Kobane cited the years of cooperation between U.S. and SDF forces in taking back territory from Islamic State, calling U.S. forces “our friends and brothers” against a common enemy…” Excerpted from “UN Security Council Meets on Turkey’s Offensive Against Kurds” By Margaret Besheer October 10, 2019 03:57 PM https://www.voanews.com/europe/un-security-council-meets-turkeys-offensive-against-kurds

“‘It Didn’t Have to Be This Way’: Just-Retired CENTCOM General” BY JOSEPH VOTEL FORMER COMMANDER, US CENTRAL COMMAND, THE ATLANTIC, ELIZABETH DENT, NON-RESIDENT FELLOW, MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE,THE ATLANTIC https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2019/10/syria-trump-withdrawal-isis/160451/

Tiny excerpt from the Votel article: “Over four years, the SDF freed tens of thousands of square miles and millions of people from the grip of ISIS. Throughout the fight, it sustained nearly 11,000 casualties. By comparison, six U.S.service members, as well as two civilians, have been killed in the anti-ISIS campaign.”

“Kurds Strike Deal with Syrian Army to Counter Turkey
By VOA News
October 13, 2019 05:48 PM
Syrian government forces will deploy along the Turkish border to help repel the Turkish military incursion against Syrian Kurds, Kurdish officials announced Sunday.

The extraordinary deal between the Kurds, Syria, and Russia — Syria’s main ally —  comes four days after Turkish forces moved against the Kurds in northern Syria after nearly all U.S. forces pulled out.

Turkey regards the Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces as terrorists aligned with separatists inside Turkey.

Observers say in just the last four days, as many as 60 civilians have been killed with thousands of others fleeing.

“In order to prevent and block this assault, agreement has been reached with the Syrian government whose duty is to protect the borders and Syrian sovereignty, for the Syrian army to enter and deploy along the length of the Syrian-Turkish border,” a Kurdish statement said.

Kurds say Syrian forces will start spreading out along the border Sunday and should be totally deployed within two days.

The Kurdish statement came shortly after the official Syrian news agency reported that the army was sending in troops to “confront Turkish aggression.”

Syrian Kurds say they feel totally forsaken by the United States after fighting side-by-side with U.S. forces against Islamic State extremists in Syria. They also believe much of the Arab world and the U.N. Security Council are ignoring them.

“We had to find a solution…now you see what has happened to us and they don’t want to support us,” the defense minister of the Kurdish city of Kobani, Ismat Sheikh Hassan, said Sunday. “Again, we should not trust anybody. We should rely on ourselves. Every Kurd should carry a gun and prepare himself.”

Hassan called on young Kurds to stay in their homes while the elderly and children can leave if they wish to go.

Earlier Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. is withdrawing all remaining troops from northern Syria…

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said at a joint news conference that Turkey is risking an “unbearable humanitarian situation.”
Even Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci spoke out against the operation Turkey calls “Peace Spring.”

“It is blood that is spilling, not water,” he wrote on Facebook…

Along with the civilian casualties, Kurdish prison guards are needed to confront the Turks, leaving captured IS fighters unguarded.

Syrian Kurdish officials say hundreds have already escaped, along with their families who were housed in a displacement camp.” https://www.voanews.com/usa/kurds-strike-deal-syrian-army-counter-turkey

SDC protests a/g Russia https://archive.li/jztzF

“Syria moves troops toward Turkish offensive
The Syrian military has mobilized soldiers toward the north of the country to face the Turkish incursion. France is taking measures to ensure the safety of its military and civilian personnel in the war-torn region.” https://www.dw.com/en/syria-moves-troops-toward-turkish-offensive/a-50816829