Syria

[Walter Sobchak]

That did already happened when they ambushed us if you remember.

moar dead Russkies, moar better. amirite?

[Walter Sobchak]

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[Uncle Ted]

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Where the hell is JL? He is slacking off around here... #whataboutobama

[Uncle Ted]

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[Walter Sobchak]

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[falafel]

Damn, Walter, how about a spoiler tag?

[old_gregg]

can we not with the posting and bumping of posts re dead or maimed kids?

[frank ryan]

can we not with the posting and bumping of posts re dead or maimed kids?

This is Walter's time to shine as a principled isolationist. He probably has a whole file of drone strike victims.

[Walter Sobchak]

Damn, Walter, how about a spoiler tag?

creekster will hook you up.

This is Walter's time to shine as a principled isolationist. He probably has a whole file of drone strike victims.

Like porn, not that hard to find bro. No need to keep local copies.

[wuapinmon]

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-...c-efbc41150000

Less than two weeks have passed since the terrorist attack on Istiklal Avenue in Istanbul that killed six people and wounded about 80 more, and Turkey is once again threatening a new invasion of Syria. After four consecutive days in which Turkish planes bombed targets in northern Syria and Iraq, Erdogan made it clear that “this is just the beginning.” His close adviser and spokesman Ibrahim Kalin tweeted “this is the repayment for Istiklal,” and Turkish air force ground crews wrote the names of the two children killed in the terror attack on the bombs.

These were the broadest attacks that Turkey has carried out in Syrian territory in years, and Erdogan made no efforts to hide his intentions of a ground invasion. The relevant defense organizations, he told journalists, will decide the scope of the ground forces needed for the offensive.

He used the same opportunity to confront the U.S. administrations that have continued to aid the Syrian Kurdish forces, claiming they are helping the terrorists who are attacking Turkey. “We will continue this struggle inside and outside the borders until the terrorist threat to our country is completely over,” he said.

A Turkish military invasion of Syria had already been on the agenda for a few months, but had been blocked by pressure from Russia and the United States. Washington is the major patron of the Kurdish forces, which it views as an effective and key force in its war against the Islamic State, and is committed to guaranteeing the security of the Kurdish population living in northern Syria. Russia is worried that a Turkish invasion will tear off another piece of Syrian territory, and harm its (so far hopeless) efforts to achieve a diplomatic solution to the war in Syria.

But the Russian invasion of Ukraine has changed the pressure exerted on Ankara. Turkey has been supplying military aid to Ukraine, which includes the sale of hundreds of armed drones that have contributed significantly to reversing the course of the war in its favor. But it is also an important economic pillar for Russia, in part because it has not joined in the sanctions imposed on the country, nor has it given its full blessing to Sweden and Finland for joining NATO.

[Bo Diddley]

https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-...c-efbc41150000

It's interesting all the competing interests and alliances.

[wuapinmon]

It's interesting all the competing interests and alliances.

Yep. The Kurds have gotten shafted by Western powers so many times, I'm amazed they still rally to the cause. Watching all the combat subreddits and telegram channels, I see videos of the PKK killing Turkish soldiers and of them getting disintegrated by Bayraktar drones. I get why Turkey hates them, but, imagine if Iraq, Syria, and Turkey all just said, "you know what, it's not worth it. Peace is the answer, let's create a Kurdistan."

It'll never happen, but it'd be awesome if it did. The Kurdish part of Iraq is the only part I'd consider visiting.

[Bo Diddley]

It'll never happen, but it'd be awesome if it did.

Totally agree.

I never made it that far north, but stayed mostly around Baghdad, or within 100 miles in each direction.

[myboynoah]

Yep. The Kurds have gotten shafted by Western powers so many times, I'm amazed they still rally to the cause. Watching all the combat subreddits and telegram channels, I see videos of the PKK killing Turkish soldiers and of them getting disintegrated by Bayraktar drones. I get why Turkey hates them, but, imagine if Iraq, Syria, and Turkey all just said, "you know what, it's not worth it. Peace is the answer, let's create a Kurdistan."

It'll never happen, but it'd be awesome if it did. The Kurdish part of Iraq is the only part I'd consider visiting.

A sad history. Yes, Erbil is worth the visit. Our org helped get Hardee's in there! And the West Bank as well.