 |
US Supports Turkey’s Invasion of Syria |
|
By
Stephen Lendman |
| There’s no delicate way of putting it. Throughout Obama’s rape of Syria,
Turkey partnered with America for its own self-interest. It profits from selling stolen ISIS oil, covets annexation of northern Syrian and Iraqi territory. Erdogan’s primary aim is establishing a new Ottoman empire, naked aggression his strategy. His meeting with Putin in St. Petersburg on August 9 achieved nothing toward resolving Syria’s conflict - just the opposite based on events since Wednesday. Days earlier comments by Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim were duplicitous in promising to work with Russia and Iran for conflict resolution. Just the opposite is happening. Partnered with US-supported terrorists called “moderate rebels,” Turkish forces invaded northern Syria in force on the phony pretext of combating ISIS, its ally throughout the conflict. Its fighters left the city of Jarablus, likely notified in advance to get out of harm’s way. Turkish aggression with US-supported air cover was a walkover, no resistance encountered. Erdogan’s dual aim was combating Kurdish YPG fighters and seizing Syrian territory - whether short-term or permanently remains to be seen. His government announced it intends taking the town of Manbij. Joe Biden conveniently visiting Ankara expressed US support for Turkish aggression, saying “(w)e have made it clear to Kurdish forces that they must move back across the (Euphrates) river.” “They cannot and will not get American support if they do not keep that commitment. Period.” In other words, it’s OK for Turkey to seize and occupy northern Syrian territory - how all aggressors operate, notably America. A Syrian Foreign Ministry statement “condemn(ed) the intrusion of Turkish tanks into Syrian territory under the cover of air support provided by the US-led international coalition. Syria regards such actions as outright violation of its sovereignty.” Resisting terror “is not confined to driving out militants of the terrorist group calling itself Islamic State only to replace them with other extremist groups supported from Turkey.” Russia’s response to Erdogan’s aggression was muted, its Foreign Ministry saying “Moscow is deeply worried over the ongoing events in the area of the Syrian-Turkish border.” “First and foremost, very worrisome is the risk of a further deterioration of the situation in the zone of the conflict, including the possibility of civilian casualties it may entail and the soaring inter-ethnic contradictions between the Kurds and the Arabs.” It added conflict resolution can only be achieved through constructive dialogue, involving all Syrian ethnic and religious groups. What’s the point. It’s not happening this way and won’t because Washington obstructs efforts toward peace. Instead of steps toward resolution, things just escalated, Washington’s dirty hands involved - letting Erdogan pursue his territorial ambitions and war on area Kurds, allied with US-supported terrorists against the territorial integrity of Syria and its long-suffering people. Russia’s muted response to what’s happening begs these questions. Why hasn’t Moscow unreservedly condemned Turkish aggression with US support? Why doesn’t it forthrightly denounced all heavily armed anti-government forces as terrorists and declare henceforth it’ll attack them freely? Turkey occupying parts of northern Syria perhaps intending to stay is a significant setback in efforts to liberate the country from US-backed foreign invaders. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network. posted by Steve Lendman @ 4:22 AM |
| Donate to Rense.com Support Free & Honest Journalism At Rense.com | Subscribe To RenseRadio! Enormous Online Archives, MP3s, Streaming Audio Files, Highest Quality Live Programs |