His aim is longstanding. In December 2015, heavily armed Turkish forces invaded Iraq, an act of aggression, occupying territory near Mosul, on the phony pretext of combating ISIS he supports.
His real aim is seizing the area’s valued oil fields, a prize he’s long coveted.
Last August, he invaded northern Syria, his aggression code-named Operation Euphrates Shield – aiding anti-government forces, combating Kurdish YPG fighters, not terrorists.
His forces seized Jarabulus in northwestern Syria straightaway, continued advancing east.
Last November, he said his goal is gaining control over “5,000 square km (1,900 square miles) including al-Bab, Manbij and Tell Rifaat, creating a national structure and army for this expanded area to provide solid control and to allow the refugees return to these areas jointly with EU, and after these, focusing on IS’s de facto capital Raqqa and” YPG Kurdish fighters.
In late November, he said he launched cross-border military operations “to end the rule of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.” Days later, he retracted his statement. He can’t undo what he said.
America and other rogue states support his aggression, the Pentagon saying it supports YPG fighters. Obama said Turkey is a “strong NATO ally.” He lied claiming both countries are working to defeat ISIS.
US-installed NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg “welcome(d) Turkey’s increasing efforts to fight against ISIL. Turkey has a right to defend itself,” he said, ignoring his naked aggression in two regional countries, along with his tyrannical homeland rule.
Assad calls Erdogan an “invader.” Russia expressed concern. Putin said his actions didn’t surprise. “Intelligence exists so we face few unexpected developments. We understood what was going on and where things would lead,” he explained.
Erdogan lied, calling his action an act of self-defense. “Our borders must be cleansed of Daesh,” he said – failing to explain he supports the terrorist group and others operating regionally.
Former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon made similar comments, supporting aggression instead of denouncing it.
Intervening on the territory of other nations is naked aggression, longstanding US policy, together with NATO and other rogue allies.
Senior Kurdish Democratic Union party member Ewwas Eli said Erdogan seeks control over Syrian sovereign territory. That’s what his cross-border incursion is all about.
His goals are political, using military means to achieve them. He wants a Kurdish federation in northern Syria prevented.
So he equates the PYD and its People’s Protection Units (YPG) with PKK fighters. Ankara calls them terrorists – a pretext to wage war on Kurds in three countries, besides saying he wants to “ensur(e) the safety of life and property of our citizens who live along our southern borders.”
The best way is by waging peace, not war.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
