Author Topic: Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.  (Read 213 times)

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Offline corbe

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Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.
« on: February 13, 2018, 09:05:38 pm »

Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.


There’s a real danger of a clash between U.S. and Turkish forces. The administration should make clear that it won’t tolerate any more bad behavior—now.

  By ERIC EDELMAN and JAKE SULLIVAN
  | February 13, 2018

 
Following Turkey’s incursion into Syria, the once unthinkable prospect of a direct clash between Turkish and American soldiers has become alarmingly real. Turkey’s current fight, against U.S.-backed Kurdish troops in the northwestern Syria territory of Afrin, is destabilizing enough. But the real risk will come if Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan follows through on his repeated promises to press further east toward the Kurdish-controlled and U.S.-patrolled city of Manbij. The only way to prevent a conflict is for U.S. policymakers to adopt a clear and tough-minded approach to Turkey now, before things get worse.

Threatening U.S. forces in Manbij—Erdogan has said he would be forced to “bury” them and warned that although “they tell us ‘don’t come to Manbij,’” Turkey “will come to Manbij” — could irrevocably damage the decades-long U.S.-Turkish alliance, which is already under strain from a combination of Erdogan’s deepening authoritarianism, flirtation with Russia and conflicting interests in Syria. A clear U.S. statement that this would be intolerable, backed by an effective deterrent posture, is necessary to prevent outright U.S.-Turkish hostilities and preserve any hope of a functional relationship going forward.

Unfortunately, until now a cacophony of mixed American messages, combined with a longstanding tendency to treat Turkey gingerly, has convinced Erdogan that Washington sees its relationship with Ankara as too important to fail. This only increases his appetite for risk—and thus the potential for conflict. Ankara must be made to understand the dire consequences of attacking Manbij, and Washington must be prepared to follow through.

<..snip..>

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/13/turkey-us-trump-policy-syria-216972
No government in the 12,000 years of modern mankind history has led its people into anything but the history books with a simple lesson, don't let this happen to you.

Offline corbe

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Re: Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2018, 09:06:30 pm »
   Please move if this is wrong category @Mods, @TomSea
No government in the 12,000 years of modern mankind history has led its people into anything but the history books with a simple lesson, don't let this happen to you.

Offline TomSea

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Re: Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2018, 09:29:21 pm »
Thanks for posting, @corbe is an asset to this forum and all of our lives.

Offline corbe

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Re: Turkey Is Out of Control. Time for the U.S. to Say So.
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2018, 09:42:32 pm »
Thanks for posting, @corbe is an asset to this forum and all of our lives.

     Now I'm convinced your as full of $hit as I am @TomSea.  In spite of our small 'political' differences, I do appreciate your enormous contribution here, also.   

     Music makes the WORLD go round and you are a definite asset to both of those CATS, HERE!   THANK YOU


No government in the 12,000 years of modern mankind history has led its people into anything but the history books with a simple lesson, don't let this happen to you.