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| Kobane Under Attack |
ANKARA. Troops of the "Islamic state" (IS) have encircled 36 Turkish soldiers in northern Syria.These guard the mausoleum of Süleyman Shah, the grandfather of the first Ottoman sultan, which is the extraterritorial property of Turkey. According to Turkish newspapers there are about 1,100 Islamists deployed.
The grave is located about 30 kilometers south of the heavily contested Kurdish city Kobane.Thousands IS-fighters have been trying for days, to conquer the border city located directly on the Syrian-Turkish border. According to observers they have also employed heavy artillery and tanks. Opposing them are a few hundred Kurdish fighters with light weapons. They are supported by air attacks from the United States and Arab countries.
The Syrian Minister of National Reconciliation, Ali Haidar, meanwhile, stressed that the government in Damascus could not support the Kurds with air strikes because of the proximity to the Turkish border. There was a risk that the machines would then penetrate the Turkish airspace.
Turkey pulls troops together
While the fighting continues, Turkey has begun to assemble troops on their side of the border. As government Turkish newspapers report, nearly 10,000 soldiers and 35 tanks were mobilized. On Thursday the parliament in Ankara will advise about a possible deployment of ground troops in Syria and Iraq.
One suggested solution is also a safety zone in the two countries where Turkish troops take control, to protect the inhabitants from the Islamists. Previously, Turkey has steadfastly refused to intervene against the IS and has even tolerated activities of the terrorist organization in their own country. (Ho)
2 comments:
I read that the governor/prefect of Anbar province in Iraq is pleading for the USA to send ground troops to fight the ISIS army in that his province is in danger of being overrun. What nerve and gall to request such a thing.
First off, it's none of our business, and we should never have gotten into Iraq or Afganistan in the first place. Were it not for George W. Bush's big mouth, the USA would never have been involved. While a senior in HS, I still remember Bushs' stupid and totally irrational threat to terrorists " If you want to fight America....bring it on!" (2001). To Bush's surprise....they did.
Now we have a President who is personally unpopular, largely due to Obamacare, but at least he has had the sense to end the USA involvement in both countries. I thank God he isn't a bible thumping, flag waving buffoon shouting bombastic militaristic threats to a group of people who would only take that as justification to do more.
The ISIS swarm of soldiers overrunning Iraq and Syria , though tragic, is not for the USA to end. Our economy is just recovering from a deep recession brought on by Bush and his economic and militaristic ventures that have overtaxed the strength of this country both economically and militarily. It isn't the job of the USA to run to the defense of every country pleading for help. It is for the world. The world must shoulder the burden, or responsibility...not just he USA.
It is unfortunate if the whole region falls under the sway of ISIS and their new Islamic "Caliphate" (which incidently is historically a monarchial system). But, that;t the way it goes. The USA can't afford to be "Hero of the World" anymore. Those days right after WWII are long gone.
If ISIS conquers, that';s the way it is and we must accept the new reality.
German deputy speaker: NATO must stop Turkey support for ISIS
BERLIN, Germany – NATO must force Turkey to stop its undeclared support of the Islamic State (ISIS) and shift its policy toward the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), the deputy speaker of the German parliament said..
[link to rudaw.net]
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