News

“A GREAT DEAL?”
Thursday, October 17, 2019

By David L. Phillips

Not so fast.

Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo got rolled by Erdogan. The “great deal” gives Turkey everything it wanted. It rewards Turkey for attacking our allies, the Kurds, assigning it control of a 22-mile buffer on the Syrian side of the border. The deal is in effect for five days, after which Turkey can continue its killing spree.

The Syrian Kurds were not involved in negotiations. A senior official for the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC), which represents Syrian Kurds, says the SDC has no information about the agreement.

A No-Fly Zone Can Limit the Damage Caused By Turkey
Saturday, October 12, 2019

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan anticipated strong criticism of Trump for withdrawing US troops and giving Turkey a green light to invade. Erdogan wasted no time after their phone call on October 8, launching air strikes the next day and deploying ground troops before Trump could change his mind. At this stage, the US should take steps to discourage the escalation of conflict and mitigate the humanitarian emergency.

In Memoriam - Hefrin Khalaf
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Ms. Hefrin Khalaf, Secretary General of the Future Syria Party, was executed by Free Syria Army mercenaries under Turkey's control on October 12. The international community, led by the United States, must not countenance atrocities committed with impunity. It should prevent Turkey from renewing its attack against the Syrian Kurds, as Erdogan threatened. Intervention would save civilians and create conditions conducive to internationally mediated talks on the status of northern Syria.
Turkey and ISIS Benefit from Trump's Retreat
Wednesday, October 9, 2019

By David L. Phillips

Turkish war planes and artillery are attacking Kurdish positions in North and East Syria, Turkey’s foot soldiers, the Free Syrian Army (FSA), are massing at the border poised to attack. Terrorism is resurgent under Turkey’s protection. The FSA is a terrorist gang with a sordid history of atrocities and ties to ISIS.

Shock and Disgust: Trump Turns a Blind Eye to Turkey's Slaughter of Kurds in Syria
Monday, October 7, 2019

By David L. Phillips

President Donald J. Trump succumbed to Turkey’s demand for a “safe zone” in North and East Syria, announcing overnight that the U.S. is pulling back forces that have served as a trip wire deterring Turkey’s invasion. The pullback reverses years of U.S. policy, ignoring advice from the Pentagon and State Department. Trump’s decision is strategically flawed, tactically incoherent -- and morally repugnant.

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