Article

2019-07-13 Iraq

Is Erbil possible replacement for Incirlik as Turkish-US tensions flare over S-400?

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Posted by trailing wife 2019-07-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top
File under: Sublime Porte

#1 The best thing we could have done in post-Saddam Iraq would have been to partition it, with Kurdistan becoming an independent US ally with a forward US deployment there.

I know Biden isn't thought highly of on these threads but if memory serves, Biden actually did argue strongly for just such a strategy. Too bad he wasn't in charge instead of 0.

Posted by Lex 2019-07-13 01:00|| 2019-07-13 01:00|| Front Page Top

#2 There is already a US presence at the huge base north of Irbil.

Posted by Chereting Pelosi1889 2019-07-13 08:13|| 2019-07-13 08:13|| Front Page Top

#3 I am amazed that wasn't done right after the liberation of Iraq: Both downgrade Incirlik and replace it with Erbil.

Posted by Frozen Al 2019-07-13 10:27|| 2019-07-13 10:27|| Front Page Top

#4 Well, we withdrew all the nukes from Incirlik, except for that one....

Posted by Frank G 2019-07-13 10:36|| 2019-07-13 10:36|| Front Page Top

#5 #1 The best thing we could have done in post-Saddam Iraq would have been to partition it, with Kurdistan becoming an independent US ally with a forward US deployment there. --Lex
Without declaring war on Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey at the same time? Unfortunately an ambition not practical, then or now....

Posted by magpie 2019-07-13 18:01|| 2019-07-13 18:01|| Front Page Top

#6 Lex - that had Huge Implications™ and got back into western geo-dictating nation-state boundaries. Joe was wrong again. If it works for the locals, they have to ACCEPT it, not having it imposed by outsiders

Posted by Frank G 2019-07-13 20:23|| 2019-07-13 20:23|| Front Page Top

#7 It wouldn't have to be a hard partition with complete independence.

Sovereignty backed up by a US Air Force base would be enough to ensure Kurdish independence + US domination of the skies.

Posted by Lex 2019-07-13 23:16|| 2019-07-13 23:16|| Front Page Top

23:16 Lex
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