Adam
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
US State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert has responded to questions from reporters about reports from Kurdish militants who last week stated that the US plans to remain in Syria for “decades”.
Nauert refuted these claims by stating the following,
“Syria must be governed by its own people and not by the United States or other force”.
She added that the US intends to “defeat” ISIS and not to stay beyond this mission.
This puts statements from the US and their militant Kurdish allies into direct contradiction. As I wrote recently in The Duran,
“Talal Silo has said that the Kurdish fighters in Syria have reached an agreement that would imply a de-facto Kurdish entity in Syria would form under the auspices of US military occupation of the territory which is recognised by every major international body, including the United Nations as Syrian territory.
The United States has yet to comment on the remarks and for good reason. The remarks open up a Pandora’s Box of problems for all those impacted, including Washington.
Here are three possible interpriations of the Kurdish statement:
1. Blackmail to the US
Officially, the US does not back the creation of a Kurdish state anywhere, not in Syria, Iraq, Turkey or Iran, even though various Kurdish groups seek the creation of such an entity in all of these places. To this point, the US, like Russia, urges Iraqi Kurds to postpone a separatist referendum in Iraq which is currently scheduled for the 25th of September, 2017.
By implying that a deal has been reached between the SDF and United States to keep American occupying troops in Syria for decades to come, Kurdish leaders in Syria may be trying to force America’s hand in creating a state by default.
If SDF controlled regions of Syria become cut off from the legitimate authorities in Damascus through a line of US military occupation, one could witness a scenario similar to that which Serbia endured in the late 1990s. Starting in 1999, NATO troops brutally occupied the Serbian province of Kosovo and Metohija. This led the province being cut off from the rest of Serbia in spite of being an integral part of Serbian territory.
In 2008, occupied Kosovo and Metohija unilaterally declared itself a state and the US was quick to support this move.
Something similar could happen in Syria where a US occupation of Syria could eventually lead Kurdish regions being cut off from the rest of Syria, making a unilateral declaration of independence all the more likely in the future.
The biggest difference is that unlike in the Balkans where the unilateral declaration of a Kosovar entity could not reasonably have been militarily opposed due to the weakness of west Balkan military power, in Syria it is a different matter. Turkey has said that it will never accept a Kurdish state on its borders and if history is a guide, Turkey will do something about it and what’s more Turkey certainly is militarily capable of doing something about it.
2. A Truthful statement
It may be that the US which is already effectively cutting off much of Syria east of the Euphrates with its stalwart support of Kurdish militants has already reached a deal with local Kurds for a long-term occupation of Syria.
The fact that the US has not said so publicly and has apparently not told Ankara is a further sign that the US is prepared to lose what is left of its historic Turkish alliance.
If the statement from the Kurdish spokesman represents covert but confirmed American policy, it means that Turkey’s exit from NATO could be even more rapid than many previously thought possible.
3. Wishful thinking
Kurdish military spokesmen tend to be over-zealous and exaggerate the realities of many situations, especially when geo-political alignments are involved.
It could be that the US has given no more indication to the Kurds that they intend to occupy certain regions of Syria than they have given anyone else and that the Kurds are speaking from a position of desire rather than fact”.
Today’s remarks from the US State department leave only two possibilities: either the Kurds are trying in vain to entice the US further into Syria or that Heather Nauert is being dishonest and the future plans of the US.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
“She added that the US intends to “defeat” ISIS and not to stay beyond this mission”
All they will do is ship in more ISIS fighters….there, problem solved….it will continue to be there forever, or until formally/forcefully made to leave,
US is inside Syria illegally- period. Neither Moscow nor Damascus needs a wider conflict, but the US never leaves a foreign country unless forced out.
Indeed. We all remember Yankee Vietnam Disaster. They came to spread horror and spend bloody money. Ended up in nationwide PTSD for decades.
Planet94e
So you are working for ONE of George Soros organizations ??
“US NOT to remain in Syria after ISIS “defeat””
They had no right to go there in the first place. They were neither invited by Syria, nor sanctioned by the international law – via a Security Council resolution.
Correct. They are there illegally. They were never invited. They never had permission. They never contributed to the War On Terror. The are conducting a War OF Terror by funding, arming, training, and working with terrorists in order to pretend there is some PLAUSIBLE Deniability. The Coalition have killed more innocent people in a few months than the Russians did since they were invited in. This is joke. A cruel joke even pretending that they are there to help. Open an independent war crimes tribunal. Put some of the terrorists on the stand and we’ll soon see who the real… Read more »
Yes.
I like that idea …. an independent war crimes tribunal….
They were invited. The fact that you can’t see beyond the regime is your problem.
By whom? No one other than the government of Syria can invite foreign armies on Syrian soil. The US has NO bilateral treaty with Syria, not even diplomatic links. US didn’t either declare war to Syria (in order to send troops there), as Syria never attacked in ANY way the US. So stop up your garbage comments.
she is lying.
Anyway she is lying indeed.
Who to believe…The Kurds which they are getting closer to have a state of their own with American help or our exceptional friends which they have a well known reputation of lies and deceptions.
A look at a few tweets by Nauert at the State Dept’s Twitter page might give some insight. I almost had a bullshit overdose.
syria is project oil satan mafia from rookefelder ?
I’ll believe it when I see us troops and equipment LEAVE Syrian soil. Only then, will it be the truth.
“She added that the US intends to “defeat” ISIS and not to stay beyond this mission.”
Poor meter is off the charts.
More fake news and racist bias from the Duran… what a surprise. “Talal Silo has said that the Kurdish fighters in Syria…” – no he hasn’t. Tal represents the SDF, which is Syrian, and not characterised by any one ethnicity. “a de-facto Kurdish entity in Syria” – is in nobody’s heads except the author of this lame propaganda. The DFNS already exists. It’s polyethnic, Syrian, and elections begin next month. “Syrian territory” – exactly. The Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians, Yazidis and others in the SDF and MDC are Syrians. Well done Adam, ask mummy for a cookie. “Kurdish leaders in Syria… Read more »
The State department had to say that?
When one gets their butts handed to them in a war where they have illegally invaded a country, i am not aware of one war in history where the loosing war criminal aggressor, was allowed to remain so they could try it again.
Still, as quoted elsewhere, we better watch Israel’s meeting with the US officials this coming week. The journalist who has done so much for Syria and media coverage of the realistic kind, Vanessa Beeley says: “An Israeli delegation will be received at the White House this week. The agenda: Syria. The three members of the Israeli delegation are: • Yossi Cohen (photo), Head of Mossad (Foreign Intelligence); • General Herzl Halevi, Head of Aman (Military Intelligence); • Colonel Zohar Palti, Head of Military and Political Affairs at the Ministry of Defense. This delegation will meet with the following US representatives:… Read more »
“intends to use this visit as an opportunity to present compelling grounds for closing down the Silk Route.”
———–
WHAT?
So China, Russia, indeed all Asia, the Middle East, the Far East AND Europe+GOK who else are ALL going to bow down, throw away the Silk Road – because little Izzies are terrified?
Perhaps little Izzies should (i) grow up and (ii) stop creating the cause of their own terror.
Sheesh – but my heart bleeds custard for those murderers and warmongers!
I can’t see how a Kurdish state would be viable. No coastline. Oil would be its only source of income. But how would they bring it to the market? Iraq, Turkey, Syria & Iran wouldn’t let it pass through their territories. They would have no over-flying or transit rights and would be completely cut off from the rest of the world.
And JUST THIS ONCE ….. America is not lying?
In your dreams.
Like the State Department would even know until they’re told…
My grandmother taught me to ignore what people say, but note what they do.
A widow at 26, with two small children to raise, she didn’t have time for blah, blah.
Defeated you again, yankees….
duran looks different. changed the layout .
Does the US consider bases inside an independant Kurdistan (after the
referendums) as being inside Syria, or will they use this “loophole” to
justify their actions when they contradict this statement of removing
their forces from the area?
Suuuure. Doesn’t anyone actually believe that? Tell that to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Does anyone actually believe that?
If the U.S.WANTED to eliminate isis all they have to do is STOP their paychecks & fire them. CIA CREATED, Trained & FUNDED isis to keep ‘THEIR’ UNJUSTIFIED wars going so the Military Industrial Complex keeps ROLLING in ILLEGAL money.