Syrian Kurds Request Half of U.S. Troops Stay

[Captdon]

The logical problem there is that the Iranian-aligned forces are currently fighting as part of Assad's alliance. Can Assad pull together a regime-Iranian-Kurdish alliance, or must he, at the end of the day, choose between these forces?

Assad has fought the Iranians already. Her isn't going to have Iran in his nation permanently. What happens to the Kurds won't have anything to do with Iran.

[MMC]

Representatives of the Syria regime and rebel groups along with other attendees take part in the session of Syria peace talks in Astana on Oct. 31, 2017.....snip~


Russian summit on Syria raises controversy, doubt - Al-Monitor

https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/11/russia-summit...



Syria Daily: UN's De Mistura to Russia - Get Assad Regime ...

https://eaworldview.com/2017/12/syria-daily-uns-de-mistura-to...
UN envoy Staffan de Mistura has pressed Russia to bring the Assad regime into meaningful negotiations over Syria’s 81-month conflict. De Mistura warned on Wednesday that failure of talks in Geneva could lead to “a fragmentation of Syria”.


The UN recognizes Assad as the Official Government of Syria.

[Peter1469]

The logical problem there is that the Iranian-aligned forces are currently fighting as part of Assad's alliance. Can Assad pull together a regime-Iranian-Kurdish alliance, or must he, at the end of the day, choose between these forces?

Iran would never join an alliance with the Kurds- they have their own Kurd problem inside of Iran.

As I said, Assad has sent troops to protect the Kurds.

[donttread]

Mazloum Kobani, the commander-in-chief of the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces that have been successfully defeating the Islamic State on our behalf for years now, has recently formally requested that somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 international troops (the vast majority of which are American) remain in Syria to help finish off ISIS. "We would like to have air cover, air support, and a force on the ground to coordinate with us", he told reporters, adding that while some of this international support can come from French and British forces and that he understands the desire of the U.S. government pull its 2,000-ish troops, he stressed that at least some "American forces must remain beside us" and expressed optimism that the White House would do so. It may be wishful thinking though, as U.S. Army General Joseph Votel, head of Central Command, told reporters that "We certainly understand what they would like us to do, but of course that's not the path we’re on at this particular point."

Kobani in particular stressed the threat of a "new genocide" of Kurdish forces by Turkey should the U.S. pull out entirely at this time. There's no question that the Kurdish forces will have to strike a military alliance with Assad's government to avoid being destroyed by Turkey if we withdraw all of our forces in the immediate future. Assad opportunistically stoked those fears on Sunday, warning that the U.S. wouldn't protect those depending on us. "We're trying to preserve the current situation", Kobani told reporters. They need a willing partner in us for that to happen.

Don't do this (again), America. Don't sell these people out for convenience yet again. Just don't. That is all.

I thought ISIS territory was confined to a few blocks? And as for staying to finish off their ideas? Might as well build a base and settle down. I'd say thanks but no thanks. Our troops are coming home.

[Peter1469]

I thought ISIS territory was confined to a few blocks? And as for staying to finish off their ideas? Might as well build a base and settle down. I'd say thanks but no thanks. Our troops are coming home.

The Islamic State (IS) is confined to about a square mile. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (State for those who hate history) is a transnational terrorist organization that does not need a state to operate.

[PJL]

"With much of the international community absent from efforts to end Syria’s devastating war, Turkey, Iran and Russia have taken the lead in negotiating a political resolution, despite supporting opposing sides in the conflict that has killed more than a half million people and is set to drag into its eighth year next month. On Thursday, Erdogan said he was more hopeful than ever that a political resolution was within grasp."..............."In Sochi, Rouhani said the Kurds were integral in shaping the future of Syria. Despite their allegiance with the United States, Syria’s Kurds have taken pains since the Syrian war broke out to avoid a rupture with Damascus, stave off a Turkish attack and retain at least some of their hard-won autonomy.".....................................https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ori...safe-zone.html

[Peter1469]

International forces need to leave as soon as practical and Assad needs to get back to healing his country from its civil war.

[PJL]

International forces need to leave as soon as practical and Assad needs to get back to healing his country from its civil war.

It was never a civil war - that's utter bull$#@!.....it was just another regime change attempt and a grab for oil and gas . America should hang their heads in shame after what they have done to some of Syria's largest cities - they are now just rubble.

[Peter1469]

It was never a civil war - that's utter bull$#@!.....it was just another regime change attempt and a grab for oil and gas . America should hang their heads in shame after what they have done to some of Syria's largest cities - they are now just rubble.

You are full of Russian crap.

[Peter1469]

It was a civil war in Syria. The rebels were lead by former senior government officials and officers. Yes, the US and others supported the rebels. However, the US is not responsible for the heavy damage to Syrian cities. That was done by Syria and Russia as they attacked rebel positions without much regard for the civilians.