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Turkey protests US observation posts in north Syria
[AlAhram] The Sick Man of Europe Turkey
...just another cheapjack Moslem dictatorship, brought to you by the Moslem Brüderbund....
on Saturday sharply criticised a US plan to put observation posts in northern Syria so as to help prevent festivities between Ottoman Turkish forces and a Kurd militia backed by Washington.

"I am of the opinion that these measures will only complicate further an already complicated situation," said Ottoman Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, quoted by state-run news agency
...and if you can't trust the state-run news agency who can you believe?...
Anadolu.

"We have told our American counterparts about our unease several times," Akar said, noting that he recently raised the issue with Joe Dunford, head of the US joint chiefs of staff.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Wednesday that Washington wanted the observation posts along Syria's northern border with Turkey to help minimise tensions between the Turks and Washington's Kurdish allies in the fight against the Islamic State
...formerly ISIS or ISIL, depending on your preference. Before that al-Qaeda in Iraq, as shaped by Abu Musab Zarqawi. They're very devout, committing every atrocity they can find in the Koran and inventing a few more. They fling Allah around with every other sentence, but to hear the pols talk they're not really Moslems....
group.

The aim was to ensure the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, "are not drawn off that fight."

"They will be very clearly marked locations day and night so that the Turks know where they're at," he said, noting that the decision was taken in close cooperation with Turkey.

Akar, again urging Washington to halt support for the YPG, said the observation posts would serve no use.

Turkey "will not hesitate to take the necessary measures on the other side of its borders to face up to the risks and threats which could result," he added.

The SDF announced on November 11 it would resume its offensive against IS after having previously called it off due to tensions with Turkey, which had shelled its positions in northern Syria.

Syria's long-oppressed Kurdish minority has established a semi-autonomous region in the north of the country, which has been wracked by conflict since 2011.

Turkey refuses to recognise the territory on its border, fearing it will stoke the separatist ambitions of Kurds in its own country.

Ankara has carried out two operations against Kurdish forces since 2016, the last against the border enclave of Afrin, which it seized in March and is now controlled by pro-Ottoman Turkish Syrian rebels.
Posted by: trailing wife 2018-11-25
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=528362