Trump approves plan to arm Syrian Kurds

[corbe]

Trump approves plan to arm Syrian Kurds

 By Rebecca Kheel - 05/09/17 02:18 PM EDT

President Trump has signed off on a plan to arm Syrian Kurds, considered a key ally by the United States in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

“Yesterday, the president authorized the Department of Defense to equip Kurdish elements of the Syrian Democratic Forces as necessary to ensure a clear victory over ISIS in Raqqa, Syria,” Pentagon chief spokeswoman Dana White said in a statement Tuesday. “The SDF, partnered with enabling support from U.S. and coalition forces, are the only force on the ground that can successfully seize Raqqa in the near future.”

The plan is sure to rile Turkey, which considers the Kurds terrorists and an extension of outlawed Kurdish insurgents in Turkey.

The U.S. military has debated for months how best to proceed as forces prepare to retake Raqqa, ISIS’ de facto capitol in Syria.

The Syrian Democratic Force, coalition of fighters both Kurdish and Arab, has been working to isolate the city.

But whether the Kurds will lead the assault on the city and whether to arm them have been points of contention between the United States and Turkey, a NATO ally.

The simmering tensions between the Kurds and Turkey reached a boiling point last month when Turkish forces bombed and killed some U.S.-aligned Kurds. The U.S. military then sent forces to patrol the Turkey-Syria border.

In Tuesday’s statement, White sought to reassure Turkey that the United States is committed to its security.

“We are keenly aware of the security concerns of our coalition partner Turkey,” she said. “We want to reassure the people and government of Turkey that the U.S. is committed to preventing additional security risks and protecting our NATO ally.”

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http://thehill.com/policy/defense/332561-trump-approves-plan-to-arm-syrian-kurds

[Cripplecreek]

Finally some sense.

[anubias]

About time!

[Cyber Liberty]

@EC What do you think about this?

[geronl]

It's not like arming Muslims has ever gone bad before.

[EC]

@EC What do you think about this?

It's a weak attempt to undo the massive damage to relations with the Kurds that his congratulations phone call to Erdogan did, by taking credit for something that was already in progress and approved for the next two years.

Not impressed.

[EC]

@Cyber Liberty

Forgot the damned ping. 

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty

Forgot the damned ping. 

I saw it anyway...lol.  Figured I ask you what's what...find out from somebody who's been there.

[kevindavis007]

Smart move..

[Cripplecreek]

It's a weak attempt to undo the massive damage to relations with the Kurds that his congratulations phone call to Erdogan did, by taking credit for something that was already in progress and approved for the next two years.

Not impressed.

Its something that Ted Cruz campaigned on. Arming our reliable allies with the weapons they need rather than small arms and blankets. Give them artillery for taking on ISIS convoys and training to call in effective airstrikes.