According to Kurdish officials, Syrian Kurds will be ready to take part in the fight for the city of Raqqa if the US-led coalition recognizes a federal project of Syrian Kurds in Rojava, as well as directly supplies weapons to the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
Photo: DW
If the US-led coalition recognizes a federal project of Syrian Kurds in Rojava and directly arms the People’s Protection Units (YPG), they would take part in the impending battle for Raqqa City, the Ara news agency reported, citing Kurdish officials.
A fresh offensive in order to liberate the city of Raqqa, the capital of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria, is planned by the US-led coalition. A recession in relations between the US and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), consisting mostly of Kurds, hampers this plan. Washington’s support for Turkey’s intervention is the main reason of the recession.
On Wednesday, a senior Kurdish official and member of the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM), Hanifa Hussein, said that Kurds are ready to take part in the proposed anti-IS operation.
“But first we need to make sure that our federal project would be accepted by Washington and coalition members, the YPG forces would receive arms directly, and the Kurds would be officially invited to the Geneva peace talks,” Hussein said.
Now, the US administration is thinking about arming of the Kurdish-led SDF, despite Turkey’s ardent opposition, in order to garner Kurdish support. Turkey is currently trying to prevent support for Kurds from abroad. On Thursday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that he has reservations about the US plans.
According to Hussein, the US-led coalition “has supported Arab tribes in Deir ez-Zor with millions-of-dollars-worth arms, and in the end, it all ended up in the hands of the IS.” Apparently, he referenced to the Pentagon-backed New Syrian Army (NSA), which lost the battle for al-Bukamal in late June this year.
“The YPG is the only force that has liberated major Syrian areas from ISIS, and sacrificed over 4000 of its fighters in this fight,” he added.
Ah yes, and every story about the Kurds that shows fighters must show armed women :-)
A refreshment according to all the gayparties. Ours fly F16 as well. Remember umbrella. Our defence yesterday presended the first female general. Nice they get killed too.
Why does anyone ever trust the Yanquis…
well many do. naive to trus any 100% or not at all. Use filter.
How to defeat ISIS and create a Secular-Democratic Syria 1: Arm the YPG and allies everything they want (ammunition, light weapons, heavy weapons, anti-air missiles to take out Turkish jets firing on them) and support them with airstrikes & even special forces. 2: With this support the SDF/YPG can liberate Al-bab, secure Northern Aleppo, create a contiguous secular-democratic territory in Northern Syria and cut off ISIS from their Turkish supporters. 3: With Northern Aleppo secure and ISIS on the ropes (unable to export terrorists & oil or import weapons, cash and foreign fighters) the SDF/YPG can move southward to Raqqa, liberate it and destroy ISIS in their capital. After this the SDF may continue southward as far as the Euphrates river. Lift the siege on Sheikh Maqsud and unite it with Afrin canton if possible, otherwise use it as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table. 4: Let Assad wipe out terrorists south of Rojava’s frontline/borders. 5: At the Geneva peace conference the SDF negotiates a new federal, secular, democratic constitution for Syria. The two autonomous regions would be the Federation of Northern Syria – Rojava and the Arab Republic of Syria (in an arrangement superficially like that of Bosnia-Herzegovina or Iraq). If Assad doesn’t accept then a de-facto partition takes place.
you motherfucker, in royava the kurds are minority. you are same fascists as hitler.
before you blow up such shit, check the demographical data.
Kurds currently make up 60% of the territory controlled by the YPG/SDF (100% of Afrin, 55% of Kobani and Hasakah). Second, Rojava isn’t an ethnic-sectarian project it’s a pluralistic federation of Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians etc. All ethnicities and religions are represented in Rojava as it’s a secular federal democracy. The fascists are the Islamists who oppress women, gays, religious and ethnic minorities.
40%
you must involve people who left, are refugees, but come back. and you MUST allow them the comebeck.
you are fascists, you define larger kurdish Lebensraum than is the reality.
Then there will be an Kurdish plurality, the numbers dont matter because Rojava is a multi-ethnic, secular, multi-religious, democracy. There is affirmative action and quotas for Arab, Turkmen and Assyrian minorities. These minorities are fighting together in the SDF. Rojava’s population is 50% refugees.
such federalization has no sense
I miss the Catholic part of Syria. Maybe you can find some Buddhists in Syria. Why would not they be given any part of Syria.
What do you suggesting is ethnic cleansing of certain parts of Syria, the formation of new identities within the country, which will only wait for the new geostrategic situation to start another war.
Bosnia? Hmm… Good example!
No, Rojava is a pluralistic state of all ethnicities, religions and languages. The example was the Dayton accords, ending the violence and ethnic cleansing by having administrative division based off ceasefire front lines.
Alex M, I don’t think your points work well even to defeat ISIS. I much prefer my strategy which I posted in another comment here an hour ago, headed “RECOGNITION OF ROJAVA FEDERAL PROJECT”.
1: Arm the YPG and allies everything they want (ammunition, light weapons, heavy weapons, anti-air missiles to take out Turkish jets firing on them) and support them with airstrikes & even special forces.
I agree that the YPG must be armed for ground war but the anti-ISIS coalition must include Turkey too. Therefore it is far better if the US and NATO partners can persuade Turkey not to target the YPG with air-strikes rather than supply anti-air missiles to the YPG which could fall into the wrong hands, perhaps anti-air missiles might be exchanged for YPG prisoners, be sold, be captured by ISIS or otherwise end up being used by ISIS to target anti-ISIS coalition aircraft.
The danger of anti-air missiles falling into the hands of the anti-Assad rebels, being supplied by Saudi Arabia perhaps, and then falling into ISIS hands is a real one and we really ought not to encourage any anti-air missiles being supplied to anyone who is not professional military of anti-ISIS coalition countries, such as NATO countries.
Yes one day, in the far future when Rojava is secured and has a professional military, they will need anti-air defences, but today it is better if the anti-ISIS air-power countries take responsibility for controlling air-attacks between ourselves and not trust somewhat chaotic militia ground forces to start taking command of the air as well.
2: With this support the SDF/YPG can liberate Al-bab, secure Northern Aleppo, create a contiguous secular-democratic territory in Northern Syria and cut off ISIS from their Turkish supporters.
No, it is better if Turkey takes Al-Bab.
If the SDF/YPG take al-Bab it will cause the strategic error of obstructing Turkish ground forces taking ground from ISIS south-east of Al-Bab because Turkish ground forces are required to attack Raqqa from the south.
Also, cutting off ISIS from any support they might have in Turkey does not cut ISIS off from any support they may be getting from Saudi Arabia. We need a proper professional army to mop up ISIS forces west and south of the Euphrates and that’s not going to be the YPG’s job, whereas the Turkish armed forces are suitable if given appropriate supranational leadership.
3: With Northern Aleppo secure and ISIS on the ropes (unable to export terrorists & oil or import weapons, cash and foreign fighters) the SDF/YPG can move southward to Raqqa, liberate it and destroy ISIS in their capital.
ISIS if left to roam free south-east of Al-Bab can sneak in supplies from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and so on. Blocking off Turkey is not sufficient to eliminate ISIS supply and support from elsewhere.
The SDF/YPG can focus on advancing southward against ISIS towards Raqqa if and when al-Bab is left to be taken by Turkey instead of the SDF/YPG being distracted with trying to take Al-Bab, which likely would provoke unwelcome skirmishes with Turkey or Turkish backed FSA who will have no-one left to fight except the YPG/SDF because they would be obstructed from getting at ISIS south-east of Al-Bab.
4: Let Assad wipe out terrorists south of Rojava’s frontline/borders.
Assad is too busy trying to secure other parts of Syria against Syrian anti-Assad rebels so that Assad is unwilling or unable to prioritise the fight against ISIS, which the priority of the international anti-ISIS coalition, not Assad’s priority.
5: At the Geneva peace conference the SDF negotiates a new federal, secular, democratic constitution for Syria. The two autonomous regions would be the Federation of Northern Syria – Rojava and the Arab Republic of Syria (in an arrangement superficially like that of Bosnia-Herzegovina or Iraq). If Assad doesn’t accept then a de-facto partition takes place.
I think that there are sufficient anti-Assad Syrians, the opposition, who will not willing share a single unitary nation state with Assad. Those Syrians need two states, one for pro-Assad and one for anti-Assad. Rojava led by Kurds would be a third state. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4d171cccf437e9734d49202bb83bff3753411abea499e34866039904de7ced73.jpg
Your point about not letting the air defence fall into the hands of ISIS or other terrorist groups is well taken. However I’m not of the opinion that US weapons falling into the hands of terrorist groups is accidental. We know the US has been arming Islamist rebel groups and that Al Nusra is intertwind with the “FSA” rebels. Rojav
Rojava needs to be a contiguous territory. That way weapons, troops, ammunition, food and supplies can move freely from east to west.
Well Alaska is not contiguous with the lower 48 states but that doesn’t prevent “weapons, troops, ammunition, food and supplies” from moving freely.
Canada is cooperative. If Al-Bab is in cooperative hands then there should be no problem with getting free movement east and west.
The issue boils down again to the command of Turkish forces in Syria or on the border with Syria. The whole anti-ISIS coalition needs to address ourselves to that issue.
If Turkey can be persuaded to put Turkish invasion forces under supranational command, the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve, or NATO command, then cooperation with Rojava’s needs can be guaranteed while still allowing Turkish forces a ground route to attack Raqqa from west and south of the Euphrates.
Rojava isn’t the United States. Rojava borders the much larger and more militarily powerful Turkey to the North which is an Islamist regime dead-set on destroying Rojava. Rojava also borders the much larger and psychotic Islamist terrorist “caliphate” of ISIS. Not to mention the Al Nusra/Ahrar Al-Sham stronghold of Idlib province is south of Afrin canton (and larger than Afrin canton). If Rojava wants to survive the war it needs to be a contiguous territory. Alaska is a coastal territory. The US can move supplies to and from it via the ocean. Canada is also a close US ally and a member of NATO so it’s perfectly fine with American stuff passing through. If something needs to be moved from Kobani canton to Afrin canton it needs to be illegally smuggled overland through Turkey or ISIS (both of which want Rojava destroyed and would imprison or behead the man transporting the goods/people). Rojava is landlocked, it has no coastal borders. Moreover, Rojava needs defensible borders. I don’t expect Turkey to become cooperative any time soon and the SDF/YPG can’t rely on their cooperation. If Turkey (with Erdogan as President doing whatever he wants) takes Al-bab then Rojava will be cut off from territorial continuity. In all likelihood Erdogan will then attack either the Kurds in Afrin canton, Kobani canton or Assad’s forces in northern Aleppo, not ISIS.
Rojava isn’t the United States. Rojava borders the much larger and more militarily powerful Turkey to the North which is an Islamist regime dead-set on destroying Rojava. Rojava also borders the much larger and psychotic Islamist terrorist “caliphate” of ISIS. Not to mention the Al Nusra/Ahrar Al-Sham stronghold of Idlib province is south of Afrin canton (and larger than Afrin canton).
Understood.
If Rojava wants to survive the war it needs to be a contiguous territory.
No, Rojava needs the support of the anti-ISIS coalition. Rojava should not allow Erdogan to present a contiguous Rojava blocking invasion routes from Turkey as an obstacle to advancing Turkish forces to defeat ISIS.
Alaska is a coastal territory. The US can move supplies to and from it via the ocean. Canada is also a close US ally and a member of NATO so it’s perfectly fine with American stuff passing through.
Understood.
If something needs to be moved from Kobani canton to Afrin canton it needs to be illegally smuggled overland through Turkey or ISIS (both of which want Rojava destroyed and would imprison or behead the man transporting the goods/people).
The status quo is unsatisfactory. That’s why there is a war against ISIS.
Rojava is landlocked, it has no coastal borders. Moreover, Rojava needs defensible borders.
A thin strip of land connecting Afrin canton to Kobani canton does not have “defensible borders”, if there are enemies to the north and south. The only permanent defence for the Rojava cantons is to be surrounded by good neighbours which means the defeat of ISIS, and an accommodation with Turkey.
I don’t expect Turkey to become cooperative any time soon and the SDF/YPG can’t rely on their cooperation. If Turkey (with Erdogan as President doing whatever he wants) takes Al-bab then Rojava will be cut off from territorial continuity. In all likelihood Erdogan will then attack either the Kurds in Afrin canton, Kobani canton or Assad’s forces in northern Aleppo, not ISIS.
Rojava territorial continuity, while the war with ISIS remains, is giving Erdogan the pretext he wants to give him a free hand to incite the Turkish military to wage war on Kurds, with little or no interference from the anti-ISIS coalition who would observe then that Rojava is foolishly putting its territorial continuity before all much more important matters, such as the defeat of ISIS, even before Rojava’s own security versus ISIS attacks from the south and attacks from Turkey to the north.
The Turkish governments cannot be not a partner for peace. They’re ruled by an Islamist who is dead set against the entire Rojava project. He considers the YPG/SDF terrorists. He also knows that if there’s a territory/federation/country built on the principles of Abdullah ocalan, secularism, feminism, democratic confederalism and libertarian socialism, his own power and oppression of the Turkish Kurds will be threatened. Turkish rule over a buffer zone between the SDF and border might be accepted between Afrin canton and the Euphrates. Assad is no doubt prioritizing the consolidation of western Syria. But who else can take over former ISIS territory when the “caliphate” collapses. The YPG/SDF cannot and does not want to rule south-eastern Syria. That leaves Assad’s forces as the only other secular fighting force (I don’t believe western claims that the FSA are anything approaching “moderate”). A coherent viable state emerging out of the opposition in Syria is unlikely in my estimation. The opposition is divided between dozens of groups without any ideological unity (other than a commitment to Islamism ranging from vague to extreme Wahhabism). Current opposition territory is ruled by local jihadist war-lords and sharia courts with no national organization like Rojava or Assadist Syria. Idlib province is their largest most solidified contiguous viable stronghold and it’s divided between Al Nusra and Ahrar Al-Sham. The rest of rebel held Syria is comprised of a archipelago of useless non-contiguous pockets that cannot be viable long-term. The opposition is also firmly against partition. The only opposition group which was considering declaring independence was Al-Nusra and they were intimidated into backing away from this by the other groups.
The Turkish governments cannot be not a partner for peace. They’re ruled by an Islamist who is dead set against the entire Rojava project. He considers the YPG/SDF terrorists. He also knows that if there’s a territory/federation/country built on the principles of Abdullah ocalan, secularism, feminism, democratic confederalism and libertarian socialism, his own power and oppression of the Turkish Kurds will be threatened.
I have an answer to the Erdogan problem.
The anti-ISIS coalition countries should provide satellite broadcasting facilities to the most reasonable elements of the Turkish political opposition, and here I am thinking of the Peoples’ Democratic Party / Halkların Demokratik Partisi / HDP.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (Turkish: Halkların Demokratik Partisi (HDP), Kurdish: Partiya Demokratîk a Gelan[9]), or Democratic Party of the Peoples, is a pro-Kurdish and pro-minority political party in Turkey. Generally left-wing, the party places a strong emphasis on participatory democracy, minority rights, and egalitarianism. It is an associate member of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and consultative member of the Socialist International.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples%27_Democratic_Party_(Turkey)
https://hdpenglish.wordpress.com/
They are suffering oppression from the Turkish police state so we need to help them out, big time.
They should get a seat all around the international top tables wherever Erdogan’s government has a representative, to present the “legitimate oppressed political opposition of Turkey”.
That will really undermine Erdogan in the eyes of the Turkish parliament and he will either cave in and cooperate with us on Rojava or we can build the opposition to have Erdogan impeached and removed from office.
Turkish rule over a buffer zone between the SDF and border might be accepted between Afrin canton and the Euphrates.
Including Al Bab.
Assad is no doubt prioritizing the consolidation of western Syria. But who else can take over former ISIS territory when the “caliphate” collapses. The YPG/SDF cannot and does not want to rule south-eastern Syria. That leaves Assad’s forces as the only other secular fighting force (I don’t believe western claims that the FSA are anything approaching “moderate”).
“Who else” but Turkey? “That leaves” the Turkish, Jordanian and other moderate Arab state armed forces. The Arab League could have a role.
A coherent viable state emerging out of the opposition in Syria is unlikely in my estimation. The opposition is divided between dozens of groups without any ideological unity (other than a commitment to Islamism ranging from vague to extreme Wahhabism). Current opposition territory is ruled by local jihadist war-lords and sharia courts with no national organization like Rojava or Assadist Syria. Idlib province is their largest most solidified contiguous viable stronghold and it’s divided between Al Nusra and Ahrar Al-Sham. The rest of rebel held Syria is comprised of a archipelago of useless non-contiguous pockets that cannot be viable long-term. The opposition is also firmly against partition. The only opposition group which was considering declaring independence was Al-Nusra and they were intimidated into backing away from this by the other groups.
Well if the anti-ISIS coalition can agree amongst ourselves then we can knock Syrian opposition heads together.
If any of the Arab states are dead against any partition of Syria – die hard Wahhabist Saudi Arabia for example, then REGIME CHANGE Saudi Arabia, but that’s a whole other discussion.
Erdogan has been centralizing power for years now. He’s overstayed his term limits, he’s faked the most recent election to give his party a majority, he oppresses the kurds and he islamizes the government. If the Erdogan/Islamist government were replaced with a secular democratic government (which made peace with the HDP & PKK) or if Erdogan were forced to dramatically change his behaviour (although I still wouldn’t trust him) then I would support Turkish involvement in Syria. But that doesn’t seem likely in the near-term, especially with the failed coup. The reality of the situation is that Erdogan is dead-set on destroying Rojava which needs to be contiguous for survival as it’s surrounded by Islamists to the South (ISIS & Islamist rebels) and Islamists to the North. For that reason they need militarily defensible borders, a contiguous territory and ISIS cut off from their Turkish patrons. As I said, a buffer zone around Azaz, Al-rai, Jarabulus etc could be tolerated but that doesn’t change the need for a contiguous territory with a bridge between Manbij and Afrin canton further south. I don’t really see how the opposition can be rationalized. What you’re suggesting was attempted by Jordan with the NSA (New Syrian Army), a Jordanian/US armed, funded and trained force which was designed to secure the south-eastern desert territories of Syria from ISIS. They failed, miserably. The Southern Front of the FSA is the most moderate faction and they still appear to be a mix of 50 groups (some secularists and some Islamists) who refuse to align with Al Nusra. They control the border area adjacent to the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. But they’re more concerned with fighting Assad than ISIS. The rest are overt radical Wahhabi terrorist groups like Ahrar Al-Sham, Army of Islam, Army of Conquest and Al Nusra.
Erdogan has been centralizing power for years now. He’s overstayed his term limits, he’s faked the most recent election to give his party a majority, he oppresses the kurds and he islamizes the government.
Understood.
If the Erdogan/Islamist government were replaced with a secular democratic government (which made peace with the HDP & PKK) or if Erdogan were forced to dramatically change his behaviour (although I still wouldn’t trust him) then I would support Turkish involvement in Syria. But that doesn’t seem likely in the near-term, especially with the failed coup.
The anti-ISIS coalition could make it more likely, if we employ a more competent political strategy, that strengthens the Turkish political opposition to Erdogan, that doesn’t push Erdogan’s political opponents into the invidious position of being given no alternative than to be seen to support Erdogan, as the foolish coup attacks on the Turkish parliament did, allowing Erdogan an undeserved opportunity to present himself as “the defender of Turkish democracy”, which as we know, Erdogan certainly is not!
Therefore the international anti-ISIS coalition must help the likes of the HDP by providing them with a satellite TV channel to speak to the people of Turkey directly and inclusion in international meetings where Erdogan or his government would normally expect to be the sole representative of Turkey but instead we should attempt to rub Erdogan’s face in the reality that the anti-ISIS coalition doesn’t recognise Erdogan as such.
There is a profound inconsistency which you must address of on the one hand castigating Erdogan for his failure to lead Turkey well, yet on the other hand, refusing to demand an alternative to the US, Russia, the UN Security Council, NATO and the rest of the anti-ISIS coalition still giving Erdogan and his government full and exclusive diplomatic recognition.
Erdogan is only the problem he is because the anti-ISIS coalition are doing nothing effective to stop him remaining the same problem.
You are deluding yourself if you believe that the YPG/SDF taking Al-Bab is going to solve the Erdogan problem because if anything it will make the Erdogan problem worse, as I will explain, if you will read on.
The reality of the situation is that Erdogan is dead-set on destroying Rojava which needs to be contiguous for survival as it’s surrounded by Islamists to the South (ISIS & Islamist rebels) and Islamists to the North. For that reason they need militarily defensible borders, a contiguous territory and ISIS cut off from their Turkish patrons. As I said, a buffer zone around Azaz, Al-rai, Jarabulus etc could be tolerated but that doesn’t change the need for a contiguous territory with a bridge between Manbij and Afrin canton further south.
No, what Rojava really needs is to keep support from the US and the US-led anti-ISIS coalition.
The only reason the YPG/SDF have been able to take territory from ISIS is with close air support from the US-led anti-ISIS coalition’s Operation Inherent Resolve.
That’s what Rojava needs to understand is much more important than hopes for uniting Rojava cantons.
The danger is that if the YPG/SDF move take Al-Bab to isolate Turkey from any ground route to attack ISIS in Raqqa, Erdogan will use that as a pretext to undermine US and US-led anti-ISIS coalition support for the YPG/SDF.
Erdogan has already said to Obama and no doubt to Putin too, that he wants to help oust ISIS from Raqqa. If the YPG/SDF take all territory which stands in the way of Turkey getting to Raqqa, Erdogan will argue he needs US and US-led anti-ISIS coalition support to wage war on the YPG/SDF and the PKK so that then Turkey has no interference in its anti-ISIS war.
An even greater danger is that even if the anti-ISIS coalition distrusts Erdogan’s motives, the Turkish military will certainly believe that the only enemy that matters is the YPG/SDF if the only people they can see at their border is YPG/SDF with no sign of ISIS or anyone else standing in their way to move south, create safe zones for Syrian civilians or whatever.
I don’t really see how the opposition can be rationalized. What you’re suggesting was attempted by Jordan with the NSA (New Syrian Army), a Jordanian/US armed, funded and trained force which was designed to secure the south-eastern desert territories of Syria from ISIS. They failed, miserably.
Any failures to secure the south from ISIS equate to the possibility to failures to prevent ISIS being supplied from the south, even if supply routes via Turkey to the north are cut off.
In truth we need professional armies taking ground from ISIS from all directions and in particular the YPG/SDF should not obstruct Turkish army taking supply routes from ISIS west and south of the Euphrates as per my battle-plan.
The Southern Front of the FSA is the most moderate faction and they still appear to be a mix of 50 groups (some secularists and some Islamists) who refuse to align with Al Nusra. They control the border area adjacent to the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights. But they’re more concerned with fighting Assad than ISIS (Israel wants them as a further buffer against Hezbollah). The rest are overt radical Wahhabi terrorist groups like Ahrar Al-Sham, Army of Islam, Army of Conquest and Al Nusra.
It would be a better anti-ISIS strategy if the Jordan and Gulf countries, the Arab League would invade southern Syria with their professional military, instead of sponsoring proxy terrorist forces.
Turkey is apparently de-facto annexing the border areas of Jarabulus, Al-rai, and Azaz (pictures have been released with more Turkish flags than FSA flags and portraits of Erdogan on buildings). I could see these areas remaining under Turkish rule in a partition.
Better Turkish flags and even Erdogan’s portraits up in al-Bab and Raqqa than ISIS flags.
I have one further point to note as regard the HDP.
Middle East Eye: – Turkey extends mandate to use troops in Iraq, Syria by one year http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-extends-mandate-use-troops-iraq-syria-year-1675899151
The bill passed easily on the first day of the new session of parliament with support from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), secular opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).
Only the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) voted against it.
It is understandable that the HDP oppose Erdogan-style Turkish military action in Iraq and Syria which Erdogan wants to use against pro-Kurdish forces.
I however, unlike the HDP, do support a Turkish parlamentary mandate for Turkish forces in Iraq and Syria, if not under a Erdogan-style.
The HDP as most like you and the YPG/SDF cannot conceive of anything but a Turkish army which is hostile to Kurds but this prejudice should be questioned and wiser counsel heard.
So I support the HDP but I do not follow the HDP in miltiary matters. I expect the HDP to learn and then to follow the anti-ISIS coalition who have Kurds best interests to heart.
Agree. Why should Kurds help Assads and the world for nothing. Kurds could take more land from ISIS with more heavy weapons, but has to have a treaty a little bit better than Iraqian Kurdistan and dont be too greedy by the seize of it.
Remember Arafat and Jerusalem. Today palestinians are nothing like autonomy or state.
A terrible failure of Russian diplomacy to practically invite the US into Syria, incessantly begging for “partnership”. Instead, the aggressor now has partnership with the YPG, who could have been on the loyalist side. Oh well, at least the Kurds, US, Turks, and ISIS are now in each other’s hair, which may be the next best thing.
ypg always had a different aim. it doesn’t care of the stability in syria. they rather need chaos in syria to fulfil their agenda which is a kurdish federal state like in iraq which will develope to a kurdish country. this is their number one goal. yes russians and syrians tried to ask kurds to join their alliance but kurds only want their country. at least they are kind of netrual and kind of hostile against the syrian alliance. i can only say this. the kurds must be stupid if they think they would be granted a country of their own, why are the kurds helping the US? because they don’t have their gidt yet. so why would the US ever let them have their kurdish gift? if you wanna use kurds you don’t give them an independant country.
You completely misunderstood the situation. The Kurds want a secular federal democracy with religious and ethnic pluralism. That’s why they allied themselves with the Arab, Turkmen and Syriac militias within the SDF. The YPG have stabilized all the territory they have taken from ISIS. Rojava is already real, the Kurds and Arabs and Turkmen and Syrians of Rojava fought and died for everything they’ve built. The only friend of the Kurds are the mountains.
you don’t create a country out of nothing. first you have to take the step called federal state. that is the step you have to take to get that kurdish country. in iraq they already have one. the syrian is going to be the next one. and from this 2 federal states emerging, there will be an independent kurdish country. this of course will happen after the start of invading iran. when iran will be destablelized, the kurds will be encouraged to declare their state which of course will cause a huge war againts turkey. yes israel will never tolerate a strong military islamic country aas their neigbours.
First of all, Barzani and his traditionalist KDP hate Rojava, the YPG and PYD. I don’t see unification between Rojava and Iraqi Kurdistan happening anytime soon. Absolutely the PKK, PJAK, KDPI and other groups are fighting against the Islamist fascists ruling Iran and Turkey. However notice that it is the kurds who are the ethnic minority trying to be cleansed. They’ve taken away Kurdish language rights, citizenship and even tried to kill them off. The kurds are fighting for women’s rights, democracy, secularism and ally with all ethnic and religious groups to achieve their aim. Iran and Turkey are both religious theocracies, wake up. These are totalitarian dictatorships.
you don’t create a country out of nothing. first you have to take the step called federal state. that is the step you have to take to get that kurdish country. in iraq they already have one. the syrian is going to be the next one. and from this 2 federal states emerging, there will be an independent kurdish country. this of course will happen after the start of invading iran. when iran will be destablelized, the kurds will be encouraged to declare their state which of course will cause a huge war againts turkey. yes israel will never tolerate a strong military islamic country aas their neigbours.
Yup, the Kurds have just declared war against Iraq; Turkien and Syria, and eventually Iran. And betrayed an larg part of the people of their so called “homeland” witch by some bloddy reason seems that is an empty desert. Nobody else there. Where have I heard that bullshit before, an people without an land, to an land without an people. Anyone?. huh Kurdistan is an replay of Israel, all forgery.
I dont know whom is running this orgs, I dont even care, this are an scam, period, no legitimacy, no nothing, all lies and forgery’s of history. Kurds have nada rights in front of and because of just been Kurds, what about the rest of the regions people, huh, the non-kurds.
Stop this western backed nonsense about the Kurds, that is to create Israel 2.0 and nothing else, as the braindead Jews, the equally stupid Kurds would walk straight into that clap trap, believing their own bullshit story’s, their peoples destiny in the hands of some few greedy bastards. The enemy within. You never learn, do you, Kurds and Jews.
No, when the truth comes, you curse me.
Hrumf
peace
it was the Kurds who were gassed and murdered by the fascist Saddam Hussein in Iraq. The Kurds are fighting for the ideology of democratic confederalism, libertarian socialism, feminism, secular-federal-democracy.
if you put western bourgeois’ liberalism above human rights and peoples’ rights, you re like a little kid playing games with the devil. it s like wanting to talk to the eastern bunny. imperialist powers will talk about western “democracy” just to please you as long as you are useful to them. imperialism is the state of dying capitalism which means total exploitation, therefore imperialism will bring destruction and fascism to all peoples within its range, for sure not any kind of equality or “democracy” …! opportunists like the actual kurdish leadership will have to pay a high price for false analysis and their short eyed policies. ehtnic seperatism is not the way to freedom. the kurdish people had a very simple choice to make: to join forces with all other peoples in the region in their fight against neo-colonialsm and imperialist aggression, which are btw the roots for kurds suffering. everything else wont pay off. Who wants a 2nd Israel? it is an artificial alien german Nazi state without history and without future.
History doesnt start from nowhere. if you look at the strategic map there are peoples and forces of different strength. imperialists would never tolerate or even support a socialist state (or region) within their range. They have much more power than any nation in teh region. And nations’ borders once were drawn by colonialism. When these same imperialist powers now by brutal force are trying to change some of the borders built by themselves, when they destroy nations which arent even socialist, how can you believe they d be that thankful for kurdish loyalism to grant kurds some freedom to bulld a scoialist society! How blind can you be? This goes only as long as they stay away from all relevant ressources, if the “socialist” region was the backyard farm of turkey. and Israel, a desert for an agricultural society hosting rockets and military bases of their new masters. Who needs that? And if it was multi-ethnic, why are we talking about “the kurds” all the time? Kurdish and palestinian people have some things in common. their fight against colonialism, ethnic cleansing and for peoples’ rights. The actual kurdish leadership is a bunch of fools. They ll be run over by their friends who are friends of Saudi Arabia, Israel the IS and Turkey at the same time. Yes, those have the bombers, warships, advanced weapons, thats why they have many opportunist friends and they dont care much if one of em goes missing..
i would say the biggest opportunists in this war are the kurds and turks and of course israel.
kurds don’t have moral or standards. we should never forget what they did to the brave syrian men who defended raqqa till the last moment. these men evacuated to kurdish control area and took refugee, after the fall in raqqa. the kurds without honor and respect for international law, exchanged the syrian high ranking officers refugees with kurds being kept prisoners by rebels. the brave officers were later all executed by these rebels. and not only that. the kurds demanded randsome to the syrian government to have their soldiers back. after the syrian government gave the kurds large amount of weapons and ammo they released the syrian soldiers. these are the very same kurds we are talking today. and also the conflicts with NDF and arab natives in kurdish controlled areas shows us that kurds only seek their own goals. that happend also in iraq where arab natives were being chase out of their homes in kurdish controlled areas. opportunists at the finest.
turks or erdogan…. but the turks love erdogan, and the turks are also enjoying beeing the number one tourist country for terrorist. there must be a really huge market in there which will benefit turks a lot. as we know rebels and IS use a lot of stuff made in turkey. so we can’t say that it is only erdogan who makes profit of this dirty war.
maybe erdogan is the biggest opportunist as a person. he really used evey major events to fulfill his agenda. before and after the coup. he used evey situation for his benefits.
and israel…. eveybody is fighting for israel. bleeding, burning huge amount of money.
syria is totaly destroyed. ok, assad is still standing and it seems like he will stay standing,
but the country is in a deep crisis. but the biggest problem is that they have tranplanted hate among syrians. as we could witness in lebanon, it takes a long long time to recover from that. but as we could witness from lebanon, it’s getting better. but the problem is lebanon didn’t have assad.
so with assad in syria, the pervert israelis will never pull back their pro-israel puppets who shouts, “get pro-israel or die trying”,
israel achieved two of it’s biggest goals. to destableize syria and hezbollah.
hezbollah can’t maintain it’s crucial postistion without syrian support. syria is and will not be able to support hezbollah like it use to. the same applies for iran.
the syrian war will have a never ending. even after the rebels and IS is crushed there wont be a real peace. there will be bombings shootings kidnaping and etc. all sort of terrorist acts.
because they will not stop supporting terrorist. they do it right now and they are not being punished for their terrible crimes. instead the syrian alliance are being blamed for warcrime among the majority of people in the world. now even the pope is blaming the alliance.
israel made moslems fight eachother, syrian fight eachother, christians fight with moslems, europe and US fight with arabs… the biggest opportunists in human history with their double standard mentality starting from the ancient times. double standard mentality they always used to to fullfill their own and only interests.
RECOGNITION OF ROJAVA FEDERAL PROJECT
This South Front report seems to have been sourced from “ARA News – pulse of the north”, their story
Syrian Kurds demand recognition of Rojava federal project as condition to fight for Raqqa http://aranews.net/2016/09/syrian-kurds-demand-recognition-rojava-federal-project-condition-fight-raqqa/
(I tried to comment on the ARA News story but could not get the website to accept my comment, so I am commenting here, thanks to South Front)
I thank Hanifa Hussein for her leadership.
I agree that the US-led coalition should recognise the Rojava Federal Project. If the US will not do so yet then individual members of the coalition should do so as soon as possible.
I agree too that the YPG/YPJ must be directly armed, with all that is needed to defend Rojava from the enemy ISIS, to take ground from ISIS and to advance upon Raqqa.
Sadly, the YPG/YPJ also need arms just in case of any instances of unwelcome and counter-productive skirmishing with anti-ISIS partner Turkish forces which may on occasion be instigated on account of Erdogan’s hostile anti-Kurdish rhetoric and Erdogan’s poor leadership of Turkey which we have all come to regret with bitterness.
I would say to Jordan Matson, an American volunteer with the Kurdish YPG, quoted in the ARA News story that the best strategy for the anti-ISIS coalition would be if the Turkish army gets appropriate supranational leadership, from the US-led Operation Inherent Resolve or from NATO, and orders to cut off and TAKE CONTROL over land used now as ISIS supply routes to the west and south of the Euphrates, advancing Turkish forces, eliminating ISIS, all the way to Raqqa, as shown in my battle-plan (see attached image).
The best anti-ISIS scenario now is for Turkish-backed forces –
– right now that’s Rebels/FSA but in the near future I would hope to strengthen those forces with either the 41,000 Turkish troops reported to be “on stand by” at the border or with the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Turkey (NRDC-T), assuming all necessary political consents are granted (especially Turkey & NATO – no veto by Assad) –
– to take Al-Bab then push east-southeast towards Al-Khafsah. (See attached map of Al-Bab area)
It’s really important for the anti-ISIS coalition that we keep a front line for fighting between Turkish-backed forces and ISIS – to be sure not to block Turkish-backed forces advancing versus ISIS because we will need Turkish-backed forces to advance deeply into Syria to attack Raqqa from the south.
The worst scenario for the anti-ISIS coalition would be SDF/YPG obstructing the Turkish-backed forces and for skirmishing to develop between Rebels/FSA and SDF/YPG when, really, the focus must be kept laser-like on the fight with ISIS.
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