In a move that is sure to anger Erdogan the fascist dictator of Turkey, el Trumpo is going to arm the Kurds to fight against ISIS, and yes, possibly fight Turkey too, why not?
Watch below:
.@PressSec: Trump has authorized DoD to equip Kurdish elements of Syrian Democratic Forces in fight for Raqqa, despite Turkish opposition. pic.twitter.com/0n0IsLrzNK
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) May 9, 2017
It’s really important to note how much Turkey hates the Kurds – they view them as terrorists because they seek their own land, partially to be carved out of Turkey. Some of these separatists are Stalinist commies, BUT, they’re also the best at fighting ISIS. SO it’s complicated.
Reports said the president had approached the plan to provide heavy weapons to the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, as part of a plan to retake Raqqa, the Syrian city that is Isis’s defacto capital.
The US sees the Kurds as its most effective battlefield proxy in the fight against Isis in northern and eastern Syria. But Turkey says the group is an extension of an organisation operating inside its border which it considers a terror group.
The White House meeting w/ Erdogan is designed to soften the blow and reaffirm the alliance, while underscoring YPG is tactical partnership
— Aaron Stein (@aaronstein1) May 9, 2017
The Associated Press said the administration was likely to provide 120mm mortars, machines guns, ammunition and light armoured vehicles. It is not expected to provide artillery or surface-to-air missiles.
The news agency said US officials including Gen Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have met repeatedly with Turkish officials to try to work out an arrangement for the Raqqa assault that would be acceptable to Ankara. The Turks have insisted that the Syrian Kurds be excluded from that operation, but US officials said there was no real alternative.
Turkey’s Islamist dictator Erdogan is going to visit Trump next week. So that should be very interesting…